This year’s St Leger favourite Los Angeles has been supplemented for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Ebor Meeting. The race over 1m4f is one of the leading trials for the final British Classic of the season.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner will face a maximum of 15 rivals at York in the Group Two contest. He will be bidding for the fifth victory of his career when he makes the trip across the Irish Sea for the summer event.
Irish Derby Success Secured His Classic Status
Los Angeles returns to winning ways in the @DubaiDutyFree Irish Derby with an excellent ride from Ryan Moore!
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) June 30, 2024
Making it a 16th Irish Derby win for trainer Aidan O'brien! 👏 pic.twitter.com/NFibpjAmih
Los Angeles could only finish third in the Derby at Epsom back in June, but he only had to wait a few weeks to win a Classic, as he landed the Irish Derby at the Curragh. He beat a strong field in the three-year-old race, including Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly.
O’Brien’s colt is the evens favourite in the York races odds for the Great Voltigeur Stakes. He is set to take on Kings Gambit, Deira Mile, and Space Legend in the race.
Victory at York will enhance his St Leger claims further heading into the meeting at Doncaster in September. He is 3/1 in the horse racing betting for the oldest British Classic in the sport.
O’Brien Has a Strong St Leger Team
O’Brien has the record for the most victories by any trainer in the five British Classics. The Irishman once again holds many of the leading cards this year. Illinois will join his stablemate Los Angeles and has a great chance of taking the first prize.
Aidan O’Brien is on the board! Illinois wins the Queen’s Vase at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/Dq9cKOJ88O
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2024
Illinois won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot earlier this season. He improved for the step up to 1m6f, the same distance he will encounter in the St Leger. O’Brien has often used that race as a warm-up run for the British Classic with his leading three-year-olds.
Jan Brueghel is another of the Irish Champion Trainer’s entries for the Doncaster feature. He has the least experience of O’Brien’s contenders, with just three career appearances. His latest triumph came at Glorious Goodwood when he scored in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at the Sussex racecourse.
French Hopeful Sunway Bidding to Reverse Form with Illinois
Group One-winning French colt Sunway shone last season when he won the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. He has yet to add to his tally in 2024, but he has come close in some big races in the UK, Ireland, and France.
David Menuisier’s runner finished a close second in the Irish Derby. He was less than a length behind Illinois in that 1m4f contest. The son of Galiway will get the chance to reverse his form with the Ballydoyle runner at Doncaster.
On his most recent appearance, Sunway took on the best older horses in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. His connections will have been delighted with his fourth-place finish in the Group One contest which was won by fellow French raider Goliath. He finished ahead of Breeders’ Cup winner Auguste Rodin and Coronation Cup winner Luxembourg.
The 2024 St Leger is set to take place on the 14th of September, with the final declarations scheduled for 48 hours before the race.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.