Better than Postponed, Defoe and Subjectivist? 16-1 shot makes St Leger appeal

West Wind Blows
4.05 Doncaster, September 10
2pts each-way at 16-1 generally

The St Leger has seen plenty of developments in the last week with ante-post favourite Westover blowing out in the King George, while Emily Upjohn didn't cover herself in glory either.

Tom Segal put up Aikhal and New London in his ante-post Pricewise column and, while I respect those picks, for me the one to be on is West Wind Blows.

The colt is set to run in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday and I expect he will enhance his credentials based on what he did in the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton last time.

The race has been won by subsequent Group 1 winners Postponed, Defoe and Subjectivist in the last ten years and Ventura Storm won it before nearly clinching the 2016 St Leger.

With the hood off for the first time, West Wind Blows was enthusiastic in the early stages but saw out the 1m3f trip really well to win by seven and a half lengths.

He received a Racing Post Rating of 113, which puts him just 1lb behind the 4-1 St Leger favourite New London, with further improvement expected.

The colt put up the best performance of the race's last decade, with the three aforementioned top-notchers recording RPRs of 111, 112 and 109. He did it in a really quick time as he covered the course about a second quicker than Postponed on ground described as the same.

West Wind Blows: produced a sparkling performance on the clock at HamiltonCredit: Grossick Racing

Admittedly, he weakened to finish ninth after racing prominently in the Derby but that was maybe a step too far at that stage in his career. He still managed to beat Grand Alliance, who is as short as 10-1 for the final Classic, so remains a juicy price at six points bigger.

He is clearly relaxing with racing – hence the decision to remove the headgear – and the trip at Doncaster shouldn't hold many concerns on pedigree.

His dam was second in the Prix Vermeille over 1m4f and he's a half-brother to a pair of 1m4f winners in Setting Sail and Basic Beauty.

His sire, Teofilo, is a powerful stamina influence having produced Subjectivist, Cross Counter, Quest For More and Twilight Payment in recent years.

Two of those went on to win the Melbourne Cup and, even if Doncaster doesn't work out, I'd have my eye on that race for West Wind Blows. He looks to have the ideal blend of speed and stamina for Australia's famous handicap, a race in which three-year-olds hold a decent weight-for-age advantage.

Goodwood selections

Internationalangel
2.25 Goodwood, Wednesday
1pt each-way with firms paying six places

Hugely improved mare has recorded RPRs of 104, 105 and 106 this season, including a career-best in a Listed race at Longchamp on turf. Started slowly and never involved last time but can bounce back at this course, which is sure to suit her strong-travelling style. She is overpriced to hit the frame.

Royal Scotsman
2.25 Goodwood, Thursday
1pt win

The Coventry form has already had a few boosts with Persian Force winning the July Stakes and Blackbeard landing the Prix Robert Papin, and Royal Scotsman deserves plenty of credit for his third-place finish. He's a course-and-distance winner and I'll be surprised if he doesn't register his second win.

Royal Scotsman: can make it two from two at Goodwood in the Richmond StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hydroplane
1.50 Goodwood, Friday
1pt win at 10-1 with bookmakers paying four places

Ian Williams has won this race twice in the last ten years with Teak (2014) and Cool Sky (2017) and this useful hurdler showed he had more to offer on the Flat when bolting up at Chester last month. Don't underestimate him.

Ponntos
3.35 Goodwood, Friday
1pt each-way at 14-1 generally

Looked eyewateringly fast in the early stages of the King's Stand and will be much more at home at this speed-favouring track. Frankie Dettori, who rode him to victory in the Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp in May, is back in the saddle and can better manage his energy now.

Jimi Hendrix
3.00 Goodwood, Friday
1pt win

Up 6lb for winning by a head at Newmarket but looked to be good value for the winning margin and an RPR of 102 suggests he could still be well handicapped.

Stewards' Cup pair make each-way appeal

Saint Lawrence
3.20 Goodwood, Saturday
1pt each-way with enhanced place terms at SP

Saint Lawrence showed his class when third in the Palace House and sixth in the King's Stand and will appreciate this fast-paced six furlongs. This will be his first run in a handicap for more than a year and he isn't badly treated off a mark of 105.

Regional
3.20 Goodwood, Saturday
1pt each-way with enhanced place terms at SP

Regional has been consistent since moving to Ed Bethell's yard, recording just one RPR lower than 100 and hitting a career-best of 108 when a close staying-on second over five furlongs last time. That looked the perfect preparation for this and a 3lb rise could be lenient. Annaf is another to note.

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