Leading Light Shines In English St Leger
- Sunday, 15 September 2013 00:59
Europe's premier race seems likely to win out over the Melbourne Cup for Leading Light, winner of the English St Leger at Doncaster.
Leading Light put himself in the frame to be a late entry for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with his victory over Oaks winner Talent.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said he would discuss the Arc with the owners - Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor - over the next few days.
"The lads will make the decision on where to run next but it (the Arc) would be open to them if they wanted to do that," O'Brien said.
"We'll see, they'll probably talk about it next week I'd say.
O'Brien's jockey son Joseph erased the painful memory of defeat for Triple Crown-seeking Camelot in the St Leger 12 months ago.
The 7-2 favourite, giving O'Brien junior his first Leger and the trainer his fourth as well as completing a full set of Classics in Britain and Ireland for Smith, proved well up to the task.
Ridden positively, the Queen's Vase winner finished 1-1/4 lengths clear of Talent with twice Derby-placed Galileo Rock three-quarters of a length away third.
"I was going to take my time but there wasn't much pace early on, so I gave him a little nudge to get him up there," O'Brien said.
"I suppose this makes it a little bit sweeter after last year, but there's nothing I can about that now and you have to look forward.
"It's great to wear the cap for winning the Leger. I hope I can win another one."
Ralph Beckett was delighted to see Talent bounce back to form after a below-par effort in the Irish Oaks and she would now head to Champions Day at Ascot.
"The winner won well, but she has run well," Beckett said.
"All being well, if the ground comes up similar to today, we'll run in the fillies' race at Ascot on Champions Day."
