Classic glory beckons

Dubai: History beckons as rookie Godolphin trainer Mahmoud Al Zarouni sends out Rewilding to contest the St Leger, the final leg of the English Triple Crown at Doncaster today.

Historically, victory for the 33-year-old Emirati trainer who was unveiled as Godolphin's second trainer on the eve of the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) Dubai World Cup, will confer on him a maiden Classic triumph for the greatest win of his six-month-old career.

Al Zarouni, who gained his first Group 1 success when Buzzword took the Germany Derby in July, will have the priceless services of Godolphin pilot Frankie Dettori, who knows a thing or two about winning the St Leger.

The flamboyant Italian has won the great race five times since Classic Cliché in 1995, and most recently with Conduit in 2008. His other victories came courtesy of Sixties Icon (2006), Scorpion (2005) and Shantou (1996).

However the weight of expectations for Al Zarouni to deliver are firmly planted on his shoulders with Rewilding going into the world's oldest Classic as the warm 6/4 favourite with most English bookmakers.

Rewilding's favouritism follows his impressive performance in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August where he beat Midas Touch, who re-opposses today, by four lengths. Earlier he hinted at better things to come when, despite not enjoying the undulations at Epsom, he ran a big race to finish third behind Workforce in the Derby.

Although there are a lot of good signs out there for Rewilding a big question mark remains on whether he can get the extra furlong at Doncaster, having previously raced over a maximum distance of a mile and a half.

However, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford believes Rewilding has the perfect profile to win a demanding race like the Leger.

"He has got a fantastic profile — he was third in the Derby and then he won the Great Voltigeur like a really classy colt," Crisford said earlier this week in England.

"To win the Ladbrokes St Leger, it is all about class in my view. We have been lucky enough to win this Classic with five horses but you have to be good and he has the class.

"He is a little bit like a filly in a roundabout way but the great thing about him is that he comes from a fabulous family — he is a half-brother to Dar Re Mi plus a host of other talented middle distance performers.

"A mile and six furlongs is great while he also has enough speed to win over a mile and a quarter — next year we will be campaigning him over shorter distances. He is a very uncomplicated horse.

Corsica, trained by Mark Johnston for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, will act as a pacemaker for Rewilding who faces nine rivals.

King George V Stakes winner Dandino looks a danger but John Gosden's Artic Cosmos could represent a far greater threat going by his eye-catching third place finish to Rebel Soldier in the Group Three Betfair Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in July.

Ed Dunlop's dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy will not be her best should it rain while the Aidan O'Brien duo of Midas Touch and Joshua Tree have more to find on their recent form.

Saamid can make it a memorable day for Godolphin should he win the Group Two Champagne Stakes two-year-olds.

Latest odds

St Leger (Group1)

6-4 Rewilding, 6-1 Arctic Cosmos, Midas Touch and Snow Fairy, 7-1 Dandino, 8-1 Joshua Tree, 16-1 Ted Spread, 33-1 Theology and Total Command, 50-1 Corsica.