Stoute Has Top Chance Of Leger Glory

Sir Michael Stoute has been champion trainer seven times and won just about every big race around but the St Leger is still missing from his CV.

However, that could change next month as he has a live contender for the Ladbrokes-sponsored Classic at Doncaster in Hard Top.

The son of Darshaan powered to victory in the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Tuesday to rocket up the Leger betting.

After Hard Top had got up under Mick Kinane to beat The Geezer and Avalon by half a length and the same in the Group Two, Coral were impressed enough to promote the colt to 7-2 second favourite behind 6-4 chance Scorpion in their market for the oldest Classic.

The winner only had his first race of the season three weeks ago when he trotted up at Lingfield and the Voltigeur was only his third start.

“It was a very big jump from maiden to Group Two - I was brave for once,” Stoute said.

“He got held up in the spring with little niggles and we didn´t get going until the other day and we took the view that we´d try and find out if he´s a Leger horse or not.

“I would think Doncaster might suit suit him.”

Millenary came put retirement plans on hold as he denied odds-on favourite Distinction in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup.

The eight-year-old - winner of the St Leger in 2000 - has been a regular performer in this kind of event for several seasons, more than paying his way with at least one victory every year.

Having had a disappointing season up until now, Millenary was coming back to his best here and this victory took the old stager´s career earnings to near the #900,000 mark.

However, for the first mile of the contest the end of Millenary´s racing career was nigh, as trainer John Dunlop revealed in the winner´s enclosure.

“When he got a bit behind I thought `Oh dear, perhaps he´s had enough´,” said Dunlop.

“I´d almost retired him in mid-race but he actually picked up beautifully and won very easily. I really enjoyed that.”

Millenary came from last to first to land the spoils by two and a half lengths from Distinction, the Kinane-ridden 8-11 favourite, with Songlark a further length and a half away in third.

Richard Quinn had the winner well detached from his seven rivals in the early stages as Cruzspiel led from Kasthari.

Travelling smoothly, he made steady progress to pick off his rivals in the long straight, but not having found much for pressure in the past the doubt remained as to whether he would go through with his effort.

But the 12-1 winner showed only his best side as he galloped on resolutely to score without Quinn having to go for his whip.

Dunlop added: “He is back to the form of last year and I am absolutely thrilled to bits. Richard gave him a lovely ride.

“He had run two moderate races to start with (this season), but then he ran a bit better at Goodwood so we were hoping he was on the way back.

“He´ll go to the Doncaster Cup and Jockey Club Cup now and hopefully we will find a home for him as a stallion next year. I would have thought this would be his last season racing.

“He has been a wonderful servant, given us all a huge amount of pleasure and has won an awful lot of money.”

Connections of Distinction were not despondent at the defeat and the Stoute-trained gelding remains firmly on course for the Melbourne Cup - for which he is unchanged at 12-1 with Cashmans.

Palace Episode, a winner at lowly Catterick on his only previous start, improved on that to cause a 16-1 upset against some well-touted rivals in the Listed Acomb Stakes.

“It was a big step up but we knew there was a lot more to come from him,” said trainer Kevin Ryan.

“He´s in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster but we´ll let him tell us if he´s ready for that. We are in no rush with him.”

Dunlop´s Camrose benefited from the application of first-time blinkers to record a comfortable three-length victory in the Ladbroke Knavesmire Handicap.

The trainer said: “I think the blinkers certainly helped. I´ve been thinking about blinkers for some time and finally decided we´d have to put them on.”

Prince Of Light ran out the impressive winner of the Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Stakes after hitting the front well over a furlong out in what beforehand looked a highly-competitive handicap.

The well-fancied 9-2 chance sprinted clear to beat Final Verse by a length and three-quarters with New Art another one and a quarter back in third.

His trainer Mark Johnston said: “We´ll see what the handicapper does and if he puts him up 5lb, we´ll run in another nursery.”

Fictional landed some nice bets when taking the closing Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap in a driving finish involving five horses.

Backed into 14-1 from 25-1, Ed McMahon´s four-year-old got home under a good ride from Graham Gibbons and could now be heading for the Ayr Gold Cup.

(c) PA Sport