LOGICIAN IS A MAGICIAN Dettori eases home to land final Classic
LOGICIAN left nobody in doubt that he is a class act after capturing yesterday’s William Hill St Leger at Doncaster while breaking the track record.
Under a confident ride from Frankie Dettori, Logician – the 5-6 favourite – stalked his rivals like a hungry lion waiting to pounce and when he did, it was game over in the blink of an eye.
Sir Ron Priestley (7-1) tried in vain to hang on to the winner’s tail when taking second place with his stablemate Nayef Road (40-1) finishing third.
Both colts were a credit to their trainer Mark Johnston.
Sir Dragonet (11-4) attempting to give his trainer Aidan O’Brien a seventh victory in the Classic was fourth after appearing not to stay the trip.
Dettori, celebrating his sixth victory in the race on the John Gosden-trained colt, was fully aware of the Yorkshire crowd that had put their faith and hard-earned cash on the Italian’s mount.
“I heard the roar from the crowd,” said Dettori.
“We get it five seconds later and when I got the roar I was almost on the winning line.
“There were more than 30,000 people here and I’m sure everybody lumped on it and the favourite obliged – everybody is happy.
“It’s been a great year. John has provided me with plenty of good horses and we’ve won two Classics this year.
“You’ve got to enjoy these moments and then it is back to the drawing board and get ready for the Arc with Enable.”
Dettori partnered Gosden’s first Leger and Classic winner on Shantou in 1996.
Since that landmark both went their separate ways – Dettori riding for Godolphin until that went sour.
The Newmarket trainer saved his career and now there is not a more feared partnership in the game.
Gosden, recording his fifth success in the oldest Classic, said: “He’s a mile-and-a-half horse really but this is a Classic and the owner Prince Khalid was keen because he breeds these lovely horses.
“He wanted to win a Classic for Frankel – the sire of Logician – who also is responsible for our Oaks winner Anapurna.”
Now unbeaten in his five races, Logician has all the attributes to fill the void when Enable retires at the end of the season.
The 14-1 offered by Paddy Power about the colt landing next year’s Arc de Triomphe might turn out to be a shrewd bet in 12 months’ time.
It is also all about next season for Richard Hannon for his smart colt Threat, the winner of the Champagne Stakes in the hands of Pat Dobbs.
“He’s in all the end-of-season Group Ones and we’ll just see where he ends up,” said Hannon.
“We’ll work back from the 2,000 Guineas.”
On Thursday at Doncaster, the women were queuing to have their picture taken with bare-chested and tanned hulks – yesterday it was Dettori they wanted for their photograph album.