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Stars set to storm St Leger at Doncaster

William Haggas' Storm the Stars looks to be the one the beat at the Ladbrokes St Leger
William Haggas' Storm the Stars looks to be the one the beat at the Ladbrokes St Leger

Connections of Storm The Stars believe their horse is the one to beat in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster next month.

The William Haggas-trained colt cemented his position as a leading contender for the one-mile-six-furlong Classic when winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last week.

While he only beat Bondi Beach by a half a length in what was a slightly controversial finish, his previous placed efforts in the English and Irish Derbies, as well as in the Grand Prix de Paris demonstrate, his Group One credentials.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, feels Storm The Stars' form bears the closest inspection and expects the Sea The Stars colt to feature in the finish on September 12.

He said: "Storm The Stars has come out of York in great form and everything is fine with him.

"I thought it was a good performance in the Voltigeur. He was game and really stuck his head down in the final furlong.

"The form of that race looks strong and I think he is the one they all have to beat at Doncaster. The others need to improve to beat him - I'm not saying they won't but they need to.

"I think he will be more effective over a mile and three quarters. He wants this trip."

York runner-up Bondi Beach is one of six horses still in the mix for Aidan O'Brien, with the trainer's facile Irish St Leger Trial winner Order Of St George currently heading the ante-post markets.

The Ballydoyle challenge also includes Group Three scorer Fields Of Athenry, Irish Derby third Giovanni Canaletto, Melrose handicap third Outspoken and impressive Dundalk maiden winner Hobart.

John Gosden has won three of the last eight renewals of the final Classic of the British season, most recently with Masked Marvel in 2011, and is set to rely upon Mr Singh, who has not run since making all of the running to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July.

Toulon was the last French-trained winner of the race in 1991 and there are two Gallic contenders going forward in the shape of the Francis Graffard-trained Sumbal and Mikel Delzangles' Vengeur Masque.

David Brown's Listed Glasgow Stakes winner Medrano and Proposed, who hails from Richard Hannon's yard, complete the 12 confirmations.

Hugo Palmer has ruled Covert Love, winner of the Irish Oaks, out of the final Classic of the season, with French outings looking more likely.

The Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on 13 September is her next possible target, while the Prix de l'Opera at the Arc meeting on 4 October is another potential option.

Covert Love is also entered in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on 17 October.

Palmer, who confirmed his stable star will stay in training next season, said: "The plan is to make a plan now.

"She's in the Vermeille, the Opera and the race at Ascot and she stays in training next year, so nothing is really a must at this stage. The Leger is no longer an option.

"She cantered for the first time since the Yorkshire Oaks yesterday and seems really well in herself. You never know how a filly will go into the autumn, so we will see how she is nearer the time."

Palmer also plans to send Galileo Gold to Longchamp on Arc weekend, with the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in his sights, a race in which the yard's Aktabantay finished sixth last year.

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