'Buzz' at home of St Leger after 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court sparks Triple Crown dream

There is a "buzz" at Doncaster where the dream of an elusive Triple Crown win is alive following Ruling Court's success at Newmarket on Saturday.

No colt has won the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger for 55 years, when Nijinsky became the first to land all three races since 1935.

Betfred has marked becoming sponsor of all five British Classics this year by offering a £2 million bonus for completing the Triple Crown in 2025.

And it is certainly a possibility with Ruling Court now second favourite for the Derby after claiming the 2,000 Guineas by half a length from Field Of Gold, who is not entered at Epsom.

Doncaster executive director Rachel Harwood is daring to dream of a scenario similar to 2012, when 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot's bid to make history in the St Leger drew a big crowd and huge media attention to Town Moor, where he went down by three-quarters of a length to Encke.

"There is a buzz and the team are always excited at this time of year for the Classic journey," she said.

Rachel Harwood: "The team are always excited at this time of year for the Classic journey"Credit: Doncaster Racecourse

"We raced on Saturday evening and before our meeting started we stopped the music for the Guineas to be shown and people did engage with it, which is always good.

"It's great that Ruling Court is in the Derby and it would be amazing were he to win that and then come to Doncaster."

The Leger's distance of a mile and six and a half furlongs has made it a less attractive option for owners seeking to boost a top-class colt's reputation ahead of its stallion career, and no Derby winner has run in the race since Camelot.

Encke denies 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot the Triple Crown in the St Leger in 2012Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Harwood said: "In the last five years I've spent the first week in June wondering what's going to happen in the Derby and in the last four it's been a disappointment for us, but I hope this year will be different.

"The support Betfred has put behind the Triple Crown has excited people – I know Coolmore and Godolphin have said they'd go after the bonus. And Camelot showed it's not an impossible dream."

Betfred quote Ruling Court at 16-1 to emulate Nijinsky by coming out on top at Epsom and Doncaster, and spokesman Mark Pearson said: "We're delighted there's a live contender and we'd love to pay the £2 million bonus."

Latest Betfred Derby betting

Betfred: 7-2 The Lion In Winter, 9-2 Ruling Court, 8 Twain, 10 Delacroix, 25 Expanded, Stanhope Gardens, 33 bar

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