Icon Delight For Noseda

Jeremy Noseda realised a lifetime ambition when Sixties Icon powered home in the £475,000 Ladbrokes St Leger to provide the Newmarket trainer with his first British Classic success.

He has enjoyed numerous big-race wins with the likes of Proclamation, Wannabe Grand, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko and Araafa, a dual Group One winner this season, but a domestic Classic had been missing from his CV.

However, Sixties Icon, under a super-cool ride from Frankie Dettori, corrected the omission in emphatic fashion.

With its regular home Doncaster currently undergoing redevelopment, the 230th running of the race took place on the Knavesmire for the second time, the only other occasion being the 1945 renewal when Chamossaire prevailed.

And once again York provided the perfect setting for the great event, with a total of 31,046 racegoers enjoying the sunshine.

Dettori rode a confident race on the 11-8 favourite and after holding him up towards the rear, he moved smoothly through the field to track the leaders with two of the 14 furlongs to go.

When the Italian asked his mount to go the response was immediate and Sixties Icon, who is by a Derby winner (Galileo) out of an Oaks heroine (Love Divine), strode into the lead and only needed to be nudged out to beat 50-1 shot The Last Drop by a comfortable two and a half lengths, much to the delight of the crowd.

Red Rocks (4-1) was a length back in third, followed by Ask.

Noseda, who as a boy was a regular at Doncaster on Leger day, was thrilled with the outcome.

Speaking from Keeneland, Kentucky, where he is viewing yearlings, he said: 'I'm absolutely delighted, over the moon. I just wish I was there, but the work has to go on.

'It's a great day and thank goodness he did it in the style we anticipated. He never looked like getting beaten.

'I wasn't surprised how well he was travelling, I knew I had him better than before Goodwood and being honest I thought he was an absolute certainty.

'That's why the pressure was on because I didn't expect anything other than him winning and winning well.

'He's got better and better and he'll be an even better four-year-old.'

Dettori, who was recording his 100th winner of the season, had the choice of mounts between the winner and Red Rocks.

After treating his fans to his customary flying dismount, he said: 'I was nervous. I wasn't so sure I'd made the right decision but a furlong and a half out the decision was clear ? I couldn't believe how well he was going.

'Jeremy said be patient ? the horse is good, ride him with confidence. I kept repeating to myself ?wait, wait, wait' and when I pressed the button he went three lengths clear.

'I heard the crowd roar and what a great feeling. When you are going like that you just hope they find another gear and when it does happen so spontaneously like that it's fantastic.

'It is a Classic, one of the best tracks in the world and he was a worthy favourite for a long time. When you get that roar from the crowd ? I guess it's the same feeling as Thierry Henry has when he takes a penalty.

'Sixties Icon is very good, he's gone from strength to strength and OK it wasn't a vintage Leger but he's made mincemeat of them and you've got to start respecting him now.

'That's 100 winners and what a race to get it in.'

Dettori had earlier suffered a blow with the news that his 'best horse' Electrocutionist had died.

He added: 'This game is up and down. It can't be all glory, you have some sad days so it's best just to enjoy the good moments like now.'

Sixties Icon carried the colours of Susan Roy, and her husband Paul is considering a trip to Longchamp for the colt.

He said: 'If he comes out of this well we'll supplement him for the Arc. He's no out-and-out stayer and he's got a turn of foot.

'I'd like to thank the Jeremy Noseda team, especially Shaun Travis who looks after him every day and Mick Denaro who rides him every day.

'I was a little bit worried because he was so strongly fancied. It's unbelievable, you don't expect this, to win a Classic. It's my best moment in racing by a long way.'

It was a bad result for the sponsors and Mike Dillon of Ladbrokes said: 'Two Ladbrokes St Legers and two Frankies (Dettori won last year on the heavily-backed Scorpion). When Frankie wins we lose.'

Following his victory Sixties Icon was quoted at prices from as short as 8-1 up to 16-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 1.

The Barry Hills-trained runner-up had shown plenty of promise when keeping on to take fourth place behind Youmzain in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last month.

'The Last Drop has run a great race, a real cracker,' said Hills. 'He was wrong in the middle of the year but ran well in the Great Voltigeur and has improved since then so we were hopeful of a good run.

'Next year, he will hopefully make up into a nice stayer. It will be nice to have a horse in the yard who can go for the big cup races.

'He might have another run this year, we will see how he is.'

Brian Meehan's Red Rocks finished second in the Voltigeur and once again emerged with credit.

Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Paul Reddam, said: 'The winner won fair and square, what more can I say? But probably the trip was a bit too far.

'He's been a great horse for us all year and hopefully there'll be even more from him next year and perhaps he will win a Group One.

'And what a great job Brian Meehan and his staff have done to keep him on a roll all season.'

Ask, who has been plying his trade in handicaps, showed vastly improved form to finish just a head behind Red Rocks.

The Duke of Devonshire, who owns the colt in partnership with Sue Magnier, said: 'I was really pleased with that run.

'The ground was probably a bit too soft for him when he was second here last time out but we thought it was worth taking a chance with him.

'There was certainly no disgrace in his effort and it has proved worth having a go.

'I will have to discuss it with Mr Magnier but I would think he will stay in training next year.

'He didn't run at two and has only had six runs this year, so you would hope he is still open to improvement.'

? PA Sport