Logician confirms status as market leader in Doncaster St Leger

Apparently, crowds amounting to 30,000 strong, went crazy loud with their appraisal of Frankie Dettori on Logician.

Moving into contention entering the final stages of Saturday's William Hill Doncaster's St Leger Classic, many another fragile thoroughbred might have gone sideways with that crescendo of approval. Logician 5-6 favourite, is an unfamiliar roan colour, sort of similar to our very own Silverstone Air in Kenya.

He did wonders in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, proving a double consistency not always par for racing. On top of that, he broke records, 2.4 lengths free of Sir Ron Priestly (Franny Norton, 49 years of age), and, Nayef Road.

GOOD HORSES

Trainer, John Gosden, has an eye for good horses, and he thought Logician was brilliant from the get go.

Ground conditions were hard causing Logician to drift right, but Frankie believes he might be the golden boy to take over from Enable when she retires after the Arc de Triomphe next month. Owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Logician is more human than imaginable.

He treats every competition in a laid back manner. Such a character. He is now set for the paddocks until 2020. Frankie has now won the St Leger six times, while JohnGosden clips five. Not bad in a competitive world.

Aiden O'Brien's, Sir Dragonet, Il Paradiso, and, Western Australia, did not function incredibly.

 It was too far - one mile six furlongs. But he was not perturbed when Magical simultaneously won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown with Ryan Moore, followed closely by Magic Wand and Anthony Van Dyke.

***

The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby has drawn 21 thoroughbreds nominated towards a start in the 40th Running of the 1 1/8 mile event, September 21, at Parx Racing.

It has become an important prep race for 3-year-olds enroute towards a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and will be nationally televised for the first time on NBC.

Headlining the group amid a wide open sophomore division, is Gary and Mary West's, Maximum Security.

The Pennsylvania Derby is a test for him to face those Kentucky Derby foes, since that controversial and historical Triple Crown debacle.

Gary Barber's Preakness winner, War of Will is one such adversary that looks to return to the winners' circle, after failing to do so in his last two starts.

STRAIGHT ACCESS

Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, is likely to ship Improbable from his barn at Del Mar, for a date against the top 3-year-olds.

A win by Improbable would give Baffert his third straight success, and fourth in Pennsylvania Derby history, after West Coast, McKinzie, and, Bayern, were strikers. Bayern owns the stakes time record at 1:46.96. 

Another Hall of Famer, Todd Pletcher, plans to send Spinoff for his seventh start when debuting in front with blinkers at Saratoga.

Godolphin's, Endorsed, maybe the most lightly raced colt among an impending large field, but seems to be maturing at the right time.

Robert Donaldson's Spun to Run may be the lone entrant to boast a home advantage. He already has three wins at Parx, and has been placed behind Maximum Security.

Others worth noting are Cairo Cat, Chilly in Charge, Code of Honour, Extra Hope, King Jack, Math Wizard, Mucho Gusto, Olympic Village, Omaha Beach, Parsimony, and, Tax. Quite a complex line-up.