Scandinavia Victorious in the Group 1 St Leger
By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Aidan O’Brien won the Group 1 Betfred St Leger Stakes at Doncaster with Scandinavia, becoming the first handler since 1841 to achieve three wins in a row in the race.
The Irish conditioner won the past two editions of the longest British classic of the season, over one mile and six furlongs, with Continuous in 2023 and Jan Brueghel last year.
The three wins in a row was previously achieved three times, by John Mangle between 1786 and 1788, by John Lonsdale between the years 1817-20, and twice by John Scott, in 1827-29 and 1838-41, respectively.
Scandinavia, a son of Coolmore America sire Justify out of a Galileo mare named Fabulous, was bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt, and carries the colours of the Coolmore partners, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs John Magnier. The three-year-old colt, who was dropping back in distance, was ridden to victory by Tom Marquand, husband of fellow jockey Hollie Doyle.
The Ballydoyle, County Tipperary, Ireland-based winner had only a neck to spare over the runner-up, Rahiebb, a Newsells Park Stud-bred son of Juddmonte’s star sire Frankel. The colt, out of Playful Sound, a Street Cry mare, is trained in England by Roger Varian for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, and was ridden in the Betfred St Leger by Irish jockey Ray Dawson.
The now nine-time Betfred St Leger-winning handler, Aidan O’Brien, was also responsible for the third-placed finisher, Stay True, a Galileo son out of a Bahamian Bounty mare called Bounce, who crossed the finishing line a length behind the runner-up carrying the Westerberg colours as the colt is co-owned with Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and had the assistance of Mickel Barzalona in the saddle.
Speaking at Leopardstown in Ireland, when he had witnessed another of his stable stars, Delacroix, win the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the highlight of the two-day Irish Champions Festival, Aidan O’Brien said of Scandinavia, a half-brother to another Group 1 winner in Above The Curve:
“He’s hardy and Tom (Marquand, jockey) gave him a great ride. He stays very well but we were a little bit worried when the ground got on the softer side. He’s a lovely horse. He’s a typical Justify, he’s very, very genuine. The better the ground, the better you’ll see from him, and I’d say there’s plenty to come from him.”
A winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes over one mile and five furlongs at Newmarket, England, in July, Scandinavia achieved his first success at the highest level when taking the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes over two miles at the end of July.
Scandinavia currently holds an entry in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia for the first Tuesday in November. When asked if the colt would head Down Under, O’Brien said:
“It’s a possibility. He’ll have to go and get scanned and see whether he is eligible to go or not, but there’s a very good chance the lads (the Coolmore partners) might want to go down there with him.”
For the winning rider, Tom Marquand, Scandinavia was his second success in the Betfred St Leger, a race he first won in 2020 aboard the son of Australia, Galileo Chrome.
The English rider was high in his praise for his willing partner, Scandinavia, admitting:
“He’s got the most beautiful temperament. Speaking to Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and Wayne Lordan, the thing they all said was just how straightforward he was. He’s an extremely special horse and one I’m privileged to be sat aboard today. To be aboard for Ballydoyle is something special.”
The win was a second classic victory of the current season for Justify, who sired Ruling Court, winner of the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, England, in early May. Unfortunately, the Godolphin-owned Ruling Court was euthanized in August following complications from the hoof disease laminitis.
