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| September 11, 2005 | Sunday | Sha’aban 6, 1426 |
Scorpion wins English St. Leger
LONDON, Sept 10: Scorpion, the 10-11 favourite, ridden by Frankie Dettori for Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, made all the running to win Saturday’s Doncaster St Leger, the final classic of the English horse racing season.
Thirty minutes later O’Brien completed a big race double when Oratorio (7-1) edged out Epsom Derby winner Motivator (3-1) to win the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Scorpion came home a length clear of The Geezer, the 7-2 second favourite ridden by Richard Quinn, despite suddenly shying away from the rail less than a furlong (200 metres from home) in the 2.9 km test of stamina.
Third place in the field of only six went to 11-1 chance Tawqeet, the mount of Richard Hills.
It was a third success in the Leger for both O’Brien and Dettori, the jockey making the right choice by staying in England.
Earlier in the week, the Italian was set to ride Motivator in Ireland but doubts had arisen about whether the colt would race on ground that might prove unsuitable.
In the event, Motivator raced with distinction only to lose out by half a length to the Kieren Fallon-ridden Oratorio, who had also beaten Motivator in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in July.—Reuters
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