SAINT FRANKIE!
Dettori roars to yet another Leger win
FRANKIE DETTORI wondered why boss John Gosden was so keen for him to ride a colt he knew little about in a handicap at an evening meeting at Newbury in July.
But he knows why now after Logician smashed t he course record at Doncaster to give the 48-year-old jockey his sixth win in the £700,000 William Hill St Leger and a 15th group one win of what is turning into a glorious season for the Italian.
Two-and-a-quarter lengths separated Khaled Abdullah-owned Logician from runner-up Sir Ron Priestley but the gulf in class looked much bigger as Nayef Road stayed on for third with Sir Dragonet beaten over three lengths for fourth. Logician, a son of mighty Frankel, only made his racecourse debut in May and is now unbeaten in five races.
He will not run again this season but, having won over one mile six furlongs and 115 yards yesterday, the chances are he will be contesting t op mile- and- a- half races next season.
The Frankie factor played its part when the Doncaster crowd of almost 30,000 let out a huge roar when his mount swept smoothly to the front just inside the final quarter of a mile. Dettori said: ‘ They went fast and tested my stamina but I knew from two furlongs out I’d won.
‘I kept an eye on Sir Dragonet but he came off the bridle quickly. I did hear the roar but it hits us five seconds later so when I hear it I’m almost at the line.
‘He was the favourite and there are almost 30,000 people here. I’m sure everyone lumped on him. The favourite obliges and everyone is happy.’
Dettori is at Longchamp this afternoon when his mounts include Star Catcher, one of two Gosdentrained runners in the group one Prix Vermeille. Already Dettori has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, one that will be described as his greatest if he can partner Enable to an historic third win in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in three weeks’ time.
Dettori added: ‘I have to thank a great trainer in Jon Gosden, who provides me with plenty of good horse in big races.
‘I’ve won two Classics this year and will enjoy the moment. Then it will be back to the drawing board to get ready for the Arc. There’s still plenty to do.’
Gosden, who was landing his fifth Leger, said: ‘Logician has won in a course record with one flick of the stick.
‘I think a mile and a half will be right up his alley next but this is a Classic and Prince Khaled was keen to come to it.’
Sir Dragonet was the first home of Aidan O’Brien’s three runners in the race but he was in more familiar territory half an hour later when Magical (Ryan Moore) led home stablemates Magic Wand and Anthony Van Dyck to give him a 1-2-3 in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
There was British success at Leopards town when Richard Fahey- trained Space Traveller ( Billy Lee) won the Group Two Clip per Logistics Boomerang Stakes.