2024 St Leger News - Quotes from connections
Ahead of the 2024 St Leger at Doncaster, leading trainers Aidan O'Brien, Ralph Beckett, David Menuisier, and Owen Burrows share their thoughts on their contenders. O'Brien expresses confidence in Illinois, Jan Brueghel, and Grosvenor Square, predicting the race will suit their strengths. Beckett believes You Got To Me is in good shape for the challenge. Menuisier partners with a trusted jockey for Sunway, while Burrows is excited about Deira Mile's potential. Each trainer anticipates a competitive race in favorable conditions.
- Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 St Leger
- This Classic takes place at Doncaster on Saturday 14th September
- Read quotes from Aidan O'Brien, Ralph Beckett, David Menuisier and more
Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster on Saturday.
Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say, before their stable stars take part in the final Classic of the season.
2024 St Leger News - Quotes From Connections
Aidan O'Brien on his three contenders
Illinois
Very happy with him. We always felt he would stay. He won in Ascot over a mile-and-six and he ran very well in the Voltigeur, we thought that was a lovely trial for him.
Wayne (Lordan) rode him that day and he was very happy with him. We know that he'll get the trip. Nice ground will be important to him. He's very closely related to an Arc winner, so he's a horse with a lot of class and we think the St Leger will suit him well.
He could have run in the Derby, but City Of Troy was there. We ran him in Ascot because we've had the Leger in mind for him for a long time now.
Jan Brueghel
He didn't run last year, so he's had to make up a lot of ground. We were very happy with his last run at Goodwood. He found the track a little bit difficult and he was the first one off the bridle, but he got the trip really well and we think the extra distance will suit him.
We think he has improved a good bit since Goodwood. Nice ground will suit him too. The long, flat straight will suit him. He's a very low mover, a long-striding horse, so there's no doubt that the track will suit him.
Grosvenor Square
He's a very unusual horse. A very difficult horse to deal with if you're riding against him. If you let him go, he won't come back, if you go after him he might kill you. He seems to have an awful lot of stamina. A very high cruiser and a very genuine horse. I think he's very exciting and exciting for people to watch. He'll make the St Leger a tough race.
We always felt that letting him make the running was going to suit him. We didn't do it with him earlier because he was a big, weak horse and we didn't think that he was ready for it physically, so we kept containing him. We've always had the St Leger in mind for him and the Curragh race worked in lovely.
Ralph Beckett (You Got To Me)
I don't think stamina will be an issue," said Beckett. "She seems in good shape. We're conscious that her best form is on good ground or faster and it looks like being that at the weekend if the forecast is correct. It felt like a good fit for her.
We've been first, second and third with fillies in the Leger. I wouldn't say we've always got it right, but it is certainly not a race that holds any fears, for sure.
David Menuisier (Sunway)
Sadly, Oisin has to go to North America [to ride] so won't be around on Saturday and, because of the Irish Champions Festival, if you want a really top jockey I think you have to look at all the nations.
I get on well with Christophe and he's actually ridden for me twice this year and won on both of them, so we need to keep that going. He knows the horse even though he's never ridden him as he's been beaten by him several times. I've known him for 20 years. It's a massive bonus for us to have him.
Whether it's the King George or the Irish Derby he always looks like he's staying on well at the end. He nearly fell over on the bend in the King George but he got back on his feet and decided to go again. A lot of horses would have given up at that point, so he showed that he has the will to do well.
We'll go there in our best possible shape. He goes on any ground but the good thing if the ground is sound is that they'll go a tad quicker. Either way, I assume Aidan will cover the pace in the race. It would be amazing but we'll think about the superlatives afterwards. It's my birthday on Thursday as well, so it would be lovely.
Owen Burrows (Deira Mile)
There are only five Classics a year and you try to win one of them to see how hard it is. If I was to win this, I would be absolutely over the moon. We will be trying our hardest and it is great to have a horse to be able to run in it.
Our horse is in great form, he's finished fourth in The Derby and has come on from his last run at Windsor in good shape. I hope he can end the year with a bang.
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