Scorpion And Dettori Capture Leger

Frankie Dettori lit up a wet and murky Town Moor when he booted hot favourite Scorpion home in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

The success sparked a big-race double for top Irish trainer Aidan O´Brien, who saddled Oratorio to win the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown 30 minutes later.

With Ballydoyle number one Kieren Fallon staying in Ireland, Dettori stepped in for what could be classed as the spare ride of the season.

And the Italian made no mistake in the #450,000 feature much to the delight of the packed stands.

Heavy rain made conditions extremely testing for the 229th running of the world´s oldest Classic and the field was reduced to just six when Avalon was taken out on account of the ground.

The rain continued as Dettori took Scorpion down to the start early as the horse was getting worked up in the preliminaries.

Once under way, the heavily-backed 10-11 chance settled in the lead and set a steady pace through the early stages of the extended one-mile-six-furlong showpiece.

The champion jockey increased the tempo coming off the final bend and kicked the son of Montjeu into a decisive lead once in the straight and he soon had his rivals in trouble.

There was an anxious moment as he jinked after running towards the rail inside the final furlong but Dettori soon had the favourite back on an even keel, just in time to fend off Richard Quinn on The Geezer.

The latter came with a late challenge after David Elsworth´s colt was switched to the outside having been trapped on the rail in an unpromising position.

But Scorpion was too good and running on in determined fashion, he was always holding The Geezer and netted the winner´s purse of #261,000 by a length.

Tawqeet kept on well for third, five lengths away, with Kong fourth, Sir Michael Stoute´s Hard Top next and Hattan last.

The heavy rain had not dampened Dettori´s excitement and he said: 'That´s my third Leger and 10th British Classic - a great milestone for me.

'I´ve got to say thanks to my boss (Sheikh Mohammed) first for letting me ride and I´ve also got to thank Coolmore.

'I´ve got mixed emotions really because I usually win these races for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin so it´s rather peculiar I rode the winner for the main opposition.

'That´s the way it has fallen this year but hopefully I´ll be back winning the same race for Godolphin next year.'

Recalling the race, he continued: 'It´s very hard to judge on this ground. I gradually quickened it all the way but I felt if somebody came at me he would have pulled out a bit more.

'It was a great effort for the horse to make the running all the way.'

And explaining the slip, he said: 'I asked him for a final effort just inside the final furlong and he quickened again and just lost his footing - he just wobbled. I said ´come on let´s win this´ and he was trying to please so much he lost a foot.

'I think he would be a better horse on good ground so he can use his lovely stride.

'His form is black and white. He´s a very good horse and he won like a good favourite.'

Dettori had also been in line for the ride on Motivator in Ireland but with doubts about the Derby winner´s participation, he opted for Scorpion.

He said: 'Reading between the lines, you knew that Motivator was only 50-50 to run and I knew this horse was going spare so I wanted to make sure I was guaranteed at least one good ride.

'We knew this one was going spare and Aidan wanted an answer.'

It was a bad result for the bookies and Ladbrokes´ Mike Dillon said: 'It was a professional gamble. He was ante-post favourite for a long time and if a favourite wins a high-profile race the bookies lose.'

Scorpion is a 10-1 shot with Ladbrokes, Coral and Cashmans for next month´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe while William Hill and Paddy Power go 7-1 about his chances in the Longchamp feature.

Unlike Dettori, success in a domestic Classic still eludes Elsworth. However, he was delighted with The Geezer´s effort.

He said: 'You only get one bite and we probably weren´t in the right place to make a challenge.

'I´m certainly not blaming Quinny though - it was just one of those things.

'At the finish it looked like we needed another furlong really which is a bit surprising considering that some pundits thought we might not stay a mile and three-quarters.

'I wouldn´t swop my horse for the winner and he´s run a really great race.'

The Geezer´s owner, Jeff Smith, added: 'I know we were beaten but at least we have beaten the horse of Stoute´s. I was sure he should never have beaten us at York.

'What a prospect he is for next year over any distance from 10 furlongs to two miles and you really can´t complain when you are second in a Classic.'

Richards Hills, who rode Tawqeet, said: 'I thought I was going to get there.

'He has got a lot of pace but he couldn´t pick up in that ground - it was like riding in the Gold Cup, the ground is very heavy.'

Stoute is left still searching for his first winner of the Doncaster race, the only Classic he has not won.

He has had 23 attempts at winning the Leger but Hard Top was reported to have been unsuited by the testing ground.

Peter Reynolds, manager for owners the Ballymacoll Stud, said: 'He just hated the soft ground. We thought beforehand he would go on it but we were wrong and there will be another day with him.'

Hard Top´s jockey, Ryan Moore, confirmed this view, and added: 'He was not comfortable early on and over the hill he was struggling - he changed his legs a lot.

'He had a chance in the straight but then he could not find anything else on the ground and was beaten.'

Arundel trainer John Dunlop was responsible for both Tawqeet and Kong and he was satisfied with their efforts.

He said: 'I was happy with both of mine.

'It was a good progression to be third for Tawqeet after winning a York handicap, while Kong ran a better race than he did at York.'

? PA Sport