Monday 9 September 2019
Doncaster Racecourse and William Hill are delighted to announce that, at the five day stage, 11 horses remain entered for the 2019 William Hill St Leger, which takes place on Saturday 14 September.
The sponsors make LOGICIAN, trained by John Gosden, favourite at even money.
| 15:35 THE WILLIAM HILL ST LEGER STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (British Champions Series) at DONCASTER on 14/09/2019 | ||||
| Animal | Age | Weight | Owner | Trainer |
| Barbados (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier | Aidan O'Brien |
| Dashing Willoughby (GB) | 3 | 9 1 | Mick and Janice Mariscotti | Andrew Balding |
| Il Paradiso (USA) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier | Aidan O'Brien |
| Logician (GB) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr K. Abdullah | John Gosden |
| Nayef Road (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr Mohamed Obaida | Mark Johnston |
| Norway (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor | Aidan O'Brien |
| Sir Dragonet (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith | Aidan O'Brien |
| Sir Ron Priestley (GB) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr Paul Dean | Mark Johnston |
| South Pacific (GB) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor | Aidan O'Brien |
| Technician (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Team Valor 1 | Martyn Meade |
| Western Australia (IRE) | 3 | 9 1 | Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor | Aidan O'Brien |
Rupert Adams of sponsors, William Hill commented, “We’re absolutely delighted with the strength in depth of the entries for the William Hill St Leger on Saturday. Logician (Evs) is a worthy favourite having landed the Great Voltigeur at York last time out and with Frankie Dettori on board, he is sure to be well supported.”
With the four-day William Hill St Leger Festival getting underway on Wednesday, Clerk of the Course Roderick Duncan reported the going to currently be Good to Firm.
William Hill Prices for the St Leger Stakes.
Evs Logician
3/1 Sir Dragonet
6/1 Il Paradiso
10/1 Sir Ron Priestly
14/1 Technician
20/1 Nayef Road
25/1 Dashing Willoughby
25/1 Norway
33/1 Western Australia
33/1 Barbados
John Gosden, trainer of LOGICIAN, said: "He has been in great form since York. He is a very relaxed character and he has a lovely big long loping stride. I thought then (back in May) this might be a Leger horse.
"He has come a long way in a short time. The nice long straight at Doncaster should suit him well.
"But it will not just be Aidan and our one horse there are other horses in play and I’ve mentioned one that won at Goodwood (Sir Ron Priestly). It has more depth to the field than people are making out."
Derby fifth SIR DRAGONET and IL PARADISO are set to spearhead Aidan O'Brien's attack on the William Hill St Leger.
The Ballydoyle maestro is looking to bag his third consecutive win in the race after Capri (2017) and Kew Gardens (2018) were victorious.
SIR DRAGONET was beaten under a length in the Investec Derby at Epsom before returning to the track to finish third in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.
O'Brien said: "We're very happy with him. He had a break after the Derby and then the plan was to go to the Curragh and then maybe we would look at the Arc after that run.
"But now Japan and Magical are there and things are changing all the time.
"The William Hill St Leger is a very important and prestigious race and we felt like there was a good chance that he would get that trip.
"He was just ready to start at the Curragh and he got a little bit tired which he was entitled to do as I was being very careful and gentle with him.
"It was also the first time he had run over that trip. He'd always been over a mile and a half.
"He's not short of class and he's not short of pace so it will be interesting."
IL PARADISO is to join him in the final William Hill St Leger field after his promising run behind Stradivarius at York.
The three-year-old looked to be running a big race in the Lonsdale Cup before being run out of the finish by two top stayers in Dee Ex Bee and Stradivarius.
O'Brien said: "He stays very well and that's why we ran him at York. We thought he was worth taking a chance and he ran a very respectable race.
"It was a good run for a three-year-old. He looks like a horse that will get the Gold Cup trip in time so has plenty of stamina”
"But I think he'll be happy enough dropping to this trip, he doesn't mind being ridden forward and we'll ride him like we're sure that he stays”
