Dettori: Lah Ti Dar will last it out
Frankie Dettori believes Lah ti Dar has the required stamina to win tomorrow’s William Hill St Leger, for which the unbeaten filly is now favourite.
the sponsors make the John Gosden-trained Lah ti Dar a 15-8 shot to become the eighth filly to win the Doncaster Classic since the Second World War. She has taken over as market leader from kew Gardens (2-1), one of five aidan o’Brien-trained runners.
Lah ti Dar, who carries the colours of composer Lord LloydWebber, was a leading hope for the oaks at epsom in June until struck down by a virus.
She made her comeback in the Galtres Stakes at York last month, slamming her rivals by 10 lengths with Dettori riding Lah ti Dar powerfully to the finish line.
that race was over one and a half miles — two and a half furlongs shorter than the St Leger — but Dettori said: ‘We know she stays well enough. i don’t think the extra furlongs will be a problem, but until we try we don’t know.
‘the decision to run at Doncaster rather than France (in the Vermeille at Longchamp) all came down to the ground. the Vermeille was there to be taken but they are having a heatwave and the ground is firm.
‘ Lah ti Dar is a daughter of Dubawi with a pronounced knee action and we felt Doncaster would suit her better.’
twelve runners will line up in the Leger. the big absentee from the final declarations was Joseph o’Brien’s irish Derby winner Latrobe. He runs in Sunday’s irish Leger at the Curragh instead. neWmarket trainer Luca Cumani enjoyed his first winner televised on itV since his daughter Francesca became part of the broadcaster’s team at the start of 2017 when God Given held on to win the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
it was Cumani’s sixth win in the Group three contest and God Given, ridden by Jamie Spencer, will now be aimed at the Fillies & mares Stakes on Champions Day at ascot on october 20.