Friday 13th September 2019

Author: Jordan Yates

Image: Jordan Yates

Day Three of the St Leger Festival kicks off with Group 3 action in the form of the Sceptre Stakes which is a race over seven furlongs. The one who looks to set the standard is Roger Varian’s Farzeen who arrives here after back to back victories and still looking very unexposed, she could well prove to be anything and a bold showing is likely. I have however taken her on though with one at a slightly bigger price and that’s the Ralph Beckett trained DI FEDE. She’s a consistent type at this sort of level whilst many in the field have a few questions to answer, despite that she will have to step up if she is to win but I think it’s very likely that she will once again run her race.

The next Group race on the card comes at 3.10 and that’s, of course, the Doncaster Cup which is ridden over two miles and two furlongs. The race looks somewhat of a formality as it’s impossible to impose STRADIVARIUS here. He returns to Doncaster for the first time since finishing third in the 2017 St Leger and his since confirmed himself as the best stayer in the business at the moment who’s taken all that has come before him this term. This looks another fine opportunity for him to claim yet another cup. Old rival Dee Ex Bee once again looks the main danger in the line up as it’s hard to envisage any of the others being able to lay a glove on the Gosden hotpot.

Also taking place at Doncaster on Friday is the Flying Childers Stakes which is also a Group 2 affair however this time over five furlongs. I feel that this year’s renewals of the race can go to the Royal Ascot winner A’ALI who’s the mount of Frankie Dettori for Simon Crisford. He was slightly disappointing last time when tried in Group 1 company in France but won back to back Group 2’s prior to that which included the Norfolk Stakes. A return to that form would make him a massive player here and very tough to beat. His main danger looks to come in the Irish raider Alligator Alley for Joseph O’Brien. He justified strong market support the last day at York’s Ebor Festival and looks the most likely to trouble the market leader here.