GORDI IS the pick to justify the massive confidence shown by trainer Dermot Weld by landing the £225,000 added St Leger at Doncaster today. Weld, who completed a full set of Irish Classic victories when Zagreb won the Irish Derby, is bullish about the chances of Gordi despite the drop in distance his colt faces since his victory in Royal Ascot's two mile Queen's Vase.
Gordi has been a real hotpot in the betting market having started the week at around 12 to 1 before plummeting to around 4 to 1 and if Gordi wins it will be the first Irish victory in 24 years in the world's oldest Classic.
The lightly raced son of Theatrical is not only gifted with stamina - as he proved at Ascot - but also has a turn of foot and the pace needed to land this contest. He also has the undoubted talent of Kieren Fallon to pilot him over Doncaster's galloping 14 furlongs. It has been a dream season for Fallon who has topped the century of winners and currently lies third in the jockeys' title race. He can look forward to even more winners next season having landed the plum job as first jockey to the powerful Warren Place yard of Henry Cecil. He would love to take up that position with his first Classic behind him.
To give him that honour Gordi will have to deny such horses as Cecil's Epsom Derby runner up Dushyantor, the Luca Cumani trained Mons, John Dunlop's improving colt St Mawes and the each way bet of the race, the Barry Hills trained Wilawander.
The Group Two Polypipe plc Flying Childers Stakes which precedes the St Leger looks set for the improving Janib.
Victory for the Tom Jones trained juvenile in a Thirsk maiden was followed up by a Listed success over Tipsy Creek, with Fredrik the Fierce fifth, at York. He can complete a hat trick here and give a further success to Jones who retires at the end of this campaign.
Nagnagnag showed she is near her best when finishing fifth to Concer Un, again at York. Unfavoured by the draw, Sir Clement Freud's filly came with a wet sail following a tardy start. She is obviously in good heart and can turn the tables with York third Moments Of Fortune in the Porcelanosa Rated Stakes.
