Confidence in Storm's Leger bid Connections of Storm The Stars believe their horse is the one to beat in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster next month. The William Haggas-trained colt cemented his position as a leading contender for the one-mile-six-furlong Classic when winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last week. While he only beat Bondi Beach by a half a length in what was a slightly controversial finish, his previous placed efforts in the English and Irish Derbys, as well as in the Grand Prix de Paris, demonstrate his Group One credentials. Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, feels Storm The Stars' form bears the closest inspection and expects the Sea The Stars colt to feature in the finish on September 12. He said: "Storm The Stars has come out of York in great form and everything is fine with him. "I thought it was a good performance in the Voltigeur. He was game and really stuck his head down in the final furlong. "The form of that race looks strong and I think he is the one they all have to beat at Doncaster. The others need to improve to beat him - I'm not saying they won't but they need to. "I think he will be more effective over a mile and three-quarters. He wants this trip." York runner-up Bondi Beach is one of six horses still in the mix for Aidan O'Brien, with the trainer's facile Irish St Leger Trial winner Order Of St George currently heading the ante-post markets. The Ballydoyle challenge also includes Group Three scorer Fields Of Athenry, Irish Derby third Giovanni Canaletto, Melrose third Outspoken and impressive Dundalk maiden winner Hobart. John Gosden has won three of the last eight renewals of the final Classic of the British season, most recently with Masked Marvel in 2011, and is set to rely upon Mr Singh, who has not run since making all of the running to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July. Toulon was the last French-trained winner of the race in 1991 and there are two Gallic contenders going forward in the shape of the Francis Graffard-trained Sumbal and Mikel Delzangles' Vengeur Masque. David Brown's Listed Glasgow Stakes winner Medrano and Proposed, who hails from Richard Hannon's yard, complete the 12 confirmations.
