Who To Follow On Day One Of Doncaster's St Leger Festival

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Wed 13 Sep 2023 14.09

Doncaster 13:25

3(17)

Johannes Brahms

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-4

OR: 106

Days: 20

One of the better events on the first day of the meeting at Town Moor is the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes and Johannes Brahms dropping into a race like this could be a class above being a very well bred son of Siyouni.

Seen three times during his career he made a winning debut at Naas when keeping on well towards the finish and was then sent into the 5f Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot when running on well into second behind Big Evs who was franked the form.

Back up to 6f which he needed, he was last seen in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes when just a length back in second behind Lake Forest, finishing ahead of some good horses.

Dropping back into lesser company from a good Group Two event leaves him with a leading chance and he should handle these softer conditions.

William Haggas has a few nice runners on the first day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster starting in the opener with Alpha Capture who is on a dropping handicap mark and is looking to bounce back to form.

On handicap debut in the next Summit races off a mark of 76 and is bred to be better than that and the application of first time cheek-pieces could spark him into winning form.

In the Group Two May Hill Stakes Hard To Resist will be looking to reverse the form with Darnation and having a win on soft ground already to his name he holds a big chance for the king.

One of his better runners on the afternoon is Golden Lyra in the Group Two Park Hill Fillies' Stakes with the filly stepping in trip to this distance for the first time and it could bring improvement.

The yards final runner of the afternoon is Kingfisher King who holds soft ground form and on handicap debut could be better than a mark of 100.

Haggas heads into the weekend running at a 20% strike rate for the last two weeks, managing to land eight winners from his last 40 runners.

Buick heads into the St Leger meeting with a lead of over 20 wins at the top of the jockey championship and in the second race of the afternoon he rides the favourite Chic Colombine for George Boughey who is seeking a hat-trick.

He also holds a big chance with Dragon Leader in the next who is unbeaten in three during his career after a superb win at the Ebor meeting last time out and he should go close again.

Buick then teams up with Romanova for Ollie Sangster who was a nice winner last time out and if building on that can go close again here.

At a big price in the Group Two Park Hill Fillies' Stakes One Evening was a narrow second to Sea Theme last time out and that looks strong form. Big each way player.

Buick's final ride of the afternoon comes on Cavern Club for Marco Botti and being a winner last time out he can't be ruled out if improving again.

Buick has been riding at the top of his game over the last two weeks running at a strike rate of 29%, managing to ride 16 winners from his last 55 rides.