Camelot should be shorter odds to become a legend

It is St Leger day on both sides of the Irish Sea but there is no doubt that it is the English version of the staying contest, in which Camelot will attempt to complete the Triple crown, that is the race on which to concentrate.

Established in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of English horse racing`s five classic races. But it has fallen on hard times, mainly because connections of quality middle-distance colts have become very wary of running their charges in the event, fearful that their prized assets will be labelled as dour stayers if they run well and/or win over 14 furlongs.

The Coolmore operation deserves considerable praise for having the guts to run Camelot, its unbeaten 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner, in this year`s St Leger at Doncaster because doing so has the potential to have a detrimental effect on his value as a stallion, which is surely the privileged job that he will be doing from 2013 onwards.

Enough commentary about the world of bloodstock and more about Camelot`s attempt at becoming the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to win England`s 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger in the same year. How good is the hot favourite?

The answer is nowhere near as good as Nijinsky or any number of 2,000 Guineas and Derby winners who could have tackled the St Leger but were steered elsewhere, most commonly to the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe. But good enough to beat a sub-standard field in an ordinary year for three-year-olds. Camelot is easily the best of a largely uninspiring bunch.

So Camelot really ought to become only the second English Triple crown winner since the end of World War II. The big question for punters is: does he represent betting value at St Leger win odds of around 2-5? Again, the answer is yes.

The only reason why there has not been more English Triple Crown winners is because connections have shied away from running their 2,000 Guineas-Derby winners in the St Leger. For example, Nashwan probably would have won all three races in 1989 had his owner, Hamdan Al Maktoum, instructed Dick Hern to prepare him for the event on the Town Moor track.

Camelot is nine pounds clear of the next highest rated St Leger runner and, while this year`s classic generation is not a vintage one, the Ballydoyle boy can only beat what lines up against him. And he has been doing that well.

Aidan O`Brien has voiced concerns about Camelot staying the St Leger trip but he completed the Derby looking like he wanted to go around Tattenham Corner again, while he ran on strongly in the final furlong of the Irish Derby at The Curragh, a race that took place on bottomless ground.

The bottom line is that Camelot has too much class for his St Leger rivals and, in all honesty, he should be sent off at Frankel-like odds given his ratings superiority.

Thought Worthy won the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York by a neck from Main Sequence but it was all about William Buick`s magnificent ride as he stole the race in a very slow time.

Derby runner-up Main Sequence ought to turn the tables on Thought Worthy if the St Leger is run at a true pace and shapes as the one to couple with Camelot in forecasts.

The most interesting of the long-priced outsiders is Ursa Major, who has won over the 14-furlong trip, doing so in a Group Three on testing ground at The Curragh last month.

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15/09/2012     © Frixo 2024