'Our ultimate target' - Newbury course record breaker set for St Leger bid

The Cazoo St Leger has been the ultimate target for Zechariah this year and his joint-trainer Martyn Meade believes the Geoffrey Freer winner will be suited by “an ideal test” on Town Moor.

Zechariah, owned by Aquis Farm and Manton Park, broke the 1m5½f course record at Newbury when landing the Group 3 on good to firm last time, producing a career-best effort on the back of a below-par fourth when favourite in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Meade believes the Newmarket run came too soon after Zechariah's Royal Ascot second in the Queen’s Vase and has otherwise been pleased with his progress this year.

Meade, who shares the trainer’s licence with son Freddie, said: “We couldn’t have been more pleased with him last time and I liked the way he quickened and put the race to bed.

“We’re ticking him over now and it’s a nice break between Newbury and Doncaster, so it’s all systems go for the St Leger. It was our ultimate target for the year and he’s progressed well enough apart from the one hiccup at Newmarket.

“It’s his biggest challenge yet but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t step up to it. He’s been strengthening up as the season has gone on and it should be an ideal test for him as long as the ground doesn’t go too soft.”

Martyn Meade: joint-trainer of ZechariahCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Prix Royal-Oak and Melbourne Cup are international options for Zechariah but Meade expects the St Leger to be his final run of the season.

He said: “I think the Melbourne Cup would be a bridge too far this season as he needs minding a little bit. He’ll have had enough of a campaign after Doncaster and that will be it for this year.

"It will be wonderful to look forward to him next year as an improving, staying horse – he’ll be stronger at four and it will be exciting to consider running him over two miles, which would open up many opportunities.”

Zechariah and his Queen’s Vase conqueror Eldar Eldarov were on Tuesday among 13 acceptors for the St Leger, headed by 8-13 favourite New London.

Westover was one of three single-figure priced entries taken out of the race along with the Aidan O’Brien-trained King Edward VII Stakes scorer Changingoftheguard and Francesco Clemente, who boasts a 3-3 record and is trained by John and Thady Gosden.

Emily Upjohn, Point Lonsdale, Aikhal and El Bodegon were among others not to stand their ground.

A supplementary entry for the St Leger can be made at a cost of £50,000 on September 5.

St Leger remaining entries

Anchorage Aidan O’Brien
Bluegrass Aidan O’Brien
Eldar Eldarov Roger Varian
French Claim Paddy Twomey
Giavellotto Marco Botti
Hoo Ya Mal George Boughey
New London Charlie Appleby
Secret State Charlie Appleby
United Nations Aidan O’Brien
Waterville Aidan O’Brien
Zechariah Freddie and Martyn Meade
Emily Dickinson Aidan O’Brien
Lizzie Jean Ivan Furtado

Cazoo St Leger (3.33 Doncaster, September 10)

Sky Bet: 8-13 New London, 6 Eldar Eldarov, 8 Secret State, 12 Hoo Ya Mal, Zechariah, 14 United Nations, 20 bar

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