No Chapparal at Doncaster

Dual Derby winner High Chaparral is the most notable absentee from a list of 46 horses unveiled today for the 226th renewal of the Rothmans Royals St Leger.

But trainer Aidan O’Brien, successful last year with Milan, still has a strong hand with eight possibles, headed by Budweiser Irish Derby and Coral Eurobet Eclipse runner-up Sholokhov.

Other Ballydoyle contenders for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 14 include the lightly-raced Sorcerous, and Galileo’s brother Black Sam Bellamy.

Godolphin are no strangers to success in the £400,000 (€622,000) showpiece, having saddled Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998) and Mutafaweq (1999) to land the coveted prize.

Sagitta 1000 Guineas and Vodafone Oaks heroine Kazzia heads a team of five for Sheikh Mohammed’s organisation in this year’s renewal.

Kazzia will be bidding to be become the first horse to win the fillies’ Triple Crown since Sheikh Mohammed’s Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Royal Ascot winner Mamool, Al Moulatham, Kashmor, and the once-raced Shami, a son of brilliant racemare Bosra Sham, complete the Godolphin squad.