Iconic Leger success
Frankie Dettori guided Jeremy Noseda’s 11-8 favourite Sixties Icon to glory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at York.
Dettori settled his mount towards the rear in the early stages, with his nearest market rival Red Rocks not far behind.
But his supporters never had any cause for concern and the Italian produced Sixties Icon at the furlong pole to take up the running for an impressive success from 50-1 chance The Last Drop, with Red Rocks third.
The field were taken through the early stages by Philip Robinson on Galient, but the writing was soon on the wall for Michael Jarvis’ charge.
Jadalee, Ask and The Last Drop all made a bid for glory fully three furlongs out, but Dettori was always oozing confidence on the son of Galileo.
Even with all his rivals hard at work, Dettori had enough faith in his mount to have a long look around for dangers before making his bid for glory.
Sixties Icon shot clear for a two and a half length victory, while The Last Drop fought off the challenge of Red Rocks by a length in the battle for minor honours.
For Dettori it was his fourth victory in the world’s oldest Classic and his 100th success of the season.
Paul Roy, owner of the winner, is considering supplementing Sixties Icon for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 1.
He told Channel 4 Racing: “It depends very much on how he comes out of the race, obviously. Hopefully he’ll be fine and we’ll have a look at it. He has a turn of foot and I don’t think he is just a stayer.
“Hopefully he will stay in training next year and we will have some interesting racing with him.”
William Hill make Sixties Icon an 8-1 chance for further glory in Paris.
Dettori said: “That’s 100 winners and what a race to get it in. What a fabulous horse he is, I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling.
“I was scared of Red Rocks so I was keeping an eye on him but I thought I’d wait until the furlong pole and then go.
“I can’t believe how easy he has won a Classic. The feeling is great, especially as he has been favourite for a long time.”
Noseda, who is currently in America at the Keeneland sales, said by telephone link: “It’s a fabulous feeling, I’m absolutely thrilled and couldn’t ask for anything more.
“It’s a relief as I’ve expected this to happen for a few weeks now, there has been a lot of talk about the yard being out of form and even I was beginning to believe people, although I knew the horse was in top order.
“It’s a great day and a big ‘thank you’ to all my staff at home and Paul and Susan Roy for their support of the yard. It’s a big, big day.
“I wasn’t surprised how well he was travelling, I knew I had him better than before Goodwood and being honest I thought he was an absolute certainty. That’s why the pressure was on because I didn’t expect anything other than him winning and winning well.
“Plans for the Arc sound rather ambitious but we’ll get home and see where we go from there. We’ll enjoy today first – the plan has come to fruition.”
Barry Hills, trainer of the runner-up, said: “The Fly finished third, Mr Combustible third and now we’ve had a second. The Last Drop was wrong early in the year but he ran a very good race in the Voltigeur and he has improved since then.
“He could go for the staying races next year, it would be nice to have a good staying horse.
“He may have another run this year, I don’t know.”
Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Paul Reddam, the owner of Red Rocks, said: “The winner won fair and square, what more can I say. But probably the trip was a bit too far.
“He’s been a great horse for us all year and hopefully there’ll be even more from him next year and perhaps he will win a Group One.
“And what a great job Brian Meehan and his staff have done to keep him on a roll all season.”
