You Got To Me supplemented for St Leger - Ancient Wisdom to wait for soft ground

Ralph Beckett announced on Monday that Irish Oaks winner, You Got To Me has been supplemented into Saturday's St Leger.

A front-running winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield earlier in the season, You Got To Me benefitted from more patient tactics when beating Content in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Aidan O'Brien's filly managed to reverse that form in the Yorkshire Oaks last month, but Ralph Beckett's filly ran another mighty race, crossing the line just half a length behind the winner.

On the back of that performance at York, a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was mentioned. Beckett seemed more keen on the Champion Fillies' & Mares' Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, so when Monday's news broke, it took plenty in the sport by surprise.

Alex Elliott of owners Valmonth Racing told the press, "We had a conference call with Newsells racing manager Gary Coffey, Anthony Ramsden, Ralph and myself this morning. The final decision to supplement was made about 30 minutes before the deadline."

"A lot was to do with how the filly came out of York. We've been monitoring that and Ralph feels she's in good enough order for her to take her chance. We were thinking about the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day but that can often be run on very soft going and we feel her best runs have been on better ground, and the ground looks like it's going to hold at Doncaster."

"We believe she'll stay very well and opportunities to run in Classics don't come up very often. We believe the trip holds no fears and that it's an open year. She's going to be among the market leaders and we think she deserves to take her chance." 

The news of You Got To Me's supplementation came soon after Charlie Appleby announced that Ancient Wisdom would not be running in Saturday's Classic. Appleby's bolt had been expected to take on Aidan O'Brien's travelling army, but the trainer said on Monday, "The horse is in good form, but will instead be aimed at an autumn campaign with his favoured ground conditions."

Aidan O'Brien's Queen's Vase winner, Illinois is now the firm favourite for the final Classic of the season. With Ryan Moore remaining in Ireland for Irish Champions Weekend, Wayne Lordan - who rode Illinois in the Great Voltigeur Stakes - will attempt to win his second British Classic, having guided Winter to 1000 Guineas glory in 2017.

Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square look likely to join Illinois in the field, with You Got To Me now sitting fourth in the market behind Aidan's trio of runners. You can get the full, updated betting for the 2024 St Leger here on our website...