Frankel's Logician in a Class of his Own in St Leger

Mark Smith - Sunday September 15

Frankels' crowd pleasing roan son Logician kept his record at a perfect five for five in Saturday's Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster.

The long-striding 3yo colt came from near the tail of the field under Frankie Dettori to defeat Sir Ron Priestley (Australia) by two and a quarter lengths with Nayef Road (Galileo) a head back in third. (images Doncaster Racecourse and Juddmonte)

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It was not good news for the quartet of three-year-olds nominated for the Melbourne Cup.Il Paradiso (Galileo), Technician (Mastercraftsman), Dashing Willoughby (Nathaniel) and Western Australia (Australia) all failed to impress and were the final four home. 


The only runner expected to make a race of it with Logician was the Group III Chester Vase winner Sir Dragonet who clocked in fourth.

It was a sixth win in the world's oldest classic for Dettori and a fifth for trainer John Gosden.

"He took Frankie on early, you could see Frankie's hands were higher than usual, but he eventually relaxed well," Gosden told Sporting Life.

"He stayed the trip well, which is always a worry, and the fast ground rather than it being testing probably helped him stay the trip and he's won in a record time with one flick of the stick.

"He's a mile-and-a-half horse really, but this is a Classic and Prince Khalid was keen because he breeds these lovely horses and wanted to win a Classic for Frankel - we've won him two now as we also won the Oaks for him (with Anapurna). 

"The way he quickened with just one flick - he's a gorgeous horse. I think he'd be better on good ground, rather than good to firm.

"He'll probably revert to a mile and a half next year. He's done so much so quickly this year that we'll put him away now, he won't run again this season.

"He was held back for some time and I was diligent with him, having not done a lot at two. He's come a long way in a short period of time."

A half-brother to multiple Group III winner Diffused (Champs Elysees), Logician is the fifth winner from as many to race out of Juddmonte Farms stakes-placed Daylami mare Scuffle who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cityscape (Selkirk) and Group II winner and multiple Group 1 placed Bated Breath now a promising young stallion Bated Breath (Dansili).

Scuffle has a two-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit, a yearling filly by Kingman and a colt foal by Time Test. She was covered by Frankel again this year.

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