Those traditionalists clinging to the belief that the mile and six furlongs of the Doncaster St Leger is still a valid and relevant classic distance may have felt their grip loosening after Irish Derby runner-up Dr Johnson easily won what appeared to be an ideal Leger warm up in the Ballycullen Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Pre-race concerns about possible ring rustiness and quickly softening ground were blown out of the considerable amount of falling water when Dr Johnson sprinted past the pace-setting Aliya to win by three hard-held lengths.
The few who might have held 7/1 ante-post Leger dockets from the English Tote would have been hugging themselves with Christy Roche's immediate remark that "this is a real racehorse. He'll win the English St Leger". To judge from trainer Charles O'Brien however, it looks like it will be an empty feeling.
"The English St Leger is an anachronism. It proves very little and in terms of the colt's stud value or the possibility of racing him in America it would not mean much," O'Brien said before outlining a probable alternative plan.
"There is an attractive route involving the Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp in three weeks as a stepping stone to the Arc. The Niel is confined to three-year-olds over a mile and a half. I have to discuss it with his owner," O'Brien explained. Yesterday, he reported that no decision had yet been made.
Dr Johnson races in the colours of his trainer's legendary father Vincent who trained three winners of the Doncaster Leger during a rather mixed relationship with the race. Ballymoss (1957) Nijinksy (1970) and Boucher (1972) may have won but many believe that winning at Doncaster contributed to Nijinisky getting beaten in the Arc.
The present master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, looked set for a clean sweep a furlong out in the Debutante Stakes when Christy Roche's mount Kitza, Photogenic and Susun Kelapa formed a line of three in the lead. Viola Royale and Tittle Tattle disturbed the formation but not Photogenic, third to King Of Kings nine days ago, who sprang something of a 10/1 shock.
"There wasn't much between the three and it was a tough choice for Christy but Photogenic quickened up well," O'Brien said.
The other Stakes race on the card fell to Declan Gillespie's Poker-B who made most of the running and held off O'Brien's favourite Best Before Dawn.
His jockey John Murtagh went on to double up with Kuwait Bay in the Strathmore Handicap but failed to make it three when the newcomer Lady Spy, backed down to 7/4 favourite, couldn't get to grips with Delerious Moment who finally delivered on early season pomise.
