Don’t let Doncaster become afterthought

DONCASTER is in danger of becoming a bit of an afterthought despite hosting the final British Classic of the season.

There are more people pondering about where Baaeed will go to end his career rather than finding the Cazoo St Leger winner on Saturday. Donny has a serious dilemma

and the clash with Irish Champions weekend does not help. Poor prizemoney has seen Stradivarius swerve the Doncaster Cup, Cazoo is poised to pull all sponsorship in sport but the calendar is increasingly stacking against Donny.

Top three-year-olds would rather have a tilt at next month’s Arc than run in the Leger. Irish Derby winner Westover is proof of that. It’s also the time of season where horses go to pastures new and currently, that’s abroad.

The best two-year-olds will largely wait for Newmarket’s Future Champions meet in three weeks’ time and York’s Ebor Festival was only just over three weeks before Doncaster.

This year’s Leger is shaping up to be a curious if not spectacular edition with New London the odds-on favourite. Stamina is the only question mark, but on official ratings he has 7lbs to find with Hoo Ya Mal, who he beat at Goodwood.

Perhaps United Nations of Aidan O’Brien’s is the potential fly in the ointment. He won the Derby trial at Lingfield and some good future stayers have came out the yard from that race in recent years.

Like the meeting itself, it’s a muddling affair and it’s best to wait and see what turns up.