St Leger next stop for rapidly progressive Gordon winner Ottoman Emperor

Ottoman Emperor will head straight to the St Leger following his Gordon Stakes victory with Johnny Murtagh keen to freshen him up for next month's Classic.

Murtagh never managed to win the St Leger during his illustrious riding career but he looks to have a live contender who could give him his first win in the race as a trainer if last week's relentless galloping display at Goodwood is anything to go by.

It was a fourth straight success for Ottoman Emperor and bookmakers reacted in tandem by cutting him into 8-1 for the Doncaster showpiece on September 11.

Watch: Ottoman Emperor wins the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes

Murtagh said: "He's a very relaxed horse and he's quite lazy in the early part of his races so that gives him every chance of staying the St Leger trip. He'll head straight there now. He's been busy so he won't run again before then and we'll freshen him up for it."

Reflecting on the brave victory last Thursday, Murtagh added: "I was delighted with him. I did think stepping up in trip would help him and it did. When you travel over to a race like that you never really know what to expect but he's improving all the time and hopefully he will continue doing so."

Johnny Murtagh: enjoying his best season as a trainerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The last horse to complete the Gordon Stakes-St Leger double was Conduit in 2008, while Sixties Icon (2006) and Millenary (2000) have also achieved the feat since the turn of the millennium.

Ottoman Emperor was not seen at all as a two-year-old and only finished sixth on his debut in a maiden at Dundalk in March. He won his maiden next time at Cork before landing a handicap at Gowran Park and a conditions race at Navan.

It has been a terrific 2021 for Murtagh and Ottoman Emperor's victory was his seventh stakes success of the season.

Read more:

'He can win another decent pot' - our experts with seven Goodwood eyecatchers

Goodwood delight at crowds but Friday fight leads to racegoer arrest

Goodwood Cup second Away He Goes lined up for 'exciting' Melbourne Cup bid

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here