Defoe ticks all the boxes for St Leger Stakes
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Saturday sees a fantastic day’s racing from Doncaster, including the latest instalment of Great Britain’s oldest Classic – the St. Leger Stakes.
We also have another two Group 2 races to look forward to in the Park and Champagne Stakes with a number of intriguing battles.
As ever, the Coral News Team are on hand to give you some pointers on where the value might lie.
Bet of the Day
The feature race of the day is the St. Leger Stakes, and what a race we have in store.
There’s a three-way battle at the top of the betting with Aidan O’Brien’s Capri, Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean and Roger Varian’s Defoe all heading the odds.
Coronet and Stradivarius will also be strong contenders from John Gosden.
However, it’s Varian’s Defoe that catches the eye. This three-year-old star is unbeaten throughout 2017, winning his last four-in-a-row.
The in-form colt was an impressive winner at Newbury in a Group 3 last time out. He proved that he’ll have no issue in lasting the one-mile-and-six-furlong trip at Doncaster.
Andrea Atzeni was on-board that day and will ride him again in this one. The conditions of good to soft should suit the progressive stayer, too.
It’s easy to fancyhis chances. Defoe is Coral’s Bet of the Day.
Intriguing battle between starlets in Champagne Stakes
The latest renewal of the Group 2 Champagne Stakes pits a number of this season’s star two-year-olds against each other.
Charlie Appelby’s Mythical Magic and Mark Johnston’s Dream Today look the two horses to beat.
Appelby has a fantastic record in this race and will be looking to make it three wins out of five here.
With two wins out of two at Ascot and Deauville respectively, this two-year-old flyer is mightily impressive.
However it’s Johnston’s Dream Today who looks like the one to watch.
A full-brother to Al Wuhair, he was superb in victory at the Ebor last month on debut.
Connections are excited about his prospects and Coral’s current price looks very tempting.
Nathra can surprise in Park Stakes
The other Group 2 of the day sees a very interesting battle forming between Aclaim, Home Of The Brave, Nathra and Breton Rock.
Both Acclaim and Home Of The Brave have been strong in the betting but it’s John Gosden’s Nathra that could pose a serious threat.
Each of the four-year-old filly’s three career victories thus far have been secured over 7f and her runner-up showing in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes last time out was no disgrace.
Frankie Dettori is a huge fan and goes again with her here. Connections reckon the good to soft conditions will suit her and she’s got to be taken seriously in this sort of contest.
1:50 Doncaster – Lexington Abbey
2:05 Chester – Viscount Loftus
2:25 Doncaster – Nathra
2:40 Chester – Soldier In Action
3:00 Doncaster – Dream Today
3:35 Doncaster – Defoe
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
