21 Go Forward For Ladbrokes St Leger

Youmzain, successful in the Group Two Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 22, is in line to bid for a return success at the course in the season´s final Classic, the #475,000 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger, which takes place at the Knavesmire on Saturday, September 9.

A bumper field could line up at York for the world´s oldest Classic, with 21 horses remaining at today´s forfeit stage, 11 more than at the same stage in 2005.

The Mick Channon-trained Youmzain swept late to deny the Red Rocks, trained by Brian Meehan, by a head in the Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur, and the pair are set to renew rivalry at York, which hosts the historic race while Doncaster undergoes redevelopment.

Aidan O´Brien secured his third Ladbrokes St Leger with Scorpion last year, who followed in the footsteps of Milan (2001) and Brian Boru (2003), and the Irish champion trainer has seven horses remaining.

The Ballydoyle septet is headed by Septimus, victorious in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York in May, and also includes Ladbrokes Graet Voltigeur third Puerto Rico, Group Two-placed Mountain, Tusculum, Magicalmysterytour, Savannah and Fire And Rain.

The classically-bred market leader, Sixties Icon, trained by Jeremy Noseda, is on course for the race following his success in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on August 1, when he defeated the Marcus-Tregoning-trained Jadalee by a length and three-quarters.

The Mark Johnston-trained Lina´s Selection was third to Noseda´s charge at Goodwood and earlier won at Royal Ascot in June before securing a Listed race success in the John Smith´s Extra Smooth Silver Cup over the 2006 Ladbrokes St Leger course and distance, on July 15.

The William Haggas-trained Mont Etoile, part-owned by eight-time St Leger winning jockey Lester Piggott, scored her biggest triumph in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and followed that effort with a good fourth to the brilliant Alexandrova in the Group One Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 16.

Sir Michael Stoute is famously yet to win the great race, although he has trained the runner-up five times. Stoute could attempt to rectify that with Ask and Book Of Music, while John Gosden, victorious with Shantou 10 years ago, may saddle Corum and Group Three Queen´s Vase third, Ermine Sea.

Alongside Youmzain, Channon could run Listed Predominate Stakes winner Championship Point, while Brian Meehen may also be two-handed with the lightly-raced Judge, and Barry Hills is set to run Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur fourth, The Last Drop.

There is a final chance for horses to be supplemented for the 2006 Ladbrokes St Leger, at a cost of #25,000, at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday, September 4.