With the clock ticking down towards the final Classic of the 2024 campaign, the St. Leger Stakes was struggling to set the pulse racing. Nine remaining entries, five from the yard of Aidan O’Brien, and three rank outsiders priced at 66/1+, the latest renewal of the oldest and longest Classic of them all seemed unlikely to deliver a vintage spectacle.
With all of the above in mind, any injection of intrigue would be more than welcome to add a little flavour to the great race. Thankfully, connections of the Ralph Beckett-trained You Got To Me have provided just that by stumping up the £50,000 late supplementary fee to enter their star filly for the Saturday showpiece.
Classic Number Two in Her Sights
Entering the season with only a maiden success on her CV, You Got To Me threw her name into the Classic mix when hanging on grimly to land the Lingfield Oaks Trial in May. Epsom then proved too tough a task, although the regular mount of Hector Crouch performed with credit to finish fourth behind Dermot Weld’s Ezeliya.
It was a similar story at Royal Ascot in the Ribblesdale Stakes, with You Got To Me run down close home to again finish fourth. Next stop, The Curragh, and an imminent career high.
Pitched into an Irish Oaks field containing leading fancies from the yards of Aidan O’Brien, Dermot Weld, and even Willie Mullins, You Got To Me benefitted from a more patient ride – powering home to deny the fast-finishing Content. The O’Brien charge gained revenge in the Yorkshire Oaks, with Content mastering You Got To Me by ¾l. However, You Got To Me did well to finish so close on the disadvantaged side of the course and was only undone by a masterful ride from Ryan Moore.
That York display rubberstamped You Got To Me’s ability to perform at the highest table, but where would she head next?
St. Leger the Surprise Choice
Also held over the 1m4f trip, the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot was the most obvious port of call. However, that October event is regularly held on soft ground, which is unlikely to see the filly to best effect.
In contrast, the going at Doncaster is currently described as good, with minimal rain forecast. Granted those favourable conditions, and with You Got To Me having recovered well from her York effort, connections opted to go for Classic gold.
Confirming the decision, Alex Elliott, representing part owners, Valmont, stated, “We believe she’ll stay very well, and opportunities to run in Classics don’t come up very often. We believe the trip holds no fears and that it’s an open year. She’s going to be among the market leaders, and we think she deserves to take her chance.”
Yet to race beyond 1m4f, the additional distance of the St. Leger is the big question mark. However, her breeding page offers encouragement on that score. Sire Nathaniel regularly imparts stamina into his progeny, whilst close relatives Vindolanda and Godsend won over 1m6f+.
No Stranger to St. Leger Success
In trainer Ralph Beckett, the You Got To Me team have the perfect man to consult on what it takes to land the Town Moor highlight with a filly. Back in 2015, the Hampshire handler achieved just that feat when saddling Simple Verse to master the Aidan O’Brien-trained joint-favourite Bondi Beach by a head.
No filly has succeeded since, and nor has Beckett, but O’Brien has claimed the top spot on three occasions and looks set to provide the stiffest opposition in 2024. Irish Derby hero Los Angeles is expected to take up an alternative engagement in the Irish Champion Stakes, but that still leaves the unbeaten Jan Brueghel, Queen’s Vase winner Illinois, and Grosvenor Square, who won the Group 3 Irish St. Leger Trial by the small matter of 20 lengths last time out. Conquer that trio, and You Got To Me may well be celebrating a second Classic victory of the 2024 campaign.