The final British classic is the longest, at a
mile and six furlongs, and also the weakest. It will be run on Saturday
9 September at Doncaster. The Epsom Derby form is represented by
the 2-3-4.
ACROPOLIS: One of five runners for Aiden O'Brien. A useful two year
old, he ran third to the top class Bago in the Group One Criterium
International. Has not run since and is hard to fancy. A son of
Sadler's Wells, the colt is a three parts brother to Ribblesdale
winner Fairy Queen.
ALBINUS: Beautifully bred he is a son of leading sire Selkirk and
a half brother to dual Champion Stakes winner, Alborada. His pedigree
suggests he may struggle with the distance, although Selkirk's son
Highest ran second in this race to Bollin Eric.
Ran well when third in the July Trophy behind Frank Sonata, beaten
just half a length by the winner. The second in that race, Pukka,
was unplaced in the Derby and Great Voltigeur Stakes. Trained by
Andrew Balding, the colt will be ridden by Martin Dwyer.
DARSALAM: Half brother to 1994 shock winner Moonax. The son of Desert
King has won five of eight in Czechoslovakia. He won the Czech St
Leger by nine lengths, the Derby by over three and is coming off
five consecutive wins. He is, needless to say, taking on much stiffer
opposition here.
FRANK SONATA: Bids to give connections their first classic success.
He is coming off a win in the July Trophy and has won three of his
last four starts. Ryan Moore rides the son of Opening Verse. Has
yet to try this level and on a line through Pukka may struggle with
some of the big guns in the race. He does have proven stamina on
his side however.
GO FOR GOLD: A half brother to 2001 winner Milan. Ran a good second
in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and followed that up with a third
in the Great Voltigeur, beaten by four lengths by ruling favourite
Rule of Law, with Let The Lion Roar one and a half in front. A son
of Machiavellian, his dam ran third in the Irish St Leger. Trained
by Aiden O'Brien, like Milan, he is lightly raced having made just
four starts.
LET THE LION ROAR: A high class three year old, he has been beaten
by Rule of Law in all four of their meetings to date. His pedigree
suggests he will improve over this further distance, something which
cannot be said of the favourite. Ran well when third in the Dante
Stakes and Epsom Derby, disappointed when fifth in the Irish equivalent
and ran second to Rule of Law in the Great Voltigeur. A half brother
to 2000 winner Millenary - for the same connections, he is a son
of champion sire Sadler's Wells - sire of 2 previous Leger winners.
One of the leading fancies for the race.
MARAAHEL: Bids to give Sir Michael Stoute his first win in the sole
British classic to have eluded him. The son of Alzao needs good
ground and will not run should it rain. The colt has not run since
winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over 12 furlongs, prior to
that ran second in handicaps at Ascot and Newbury under big weights.
Richard Hills won this race on Mutafaweq in 1999.
MIKADO: Comes off a good third in the Ebor Handicap, where he made
up a considerable amount of ground late. His pedigree - he is a
three parts brother to Barathea, makes him a doubtful stayer over
the extra distance. Ran fourth in the Gordon Stakes behind Maraahel
and Go For Gold and fourth in the Curragh Cup against older horses.
Another son of Sadler's Wells representing Ballydoyle in this race.
PERCUSSIONIST: Comes off a last place finish in the Irish Derby.
Prior to that had won the Lingfield Derby Trial by a whopping ten
lengths and ran fourth to North Light at Epsom. Another son of the
ubiquitous Sadler's Wells he is a half brother to Wednesday's Park
Hill winner, Echoes of Eternity. Jimmy Fortune picked up the ride
on the colt, who runs in the colours of the late Robert Sangster
- as did his sire.
RULE OF LAW: The favourite for the race. A good two year old, he
won the Acomb and ran third in the Royal Lodge, the son of Kingmambo
has blossomed at three. Ran second in the Dante and followed up
by storming home to take second in the Derby. Ran fourth in the
Irish equivalent, behind Grey Swallow and North Light, he was most
impressive when waltzing home in the Great Voltigeur at York last
month. Godolphin have been red hot throughout the season and bid
to win the Leger for the fourth time. His pedigree suggests he will
not enjoy the extra as much as long time rival Let The Lion Roar,
but running style suggests it will be no problem. The one to beat.
TWO MILES WEST: The best bred horse in the race - being by Sadler's
Wells out of champion User Friendly - who won the Leger in 1992.
Has not quite lived up to his pedigree but lightly raced and has
scope for improvement. Ran a good second in the Group Three Queen's
Vase, but the winner has not franked the form. Has ran second in
last two starts behind older horses. Stamina is not a problem but
needs to improve.
TYCOON: Decent two year old, who ran a cracker on three year old
debut when third in the Irish Derby, beating Rule of Law. Not disgraced
when sixth in the King George VII and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
behind the exciting Doyen - beaten six lengths. Ran well below par
when unplaced in the Juddmonte International. Arguably the pick
of the Ballydoyle runners. A three parts brother to Quiff- he is
also by Sadler's Wells.
QUIFF: Turned a weak Yorkshire Oaks into a procession when winning
by over 11 lengths. Previously a winner, she ran third to Punctilious
in the Ribblesdale Stakes. The second Stoute representative, she
may not run if it doesn't rain. A daughter of Sadler's Wells she
is out of English 1000 Guineas winner Wince. Her pedigree suggests
- Sadler's Wells notwithstanding - she may not stay the extra distance.
SELECTION
1. Rule of Law
2. Let The Lion Roar
3. Percussionist