Aidan O'Brien knows exactly what it takes to win the St. Leger Stakes (G1). After all, he landed Great Britain's oldest classic seven times.
The Ballydoyle Maestro, which will find three runners in this year's race on September 14th, including the favorites Illinois Is the ideal candidate combined “class, endurance and speed”.
It is a demanding race without exception, and O'Brien believes that a 3-year-old must remain the extended 1 3/4 miles really well and have to have the class to get on it.
He is confident Illinois, the unbeaten Jan Brueghel and the youngest scorers with 20 lengths Grosvenor Square Everyone has the correct registration information.
Illinois has proven his endurance by winning the queen's vase (G2) over 1 3/4 miles in Royal Ascot before showing the necessary class if it only went down to the Irish derby (G1) Los Angeles In York's great vaultignur inserts (G2).
“We always thought that Illinois is a St. Leger horse,” said O'Brien. “He stays very good and we have the race in mind for a very long time.
“We were enthusiastic about him in York and we know that he will stay well this longer trip. It is essential that he gets a nice floor, so hopefully he will do it.”
The Punters are instinctively attracted by an unbeaten horse and Jan Brueghel, a compact price for mere performance, but with the potential for a significant improvement on this longer journey, which has been built into his chances, has won all three starts.
The Son of Galileo landed the Gordon Stakes (G3) in Goodwood, although he seemed that they did not cope with the ups and downs of the Sussex route particularly well.
He was supposed to be much happier on Doncaster's flat, galloping racetrack, and his trainer believes that Jan Brueghel has improved significantly since then.
“We believe that this longer journey corresponds to Jan Brueghel, and we also believe that he has improved a good deal since Goodwood,” O'Brien revealed. “I think the long, flat Straight will really fit it and it seems to be in good shape.”
