A Perfect Storm?

Everything about Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}) seems to be leading inextricably towards the G1 St Leger, and Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum’s model of consistency takes another step towards the Doncaster Classic as he tackles York’s G2 Betway Great Voltigeur S. Wednesday.

If he looked an obvious Leger candidate when staying on into second in the 12-furlong G3 Chester Vase May 7, his subsequent exploits when third in the June 6 G1 Epsom Derby and runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh three weeks later only served to cement his claims for the season’s final Classic. Perhaps slightly below-par when punctuating an arduous period of campaigning when third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp July 14, the bay has a relative vacation to bounce back off.

“We’re hoping he can win. It’s never easy, but he’s beaten most of them and hopefully that will continue,” the owner’s racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. “I think they’ve got him to beat rather than the other way round. We’re the confirmed better horse on form at the moment. It’s unlike William [Haggas]’ training to run him that much, but he has to keep on top of this horse. He gets very fresh.”

In a typically tight renewal, there are grounds for almost all runners, and it is significant that Joseph O’Brien has opted for the unexposed Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) of the Ballydoyle trio. Having beaten the subsequently successful stable companion Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Curragh Cup over 14 furlongs June 28, he may be the one making the greatest amount of improvement at Rosegreen.

“He had a break after The Curragh, but he is progressing,” Aidan O’Brien explained. “He’s just ready to start back again. It’s his first run after a break and he will progress more after this.”

Another lightly campaigned colt with potentially much more to offer is Al Shaqab Racing’s unbeaten Tashaar (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and he could not have been more impressive in his Haydock mile maiden debut May 28 and 11-furlong Glorious Goodwood handicap at the end of last month.

Richard Hannon supplemented the bay last week and commented, “I didn’t want to take on the older horses in the Geoffrey Freer and this was the next step up if he is to be a St Leger horse. He looks like being a very talented horse, but he needs to be in these races to know what we are and where we are going. We think the world of this fellow. He was very impressive when stepping up in trip and carrying top-weight last time. That was only his second race and he could be anything, so we have decided to supplement him to find out whether he is the real deal.”