St Leger doubt for Galileo Rock

Paul Mulrennan drives 100-1 shot Morning Post, right, to a narrow victory as Kevin Ryans colt caused a major upset in The Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Stakes at Doncaster yesterday

Trainer David Wachman has warned he will switch his dual Derby-placed colt to the GAIN Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday should he deem the ground at the South Yorkshire course to be unsuitable.

“Galileo Rock will be declared for the GAIN Irish St Leger and a decision on which race to go for will be delayed until tomorrow evening,” said the County Tipperary handler. “I want very much to run Galileo Rock in the Ladbrokes St Leger because of its prestige, prize-money and the fact it is confined to three-year-olds.”

Galileo Rock, third in the  Investec Derby and second in the Irish equivalent, was among a field of 11 at the final declaration stage for the St Leger.

Aidan O’Brien bids to win the world’s oldest Classic for a fourth time by saddling Queen’s Vase winner Leading Light and the lightly-raced Foundry. O’Brien’s son Joseph rides Leading Light with Ryan Moore booked for Foundry while the Ballydoyle trainer removed his other entry, Eye Of The Storm.

John Gosden, responsible for three of the last six winners, relies on Excess Knowledge, who will be ridden by James Doyle.

As Gosden has withdrawn Feel Like Dancing his stable jockey William Buick will team up with Libertarian for Godolphin and their new trainer Charlie Appleby, who also runs Cap O’Rushes. The Gordon Stakes winner is the mount of Mickael Barzalona, who was victorious 12 months ago on Encke.

Godolphin have a third contender in Secret Number from Saeed bin Suroor’s stable. The only filly in the field is Oaks heroine Talent, trained by Ralph Beckett, while the Brian Meehan-trained Great Hall, Andrew Balding’s Havana Beat and Ralston Road, trained by Pat Shanahan, complete the field. Jo Hughes withdrew London Bridge at the final declaration stage.

Meanwhile, day two of the St Leger Festival was cast into the shadows after jockey Hayley Turner suffered an awful fall in the DFS Park Hill Stakes.

Turner, 30, was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for further assessment after she was unseated from Seal Of Approval, who clipped heels with Alta Lilea two furlongs from home. The leading female rider was conscious and was taken to hospital as a precaution following an appalling-looking accident which drew sharp gasps from the grandstand. Further upbeat news came later as Doncaster racecourse tweeted: “Positive news from hospital re @HayleyTurner123, scans clear, best wishes for a speedy recovery after nasty fall earlier.”

The big race today is the Speedy Services Doncaster Cup, with Times Up taken to retain his title back on Town Moor.