Handicappers' Corner: Leading Lights up Doncaster

"Sell in May and go away: come back on St Leger day". So goes the axiom of those modern-day pantomime villains in the City. In truth, this year even racing fans might have been well advised to take up the invitation, at least where the classics are concerned. Leading Light's St Leger win on Saturday rounded off a quintet of classics that, Dawn Approach's 2000 Guineas performance aside, have been pretty forgettable in the grand scheme of things. 

Leading Light, who was providing Aidan O'Brien with his fourth success in the race a year after Camelot's bid for history representing the same yard was thwarted, ran to a career-best figure of 120 on Saturday. That is the lowest given to a St Leger winner since Lucarno in 2007, though it must be said that it's not too far behind other recent winners such as Encke (123) and Mastery (122). 

Leading Light's new Timeform master rating is 121, reflecting the fact that he appeared to idle close home with the race sewn up, which allowed Oaks winner Talent (upped 2 lb to 116) and Galileo Rock (ran to 117, 2 lb below his Irish Derby second) to close up. For all the talk of the Arc as his next target, it's anticipated that Leading Light, winner of the Queen's Vase earlier in the summer, is a prime candidate to boost his yard's already stellar record in the Ascot Gold Cup in the years to come.

The main talking points to emerge from the rest of the St Leger meeting all relate to Godolphin juveniles. On Friday, Ihtimal (111) put up a performance bettered by only Rizeena and Tapestry among the girls in her year when dotting up in the May Hill. Godolphin have taken the last two renewals of the Fillies' Mile with the same autumn's May Hill winner, and it's worth pointing out that Ihtimal has achieved at least as much to date in form terms as either Lyric of Light or Certify. 

Just 35 minutes after Ihtimal, Be Ready (114p) put up his own statement of intent when accounting for the well-regarded Barley Mow in the newly-listed Flying Scotsman Stakes. Although not currently entered in any of the big two-year-old races this autumn, it would be criminal were Be Ready not tried in a Group race before the season is out.

The final word from Doncaster goes to Outstrip (115), winner of the Champagne Stakes on Saturday. Initially caught out by an injection of pace soon after halfway, Outstrip picked up most impressively to streak away in the final furlong. Whether inexperience or pace was what lay behind his being caught on heels, Outstrip ought to stay a mile and is well worth testing in a Group 1 field. Unlike Be Ready, he has the requisite entries, being in the RP Trophy as well as the Beresford.

There was also Group 1 action overseas at the weekend. The Curragh hosted the Irish St Leger and National Stakes on Sunday. In a way, neither Voleuse de Coeurs (122) nor Toormore (121p) showed unexpected improvement, but in the case of the former it's been a long time coming. Although not out of form this year, Voleuse de Coeurs was belatedly building on her 10-length win in the Irish Cesarewitch last autumn. If she's a bit more consistent in 2014, she could be a danger to all- even Leading Light- in the Cup races.

Toormore looks in line for an even more glorious season next year on the evidence of his National Stakes win. He ran out a convincing winner over Sudirman, who had been Timeform's highest-rated two-year-old, and now looks the latest Hannon charge to take a prominent position in the 2000 Guineas betting over the winter.

There was also Arc trials day at Longchamp on Sunday. In this case, Simon Rowlands' sectionals piece probably has more to say than the raw handicapping of the Prix Niel, Vermeille and Foy, with a steady pace in each of the three races muddying the waters where we're concerned. Foy winner Orfevre (130) in particular did little more than prove his wellbeing ahead of another crack at the Arc, where to say he has unfinished business is surely something of an understatement. 

There's a bit more meat on the handicapping bones regarding the principals in the three-year-old races. Treve (129p) overcame adversity to snatch the Vermeille away from Wild Coco and, given how progressive she's been, further improvement on Arc day can't be ruled out, assuming of course she gets luck in running. Kizuna and Ruler of The World, first and second in the Niel, are both better than the result given the overall steady pace. The fact the Derby winner allowed his Japanese-trained rival first run, yet went down by only a short head, is reflected in their new ratings: Kizuna is now 126+, while Ruler of The World has been upped to 127+.

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