Dual Derby winner Harzand not entered for St Leger

The Ladbrokes St Leger was dealt a blow yesterday when trainer Dermot Weld revealed that his dual Derby hero Harzand has not been entered for the Doncaster Classic.

The race sponsor was not quoting Harzand for the race but plenty of bookmakers were, with William Hill making him 4-1 favourite and Bet365 5-1 joint-favourite, although connections had not previously indicated one way or the other whether Doncaster might be on their radar.

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is the major autumn aim for Harzand, who has won four of his five starts, most notably the Derby at Epsom by a length and a half from US Army Ranger and the Irish Derby at the Curragh by half a length from Idaho - whose position as general favourite for the Leger will now harden.

Weld revealed: “It has been decided not to enter Harzand for the St Leger. He is on a well-deserved midsummer break following his win in the Irish Derby.

“We will choose a prep race for him before aiming him at the Arc. Where that prep race will be hasn’t yet been decided.”

Ladbrokes quoted Idaho last night as 7-2 favourite, with Wings Of Desire an 8-1 chance and a trio of horses, Sword Fighter, Muntahaa and Across The Stars, bracketed at 10-1.

Irish Derby fourth Red Verdon, who had previously finished sixth behind Harzand at Epsom, is quoted at 12-1, and trainer Ed Dunlop said yesterday that the progressive colt will be conditioned with Doncaster firmly in mind.

“He’s having a nice, easy fortnight following his second in the Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud last Thursday,“ Dunlop said.

“He’ll be aimed at the Great Voltigeur at York next month, and then the Leger. That’s the plan.”

Red Verdon has made startling progress since landing a Class 3 Chester handicap by a length and a quarter from Soldier In Action in May, his rating having soared from 80 to 114.

Entries for the September 10 Classic will be released today.

COMMENT

In the grand scheme of things, the fact that a horse you do not own has not been entered in a race that will not be run for two months is hardly a big deal. But Harzand's absence from the Ladbrokes St Leger field is certainly a shame.

If ever a colt looked tailor-made for the extended mile-and-six-furlong test of the final Classic of the season, it is the dual Derby winner, who knuckled down admirably in the closing stages over a mile and a half at Epsom, and again at the Curragh.

He was well on top at the line each time and it is difficult to imagine there is a three-year-old around who could live with him at Doncaster given an extra quarter-mile to bring his staying power even more into play.

And Galileo's six straight sires' championships show that stamina need not be a drawback for a stallion's commercial prospects.

Now, neither Dermot Weld nor the Aga Khan needs any advice on how to place their horses. Their records worldwide over the past four decades show they know exactly what they are doing.

They clearly have their minds set on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, understandably so for a trainer who has yet to lift the prize and an owner who has made a habit of winning it.

Yet are they not missing a trick in at least giving themselves the option of using the Leger as a warm-up, rather than, say, the Prix Niel the next day?

The timing is all but identical, the odds are that there would be no more exertion for Harzand than were he to go to France - and what better way for his owner finally to wipe away those bad Shergar memories than by having his successor bolt up 35 years on?

DAVID CARR

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Tony O'HehirRacing Post Reporter

Richard BirchReporter

Published on 19 July 2016inNews

Last updated 10:26, 20 July 2016

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