ATZENI’S TREBLE CHANCE
Defoe poised to net him Leger profit
DONCASTER’S leading rider Andrea Atzeni is hopeful of his third St Leger success this afternoon.
Over the last five seasons he has ridden 44 winners at the Yorkshire course, 13 more than his nearest rival Paul Hanagan.
Two of those wins came in Legers – on Kingston Hill for Roger Varian in 2014 and on Simple Verse for Ralph Beckett a year later.
Atzeni was without a ride 12 months ago and is relishing riding Defoe, an improving colt who is unbeaten in four starts this season.
Defoe began the campaign by winning off a mark of 88 in handicap company at Newbury ® in May but will go to post at Town Moor rated 113, with his latest success being achieved in fluent style in the Group 3 Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes back at the Berkshire venue last month.
“My little horse is genuine and has done nothing wrong all season,” Atzeni said. “He’s improved all year and has done so again since his last win at Newbury.
“He’s never been flashy in his work, or in his races, but I rode him in his last piece of work and he was really good. He’s ready to go again.
“He needs to improve because he’s going to a different level but I’m very happy and think he’s going there with a big chance. The rain that’s arrived has helped his chances because, while he’s won on good ground, he’s better of softer.
“Not a different kind of profile to Kingston Hill but, mentally, I’d say they are very similar.
Judge
“It’s hard to tell how good he is, or when we are going to get to the bottom of him.” Atzeni is well placed to judge the merit of two of Defoe’s biggest rivals. He guided Stradivarius to victory in the Group One Qatar Goodwood Cup last time and partnered Crystal Ocean at Royal Ascot before that colt went on to scoop the Group 3 Qatar Gordon Stakes.
He respects both, but can find chinks. He said: “Stradivarius showed he is a top class stayer at Goodwood but he’s coming back in trip, is quite small and a light mover. I’m not certain the ground will suit him.
“Crystal Ocean has definitely got the class but he’s going up to a mile and six for the first time on soft.
“There has to be a slight question mark about whether he will stay but to me he looks the bigger danger of the two.”
Atzeni would not swap mounts, though, even if he was not contractually obliged to ride Defoe.