Winning jockey Andrea Atzeni and Kingston Hill are all smiles
The Derby form was royally franked in Saturday’s Gr1 Ladbroke’s St Leger at Doncaster as Kingston Hill came with a dramatic charge to surge past Romsdal and supply a first Classic win for owner Paul Smith, trainer Roger Varian and jockey Andrea Atzeni.
Doubts about the trip, about the ground, and about the Derby form – in which Kingston Hill was second to Australia with Romsdal third – were all cast to one side as Atzeni held his nerve with a ride from the back to swoop to victory on the 9-4 favourite.
Romsdal stayed on for second at 13-2 with 11-2 second favourite Snow Sky third as the market principals dominated the finish.
A stewards’ inqury was called due to interference between the first three, but the result was not changed.
For Varian the victory was a source of immense relief. He had spent the week agonising over drying ground having already scratched Kingston Hill from the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur due to fast ground.
The Newmarket trainer must have felt a pang of regret to see Atzeni pushing away at his mount as they made their way up the straight.
The eye turned to Romsdal, who was chasing down the front-running Granddukeoftuscany, but further back Atzeni was finding a response from Kingston Hill.
Stamina concerns ebbed away as the Racing Post Trophy winner engaged top gear to reach the principals with a rush up the outside, at the same time coming across Snow Sky.
Once past Snow Sky, Atzeni’s mount continued on a path into Romsdal, though was clearly travelling best and had a length and a quarter to spare at the line with two lengths back to Snow Sky.
Varian said: “I’m so pleased for the horse to get the recognition he deserves, for his owner Paul Smith, who is a great man, and for all the team at home working so hard. To win a Classic is brilliant.”
“My word!” said a disbelieving Smith, son of Coolmore partner Derrick Smith.
“Andrea rode a fabulous race. He put him to sleep and gosh he stays. My Dad came over especially for the race and he is off now to watch Australia in Ireland. It means a lot to have him here with me. I can’t believe it.”
Kingston Hill could carry his newly-attained status into the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – for which he was trimmed to 12-1 (from 16) by Betfred.
Atzeni seemed lost for words, saying: “It’s great. I don’t know what to say. It’s a dream really. It’s unbelievable. I rode him like the best horse in the race. He travelled brilliant and he is so laid back he just goes to sleep. When I pulled him out he was always going to get there.”
Romsdal’s trainer John Gosden, seeking a fifth Leger win with a team of three, said: “We’ve no complaints, Romsdal ran great and the other horses ran very well, all finishing their races well.
“We’ll put them all away until next year they need time to develop and strengthen. Kingston Hill has nailed us late and gone away by a length and a bit in the end. He squeezed us up a bit but no complaints.”
There was drama at the start when Odeon had to be withdrawn as he was wearing undeclared headgear, meaning 12 runners took part.
www.racingpost.com
