Camelot delights in Leopardstown workout
The three-year-old has already landed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Investec Derby at Epsom, and next month aims to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to complete the Classic treble at Doncaster.
Last seen winning the Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June, the son of Montjeu has enjoyed a mid-season break, but his Leger preparations stepped up a gear at the Foxrock venue as he worked alongside stable companions Fame And Glory and Chamonix.
The trio circled the paddock a number of times before working over a mile and a half. Chamonix sent off in front, with Fame And Glory about a length and a half off him and Camelot a further three lengths back.
Chamonix (Dean Gallagher) was driven four furlongs out, with Fame And Glory (Seamie Heffernan) and Camelot going past approaching the straight.
Camelot eased to the front a furlong out and soon went nicely clear under Joseph O’Brien, having worked with older horses for the first time.
O’Brien senior said: “They went a nice solid bit of work, it was an even building pace.
“You’d have to be very happy with him (Camelot).
“He’s done very well physically, he’s made like a miler and you can see that he has a bit of a tummy on him. It’s a long time from the Curragh to Doncaster so he needed to go somewhere and it was easier to come here than to go to somewhere like York (Great Voltigeur).”
“Fame And Glory is going for the Irish Leger.”
Camelot remains a red-hot 2-5 favourite with Ladbrokes for the St Leger on September 15.
Meanwhile Kevin Prendergast’s Group One-winning filly La Collina will aim to get her season back on track in the Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes later this month.
Last year’s Phoenix Stakes heroine signed off her juvenile year with a fine third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and connections harboured Classic hopes at the beginning of the current campaign.
She was far from disgraced when fifth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but ran below expectations when only sixth of eight in the Irish equivalent.
She has been given a mid-summer break since that appearance in late May and will both step up in trip and down in class for her next start at the Curragh.
“She’s fine and she’s going to run over a mile and one (furlong) at the Curragh on August 26,” said Prendergast.
“It’s a Group Three race, she’s bred to get that bit further and she’s gets into the race without a penalty, so it’s a good opportunity for her.
“She’s had a nice break. It’s been hard to get these fillies ready for the big races in the spring, but she came home well in the English Guineas and was perhaps unlucky not to finish a bit closer.”
