Having claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions, Aidan O’Brien sent three into battle in his bid for a third consecutive St Leger success. As the only one of the Ballydoyle trio with form over staying distances, Bahrain Trophy and Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia headed the betting. However, the highest rated of the seven runners on show was the apparent O’Brien second string, Lambourn.
Too good for the field in the English and Irish Derbys, he was the proven class act in the line-up. Stay True will go down in history as the final horse to represent the legendary sire Galileo in a British Classic, but he needed a big career best on his first outing in Group 1 company.
The betting suggested that the biggest threat to the O’Brien contingent could be fellow Irish raider, Carmers. Arriving on the back of a staying on second over 1m4f in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, the Paddy Twomey colt had previously finished ahead of Scandinavia when landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
The three British runners occupied the bottom three positions on the betting list, but all had something to recommend them. Furthur posted a solid trial for this when claiming the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, and his stablemate Tarriance arrived seeking a hat-trick having shot through the handicap ranks. Rahiebb, meanwhile, tied in closely on form with both Carmers and Furthur.
Result
- 1st – Scandinavia 2/1F, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Rahiebb 14/1, Jockey: Ray Dawson, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 3rd – Stay True 11/2, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £396,970
- 2nd – £150,500
- 3rd – £75,320
- 4th – £37,520
- 5th – £18,830
- 6th – £9,450
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £3
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.50, 2nd – £5.10
- Exacta – £27.60
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £29.29
- Trifecta – £149.20
Recap
Rahiebb became unruly in the stalls but broke best when the gates opened. However, he was soon overtaken on both sides, with Lambourn grabbing the lead on the inside rail, closely followed by Scandinavia to his outside. Carmers came next, with a two-length gap back to Stay True in fourth. Rahiebb, Furthur, and Tarriance were patiently ridden in the early stages.
Lambourn opened up a one-length advantage moving into the back straight. Little change in the order, with Scandinavia going well in second, a length clear of Carmers and Stay True.
Having led from pillar to post at Epsom, Lambourn attempted to follow the same route to success and began to wind up the pace around the home turn. Having burnt off his rivals over 1m4f, would his stamina last over this 1m6½f trip?
Lambourn travelled well as the runners entered the four-furlong straight, but his pursuers remained in touch and seemingly ready to strike. Scandinavia soon moved up to the leader, while Carmers travelled best of all in third. Further back, Tarriance and Furthur looked like unlikely winners, but Stay True and Rahiebb were responding to their riders’ urgings.
Two furlongs from home, Carmers moved past Scandinavia to grab second and briefly looked set to take the lead. Once asked for more by Billy Lee, it became clear that Carmers didn’t have as much left as his smooth-travelling style suggested. Lambourn plugged on against the rail, while Stay True began to charge down the outside.
In a pulsating conclusion, it was a galvanised Scandinavia who stayed on remorselessly to regain the advantage at the furlong pole. Having mastered a gallant Stay True inside the final furlong, Scandinavia’s final challenger arrived in the shape of Rahiebb, who finished like a train up the far rail. Having sat last with two furlongs to go, the mount of Ray Dawson reduced the gap to a neck at the line, but Scandinavia held on. Stay True finished one and a half lengths clear of the rest in third.
It was a ninth win in the Doncaster Classic for Aidan O’Brien. Tom Marquand took advantage of Ryan Moore’s absence to claim victory for a second time following his win aboard Galileo Chrome for Joseph O’Brien in 2020.
Runners
- 1. Carmers – SP: 4/1, Trainer: Paddy Twomey, Jockey: Billy Lee
- 2. Furthur – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 3. Lambourn – SP: 11/4, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 4. Rahiebb – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 5. Scandinavia – SP: 2/1F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 6. Stay True – SP: 11/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- 7. Tarriance – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Colin Keane
Non-Runners
All Ran