Leger over Arc for Lah Ti Dar
Gosden’s filly looks Classic quality
By John Gosden’s late change of heart regarding Lah Ti Dar can provide him with another Classic in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster today.
Straight after her ten-length romp at York in the Galtres Stakes, Frankie Dettori said the one-time Oaks favourite should be aimed at the world’s oldest Classic.
However, connections were tempted by the prospect of the huge weight and sex allowance she would get in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe and it looked as though the Prix Vermeille could be the target this weekend. Whether it is because Gosden already has two viable Arc contenders in Enable and Cracksman and he thinks she would be up against it taking them on, she has been rerouted to Doncaster.
Her presence certainly adds to the race, as do the late additions of Loxley and even Andrew Balding’s Maid Up. The St Leger attracts criticism but last year’s renewal did not turn out so bad with Capri, Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius fighting out the finish.
This looks a high-class renewal, but Lah Ti Dar looked well above average in the Galtres Stakes and given she arrives fresh and unexposed, she could blow the field apart.
It should be a big-race double for Gosden as Too Darn Hot, in the same Lloyd Webber silks, goes in the Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes. A fullbrother to Lah Ti Dar, he catapulted to the head of the betting for the Guineas and Derby when routing a decent field in the Solario Stakes.
Mark Johnston’s Dark Vision looks the main threat this time, but there will be an almighty pop if odds-on favourite Too Darn Hot has his bubble burst at this stage of his career.
Charlie Appleby’s D’bai can get back to winning ways in the Alan Wood Plumbing And Heating Park Stakes.
Things have not fallen right for him since winning a Group Three at Haydock, but he is a true seven-furlong specialist and the only time he has run over that distance since saw him finish full of running at Goodwood.notdisgracedover trips shorter than ideal the last twice, he is a strong selection.