Group One St Leger Guide 2022

A winner of a maiden before being narrowly denied in listed company as a 2 year old, Hoo Ya Mal was put away for the winter and was tried over a mile on comeback. Running well enough over an inadequate trip, he wasn’t far beaten into 3rd by Native Trail in the Craven Stakes.

Again shaping like he needed further on his next outing in a listed race over 10 furlongs, Hoo Ya Mal then ran a career best to be 2nd in the Derby behind Desert Crown. His stamina coming into play as he chased home the impressive winner.

Unable to get the better of New London in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood he was 2 lengths behind the Lever market leader. Last seen stepped up in trip for the first time, he scored at Group 3 level at prohibitive odds and showed his class to travel kindly throughout the race before asserting.

This will be his last run before moving to Australia and he’s shown his class and stamina already this season. Key player.

A poor showing as a 2 year old saw Emily Dickinson well beaten on debut and she was put away for the winter off the back of her only outing. Beaten again in maiden company on her seasonal comeback, she did then manage to break her maiden at the third time of asking over 10 furlongs narrowly against her own sex.

Unable to get involved in the listed Lingfield Oaks Trial, she was then moved up in trip to 14 furlongs and shaped with much more promise to be a narrowly beaten 2nd in a group three event. Not disgraced in the Irish Oaks to come home 4th, she was last seen in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. Sent off a warm favourite for the group 2 event, she was beaten by older horses and had to settle for 3rd place.

She’s shown promise over 14 furlongs but might just lack the class to have a say in this Group one against the colts.

Making the trip over from Ireland for Paddy Twomey, French Claim made a pleasing debut last season over a mile as a juvenile before finding himself unable to get competitive in a group three in his last outing of the season.

Returning as a 3 year old on soft ground over 10 furlongs, he strolled out a wide margin winner in a conditions race. Again trying group three level off the back of that, he lacked the pace to really get involved in deeper waters over 10 furlongs. Last seen in the Irish Derby, connections tried to make more use of his stamina and he shaped better trying to make all over 12 furlongs. Finishing a creditable 3rd behind the impressive Westover.

A move up in trip again will likely draw out more improvement but he’ll have to step up to have a say in this strong looking classic.

This season’s Queen’s Vase winner has already proven his stamina and liking for this trip. After debuting last season over a mile and winning with bundles in hand, Elder Eldarov was then put away for the winter.

Making his comeback in May at Newcastle on the All-weather, he handily defied his penalty in novice company and shaped like staying trips would bring out yet more improvement. Sent right up to 14 furlongs in the Queen’s Vase on his next run, he was backed into favourite and duly obliged by staying on powerfully to lead in the final strides and get the better of Zechariah.

Last seen dropped in trip and upped in class, he was a warm favourite for the Grand Prix de Paris but looked to have the tactical pace for a group one over 12 furlongs.

Moving back up in trip will see him to better effect and he’ll likely be right in the mix.

The lethal combo of William Buick and Charlie Appleby team up with the short priced favourite New London. Only seen once last season as a 2 year old, he scored in maiden company narrowly on soft ground over 10 furlongs at Newmarket. Immediately hinting stamina was going to be his speciality.

Returning this season as a 3 year old, he handily defied a penalty over 10 furlongs at Newmarket again and was aimed at higher targets off the back of that. His only career defeat coming at Chester in a Group 3, he was sent off a short priced favourite but couldn’t live with Changingoftheguard. The form taking a boost with Changingoftheguard winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A dip into handicap company saw New London blitz his rivals dropped back to 10 furlongs off a mark of 99. Last seen back up to a mile and a half he scored his first group prize at Goodwood to handily win the Gordon Stakes. Hitting the line powerfully last time out, this trip looks like it’ll suit and he’s won on a mixture of grounds.

Making her debut back in May over 10 furlongs, she found herself a decent enough 3rd despite being sent off at huge odds of 80/1. Well beaten behind Eldar Eldarov on her next outing in novice company over the same trip, she did manage to get her head in front next time out in a low level event for fillies over 11 furlongs.

Switched to handicap ranks thereafter, she struggling over 12.5 furlongs off a mark of 79, staying on well but lacking the pace to get herself truly involved. Last seen putting her stamina to good effect in a race over 11 furlongs at Southwell, she ran away a very easy winner to record a 7.5 length win. Despite how impressive that win was, this task demands a lot more of her and her rating of 88 suggests she’s going to be left well behind.

A highly consistent colt for Marco Botti, Giavellotto scored nicely enough on debut last year and managed to follow that up under a penalty over 10 furlongs on seasonal comeback earlier in the year.

Moved to handicap ranks off the back of that, he was unable to justify favouritism over 10 furlongs on his first try in a handicap but had shaped much better since being upped to 14 furlongs. Finishing 3rd on his first attempt over the trip and only beaten a length, he was then 2nd on his next attempt. This time only going down by half a length.

He got his head in front last time out in a small runner field to smartly defy a handicap mark of 97 at Newmarket on rattling fast ground. This is a major step up in class from handicaps but he has been progressing nicely over this trip recently.

Kevin Phillip De Foy sends El Habeeb here off the back of a novice win over 12 furlongs last time out. It’s taken the son of Al Rifai four attempts to break his maiden but he was aimed at lofty targets in his first few outings.

Making his debut over 10 furlongs in a listed race saw him sent off 125/1 and only managing to beat one rival home. Off the back of that connections sent him for the Derby where he managed to come home in 10th of the 17 runners despite going off at 250/1.

Sent off an odds on favourite for a maiden over 12 furlongs at Chester, he just failed to hold off Aimeric after hanging quite badly to his left. He did win at prohibitive odds last time out over a mile and a half but he’ll need to find masses of improvement to have a say here.

A lightly raced sort for Ralph Beckett, Haskoy has been progressing nicely with each of her outings this season for connections. Making her debut in July at Wolverhampton on the All-Weather, the daughter of Golden Horn had some late market support and duly bolted up with ease. Despite missing the break and hanging to her right in running, she stretched away to an impressive 7 length win.

Rightly moved up to listed company off the back of that she scored black type success over 12 furlongs. The form working out well since with the 7th winning the Park Hill Stakes earlier in the week. She only got up late last time at York having come off the pace and shaped like a longer distance will draw out yet more improvement from her.

This is a big step up in class for her, but she’s still got the scope left for the necessary improvement.