A WHO’S who of racing’s big-race stars are out tomorrow – a yabba dabba doo of equine talent!
At Doncaster, live on ITV, the Derby hero Christmas Day is back for more Classic success on a historic afternoon on Town Moor.
Facing him, though, is a Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood victor in Enceladus.
On the same card the multiple Group 1-placed More Thunder takes on a Group 1 victor in Never So Brave, while we might just see next year’s 2000 Guineas winner in Desert Castle.
Then, at Leopardstown, the French Derby romper Constitution River tackles his old rival and Juddmonte International winner Item, and they both face the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup first Almaqam, who split the previous pair at York.
That’s not to ignore the tremendous Blue Bolt who is gunning for a hat-trick of Group 1s at the same Irish fixture.
She’s up against Classic heroines Precise and True Love as well as Fallen Angel, trying to defend her crown.
It’s quite simply a day of quality, and it’s hard to know where to start.
That said, the Betfred St Leger is a Classic, and not just any old Classic, so should take centre stage.
After all, no Classic has been around for longer, and this is the 250th running of the St Leger.
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Plenty has happened since Allabaculia took the prize in 1776!
In relatively recent times the St Leger has had some terrific winners, namely Nijinsky, Bustino, Dunfermline, Sun Princess, Commanche Run, Oh So Sharp, User Friendly and Scandinavia.
The last Derby winner to do the double was Reference Point in 1987, and I’m really hoping CHRISTMAS DAY repeats the feat.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Christmas Day won’t get the deep ground he loves, but it won’t be fast either and he’s been crying out for this distance since Epsom.
I don’t think he’s got the credit he deserves, and he’s a worthy Classic victor, having also finished second in the Irish equivalent.
At York last time in the Voltigeur he led 3f out, was headed, but then kept on again inside the final furlong and it’s worth remembering he was giving 5lb to the re-opposing and then runner-up Pierre Bonnard.
The York winner Maltese Cross heads to the Arc and the form is very solid.
He’d be a deserving winner of this race in its 250th year and I really hope he does it under Ronan Whelan who was on top for his biggest success, which you may remember was a massive result for this column.
I’m much less confident of finding the winner of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, because it’s very hard to have a strong opinion on likely favourite Constitution River after his defeat in the Juddmonte International.
I’m in no doubt he’s better than he showed that day, but prior to that he only beat A Boy Named Susie 3l in the Eclipse and Hawk Mountain 3/4l in the Prix du Jockey Club.
Is that top notch form?
I’m not sure.
ITEM is clearly very good and other than a flop in the Derby he’s done nothing wrong.
But I’m sure he will eventually be better over 1m4f and he doesn’t have the long straight to get going like he had at York.
Almaqam is drawn on the outside but that might work in his favour as he should get a clear run with the pacemakers going forward just to his left.
I’d always rather be on the outside than boxed in.
Getting 6lb as a three-year-old I’m going to stick with Item, but the heart hopes Almaqam is bang in the mix once again.
It promises to be a great race.
ITV show the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes and there is no doubt BLUE BOLT is the one to beat on the back of her butchering of Precise in the Prix Rothschild in Deauville.
Defending champion FALLEN ANGEL has no chance on her form this season, although she was a little better last time at Haydock when third to Calendar Girl.
James Doyle will have to get more out of her tomorrow, but she’s a big price and comes good at this time of year.
She might just be worth a few quid eachway.
Unbeaten DESERT CASTLE lines up in the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster and should take all the beating, while More Thunder is back in the Group 2 Park Stakes.
The latter is down in trip after going a mile this season.
That’s interesting because at one stage it was suggested he would go further, so someone has clearly felt that’s not the right thing to do.
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What a day.
I just hope Christmas comes early.
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