Thought Worthy (white and green silks) winning the Great Voltigeur
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)Thought Worthy and Michelangelo for St Leger
JOHN GOSDEN on Tuesday suggested Thought Worthy and Michelangelo would spearhead his team taking on Triple Crown-seeking Camelot in the Ladbrokes St Leger a week on Saturday, but Great Heavens, generally second-favourite for the race, is likely to head to France instead.
Gosden is responsible for four of the top seven in the St Leger market, but Great Heavens, as short as 6-1, and Shantaram, 8-1, are unlikely to participate.
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Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens is expected to head for the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp the day after the St Leger, while Shantaram's participation has been uncertain since he missed his St Leger prep race, the Great Voltigeur, due to mucus in his lungs.
Instead Gosden said Thought Worthy, who won the Voltigeur, and Gordon Stakes third Michelangelo were his main candidates for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster.
"We'll have a pacemaker and two runners, I would have thought," said Gosden. "There's Thought Worthy and Michelangelo. Shantaram missed his prep, so we know about that, and Great Heavens is more likely for the Prix Vermeille."
Gosden also said Nathaniel, who is in action this Saturday in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes, could face Frankel in the British equivalent, even though it falls just 13 days after his planned run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 7.
"He ran in the King George only 14 days after the Eclipse, so if he's in good order there's no reason not to [run in the British Champion Stakes]," he said on Racing UK.
Frankel and Nathaniel have met just once, on their respective debuts in 2010 when Frankel was a half-length winner. "I wouldn't expect the result to change but we'll see if we can get as close again," added Gosden.
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