Enceladus firmly in the Leger mix for Joseph O’Brien

Joseph O’Brien could prove the biggest thorn in his father Aidan’s side in the Betfred St Leger after 16 remained in contention for the Doncaster Classic following the latest entry stage.

With William Haggas revealing on Monday that Great Voltigeur winner Maltese Cross will head to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe rather than Town Moor, it is York second and third, Pierre Bonnard and Derby winner Christmas Day, that head Coral’s betting for the one-mile-six-furlong showpiece.

However, alongside them towards the top of the market is the younger O’Brien’s Enceladus, who missed the aforementioned event on the Knavesmire and will now attempt to extend a three-race winning run, having followed up Royal Ascot success in the King George V Stakes by landing the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Aurelien Voileau, racing manager for the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, said: “Joseph has left him in at the forfeit stage and we’ll see how it shapes up. Joseph has left another of his in (Highwayman) and it is the plan to go there (with Enceladus).

“Joseph was quite happy to let the Great Voltigeur go and focus on the St Leger, which will give him a bit more time ahead of Doncaster after winning at Goodwood. It is a bit of a step up in trip and we’ll see how that goes.

“We’ll let the horse tell us if he’s ready to go there closer to the time, but he’s doing really well and Joseph is happy at the moment.”

Joseph O’Brien was successful in the world’s oldest Classic as a jockey in 2012 when his father’s Leading Light provided compensation for an agonising defeat aboard Triple Crown-seeking Camelot a year earlier.

The South Yorkshire track was also the scene of his first British Classic victory as a trainer, when Galileo Chrome struck staying gold in 2020 under Tom Marquand, with the Owning Hill handler proving a force to be reckoned with throughout the current season.

After winning versions of the Oaks both on home soil and at Epsom, the 33-year-old will now attempt to add more Classic success and stop his father’s Ballydoyle operation winning a fourth straight St Leger in the process.

On the latest edition of the inter-family rivalry, Voileau added: “It’s very interesting and both stables are running extremely well.

“I’m sure it is a lot of fun between them to have horses against each other and have that competitiveness while also being family.”

With Maltese Cross one a number of scratchings that also included Melrose-winning stablemate Infraad, Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini and Charlie Johnston’s Ancient Egypt, chief British-trained hopes appear to lie with Charlie Appleby’s Del Maro, an 8-1 chance with Coral.

The O’Brien family are responsible for nine of the 16 going forward in total, while Andrew Balding could bid to add to his own dream campaign with both Galiyan and course winner Hatteen.