Soldier Of Fortune Tops Excellent Entry For Ladbrokes St Leger

>> Aidan O'Brien Talks About Ladbrokes St Leger Hopes

Brilliant Irish Derby victor Soldier Of Fortune heads a superb 40-strong entry for the #500,000 Ladbrokes St Leger, run over an extended mile and six furlongs at Doncaster on Saturday, September 15, details which are revealed today, Thursday, July 5.

Click Here for Entries

The 231st running of the Ladbrokes St Leger will be the richest ever and the world's oldest Classic returns to Doncaster having been held at York last year while its traditional home was undergoing a #32-million redevelopment.

Having finished a fine fifth to Authorized in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2, Soldier Of Fortune produced a terrific performance at the Curragh a month later, powering home nine lengths clear of stable companion Alexander Of Hales, with another stablemate, Vodafone Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain, a short-head away in third. He is the 4/1 market leader with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes St Leger, with Alexander Of Hales at 16/1 and Eagle Mountain at 14/1.

The trio's handler, Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, is responsible for 15 entries in all as he bids for a fourth Ladbrokes St Leger victory after the wins of Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005).

The master of Ballydoyle's squad also includes Mahler, who was 11th in the Vodafone Derby but proved his staying prowess with a decisive three and a half length victory over Veracity (14/1) in the Group Three Queen's Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot on June 22, and is 5/1 with Ladbrokes.

Vodafone Oaks third All My Loving, a 12/1 chance, then also ran well when staying on to be second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and Montjeu colt Honolulu (8/1) has won two of his three races, most recently a Listed event at Limerick, while there were big hopes for Macarthur (12/1) earlier in the season.

O'Brien said today: 'Soldier Of Fortune seems to be fine after the Irish Derby. We thought there was a change in him from Epsom to the Curragh and were delighted with his performance on Sunday.

'He's a definite possible for the Ladbrokes St Leger. We consider the St Leger a very important and prestigious race. It is a race we like to target every year and we are looking forward to Doncaster this year with all the new facilities - it is going to be a spectacular day.

'We were delighted also with Mahler at Royal Ascot. Pat Smullen rode him in the Derby and just thought he was very babyish and would learn a lot from the race. We were really looking forward to Ascot and he ran a huge race. We think the Leger would really suit him.

'All My Loving will run in the Irish Oaks and she looks a filly who is crying out to go further, so she is definitely another candidate.

'Macarthur was given a mid-summer break with the view to bringing him back for a prep for the Ladbrokes St Leger. There is no definite race in mind at the moment but it could be the Voltigeur or something like that.

'Eagle Mountain looks like a horse who would not have any problem stepping up in trip or dropping down in distance. I don't think it will worry him which way we go. He has just run and we are going to leave him a week or so before we decide but you definitely could not rule him out of the Leger.'

Marcus Tregoning has a prime Ladbrokes St Leger candidate on his hands with the lightly-raced Aqaleem, who is 5/1 with the sponsors. The Sinndar colt broke his maiden tag in the Group Three Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield on May 12 before running a cracker to take third place in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs the following month on only his fourth career start. Tregoning is targeting Aqaleem at the Doncaster Classic, taking in Goodwood's Gordon Stakes on July 31 as a stepping stone.

The trainer commented: 'The plan is to run Aqaleem in the Gordon Stakes. He's only just started back in his work as we gave him a holiday after the Derby and decided not to go to Ireland (for the Irish Derby), and I'm delighted we didn't. He's coming along steadily and he´'l be stepping up the pace soon.'

Boscobel (10/1), trained by Mark Johnston, ran with great credit to take fourth place in the Irish Derby, having previously recorded a gutsy length success over Vodafone Derby fourth Lucarno in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22, with the likes of Yellowstone, Lion Sands, Spice Route and Salford Mill all behind.

Godolphin, successful in the Ladbrokes St Leger on four occasions with Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999) and Rule Of Law (2004), has made four entries, headed by Eastern Anthem, who suggested a step up in trip would suit when second to the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus in the Listed Peters Opal Stakes at Goodwood on May 24.

Empire Day, third to Passage Of Time in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud when last seen in November, and Kirklees, successful in the Group One Gran Criterium at San Siro, Italy, in October, were both trained by Mark Johnston at two. Newbury Listed scorer Measured Tempo, unplaced in the Oaks at Epsom, completes the Godolphin quartet.

Sir Michael Stoute has yet to taste glory in the Ladbrokes St Leger, having landed every other British Classic at least once, although he has saddled the runner-up on no less than five occasions, most recently with Quiff in 2004. Arabian Gulf, narrowly denied by Soldier Of Fortune in the Group Three Chester Vase on May 10, is his one entry this year.

France could be represented by the Jonathan Pease-trained Sagara, a superbly-bred son of Sadler's Wells owned by the Niarchos Family, who ran on when seventh to Lawman in the Prix du Jockey Club (the French Derby) at Chantilly on June 3. Ladbrokes have introduced him into the betting at 10/1.

The Michael Bell-trained Regime disappointed behind Authorized in the Vodafone Derby but had previously impressed with an authoritative victory in the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown on April 28, and Raincoat (16/1), who chased home Authorized in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York on May 17, bids to bounce back from a below-par effort last time in the Prix du Jockey Club for John Gosden, trainer of 1996 Ladbrokes St Leger hero Shantou.

Heron Bay (14/1), who fought back bravely once headed to land the King George VI Handicap at Royal Ascot over a mile and a half on June 21, is entered for Newmarket handler Geoff Wragg, whose father Harry won the race twice as a jockey on Sandwich (1931) and Herringbone (1943) and once as a trainer with Intermezzo (1969).

Luca Cumani, who sent out Commanche Run to take the Ladbrokes St Leger in 1984, has entered impressive Folkestone debut scorer Speed Gifted and Leicester maiden winner Wing Express besides Lion Sands.

Moonax scored a 40/1 success in the 1994 Ladbrokes St Leger for Barry Hills, who also sent out The Last Drop to take second last year at 50/1 and has Celestial Halo entered this year for the latter's Yorkshire owner Jack Hanson, while Henry Cecil has taken the prize four times with Light Cavalry (1980), Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987) and Michelozzo (1989) and has Yarmouth maiden scorer Tempelstern engaged.

Pat Eddery was successful four times as a jockey in the Ladbrokes St Leger with Moon Madness (1986), Toulon (1991), Moonax (1994) and Silver Patriarch (1997). Queen's Vase third Secret Tune, owned by Khalid Abdulla, could become his first runner in the race as a trainer and is a 14/1 chance.

Ladbrokes sponsor the final British Classic of the season for the third successive year in 2007.

The four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster starts on Wednesday, September 12.

Ladbrokes' prices for the Ladbrokes St Leger - Doncaster, Saturday, September 15.

4/1 Soldier Of Fortune, 5/1 Aqaleem, 5/1 Mahler, 8/1 Honolulu, 10/1 Sagara, 10/1 Boscobel, 12/1 All My Loving, 12/1 Macarthur, 14/1 Arabian Gulf, 14/1 Eagle Mountain, 14/1 Heron Bay, 14/1 Secret Tune, 14/1 Veracity, 16/1 Raincoat, 16/1 Yellowstone, 16/1 Alexander Of Hales, 20/1 bar , Others on request. 1/4 odds 1-2-3,