Pyledriver Takes On Santiago in St. Leger

Aidan O'Brien and Frankie Dettori teamed up with Scorpion to win the world's oldest classic in 2005, and each has five more triumphs in the race on their CVs, which might mean trends players think they have the Sept. 12 Pertemps St. Leger Stakes (G1) at Doncaster sussed with Santiago.

The Queen's Vase (G2) winner finished third to Stradivarius over two miles in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (G1) last time, and his Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) victory means he is the only top-level scorer in the field.

With Ryan Moore riding in Ireland this weekend, O'Brien has turned to Dettori, who said: "Santiago is a classic winner, he stayed two miles at Goodwood, and he's a great ride.

"It's an open race, but he's a good ride. I think Pyledriver is the best horse against him; he's got class."

O'Brien, who has won the classic two of the past three years with Capri and Kew Gardens, said: "Santiago is in good form. He hasn't done a lot since Goodwood, but what he has done we have been very happy with it. He seems to be maturing well. Everything seems good with him."

Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol and Mythical also represent the champion trainer, who said: "Dawn Patrol ran a lovely race at Leopardstown when he was third to Pista, who won a group 3 at Doncaster on Thursday, so it may have been a better race than people thought at the time. We always thought he'd stay this trip, and he won't mind if there's an ease in the ground.

"Mythical also ran very well at Leopardstown on his last start, and he will prefer a more strongly run race. We always thought he'd get further than a mile and a half."

Pyledriver 'In Great Shape'

The feel good story of the 2020 flat season has been the emergence of King Edward VII Stakes (G2) and Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) winner Pyledriver, whose likeable trainer, William Muir, seeks the biggest success of his career after 30 years with a license.

"The horse is fine and everything's grand," said Muir, whose son-in-law Martin Dwyer will ride. "He did his routine stuff on Friday morning and was good, while he's bonny and eating well. He's in great shape.

"I don't care what the ground is. He won on firm at Salisbury first time out when people were saying it was rock-hard, and then he won in testing ground at Haydock. 

"I'm too old now to worry about being in the spotlight, and I'm at Sandown now and drove the horsebox to Kempton on Wednesday, but I'm excited. 

"We've never been in this situation; we're normally 25s, 50s, 66-1 in major races, but the industry is saying we're favorite and deserve to be there and we'll give it a good shot."