Richard Dean
Updated on: October 11, 2024 6:24 am GMT
In a significant announcement for horse racing enthusiasts, Aidan O’Brien has finalized his entrants for the prestigious G1 St Leger, set to take place at Doncaster on Saturday. Going into the race, O’Brien has selected three promising horses, all sired by the renowned stallion Galileo (Ire), positioning them as potential frontrunners in the world’s oldest Classic.
O’Brien’s Entrants for the St Leger
Aidan O’Brien, a prominent figure in the world of thoroughbred racing, has narrowed down his contenders to three horses: Illinois, Jan Brueghel, and Grosvenor Square. Illinois is particularly noteworthy, having previously secured victory in the G2 Queen’s Vase and earning runner-up status at the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The horse’s record remains strong, having never finished outside the top three in seven races to date.
Wayne Lordan will take the reins on Illinois, while the mounts for Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square are still to be determined. Jan Brueghel, who was named a Rising Star by TDN, remains unbeaten and claimed victory in the G3 Gordon Stakes. Grosvenor Square, the standout winner of the G3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes, adds further confidence to O’Brien’s St Leger aspirations.
Notable Withdrawals and Competitors
The final list of entries for the St Leger has seen the withdrawal of several notable competitors, including Los Angeles (Ire), Euphoric (GB), and Align The Stars (Ire). This leaves a total of seven runners set to contest the challenging 14-furlong race at Doncaster.
The key opposition for O’Brien includes You Got To Me (GB), the G1 Irish Oaks winner, who was added as a supplementary entry. Trained by Ralph Beckett, You Got To Me made her way into the race at a cost of £50,000, enhancing the competition for O’Brien’s trio. Additionally, Sunway (Fr), the G1 Irish Derby runner-up, trained by David Menuisier, will be another formidable opponent, alongside other entrants such as Deira Mile (Ire) and Wild Waves (Ire).
Field for the St Leger
The final lineup for the St Leger includes:
- Illinois (Ire) – Wayne Lordan
- Jan Brueghel (Ire) – Sean Levey
- Grosvenor Square (Ire) – Gavin Ryan
- You Got To Me (GB)
- Sunway (Fr)
- Deira Mile (Ire)
- Wild Waves (Ire)
Significance of the St Leger
The St Leger is known for its rich history and significant prestige within the horse racing community. The race offers a substantial prize of £420,000 to the winner, making it an attractive event for both trainers and owners. O’Brien, who has already achieved considerable success in the event, is eyeing his eighth victory in this historic race, solidifying his status as one of the leading trainers in the sport.
Other Races of Interest
In addition to the St Leger, O’Brien also has a strong presence in the upcoming Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, scheduled to start shortly before the St Leger. His leading contenders for this race include Los Angeles and the dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin.
Auguste Rodin is seeking another major win, aiming for his eighth top-level Group One triumph. Competing against him will be Economics, a British raider who has demonstrated strong form recently, including a win at Deauville.
Looking Ahead
As race day approaches, all eyes will be on O’Brien’s trio and their performance in the St Leger. The anticipation surrounding this year’s race has captured the attention of the horse racing community, eager to see if O’Brien can extend his legacy further with another notable victory.
The St Leger is going to be an exciting day of horse racing this Saturday! Some of the best racehorses will be competing, and everyone is looking forward to this thrilling event at Doncaster. The horses are getting ready for the big challenge, and fans can’t wait to see who will win!
