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Census Bids to Register Ladbrokes St Leger Credentials
12/08/11

Census (12/1 with sponsor Ladbrokes) has caught the eye of many experienced observers as a potential Group One Ladbrokes St Leger hero and the Richard Hannon-trained colt will head to Newbury on Saturday for his final prep race before advancing to Doncaster for the £500,000 Classic over an extended mile and three quarters on Saturday, September 10.

Census
© Racehorse Photos

Census
The progressive Cacique colt has improved for each of his three races so far this season. He followed a Newbury handicap win with second to Brown Panther in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot and then another runner-up finish behind the John Gosden-trained Masked Marvel in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on July 7.

Census, who runs for the Beeswing syndicate of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing that includes Liz Hurley, had been entered in another Ladbrokes St Leger trial, next week’s Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, but was taken out at the six-day stage in favour of a tilt at Newbury’s Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes on August 13.

Alex Smith of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing revealed today: “The Ladbrokes St Leger is very much the plan for Census and we are running in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes on Saturday because Richard Hannon felt that it was important to get another run into the horse before the Leger but wanted to stay closer to home - Newbury is just down the road.

“The horse is in great form and worked very well this morning. He is a horse who needed experience. We felt he was improving with every run and will improve again. We think he is a highly progressive animal who is going places, so we are very excited about his chances on Saturday.

“He will definitely benefit from the extra distance at Doncaster in September and the St Leger was always the plan after Newmarket, but Richard was keen to get another run in before the big race.”

Godolphin has won the Ladbrokes St Leger on five occasions with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained quintet of Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999), Rule Of Law (2004) and Mastery (2009). Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni could saddle the brilliant QIPCO 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine Blue Bunting.

Brown Panther is the pride and joy of England and Manchester United footballer Michael Owen, and the Tom Dascombe-trained colt is one of 14 Ladbrokes St Leger entries among the 16 possible starters for the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.05pm) at York on Wednesday, August 17.

Namibian
© Racehorse Photos

Namibian
Namibian, 8/1 for the Ladbrokes St Leger with the sponsor, is another that holds a Great Voltigeur engagement. Mark Johnston’s charge progressed from handicap company to win the Group Three Queen’s Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot and then showed pace over a mile and a half to see off the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Fiorente in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 26.

Johnston also has Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial winner Dordogne, Eternal Heart and Sadler’s Risk engaged in both contests.

Sponsor Ladbrokes currently has the Aidan O’Brien-trained Seville as its 3/1 favourite for the Ladbrokes St Leger. The colt, another with the Great Voltigeur on his agenda, has filled the runner-up berth three times in Group One races including behind stablemate Treasure Beach in the Irish Derby in June and Meandre in last month’s Grand Prix de Paris.

O’Brien has landed the historic Classic on three occasions with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). Ireland’s champion trainer has 10 entries, among them the filly Wonder Of Wonders who was second in the Oaks at Epsom in June and a close third in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 17.

Sir Michael Stoute took the prize in 2008 with Conduit and the Freemason Lodge trainer has current Ladbrokes St Leger second-favourite Sea Moon (7/1), a well-regarded and lightly raced colt who easily won his only start so far this term, a 10-furlong York handicap.

Other notable Ladbrokes St Leger hopefuls in the York contest are the Godolphin-owned Genius Beast, trained by Al Zarooni, and the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Thimaar, who impressively landed a Newmarket maiden in July and is trained by John Gosden, successful in 2010 with Arctic Cosmos.

Also among the excellent candidates included in the 36 entries for the Ladbrokes St Leger, which takes place on the final afternoon of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, is the Gosden-trained King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Nathaniel.

The four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival runs from Wednesday, September 7, through to Saturday, September 10, inclusive.

For further information and to book tickets, please go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk

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