Fortune strikes Leger gold with Lucarno

Lucarno (7-2) gave Jimmy Fortune a first Classic win with an impressive success in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

Fourth in the Derby at Epsom earlier in the season, trainer John Gosden did not commit his colt to the race until the final few days with lingering doubts over Lucarno’s stamina.

But he need not have worried as his charge quickened up with a furlong to run and swept past the front-running Mahler to win by a length.

Mahler stuck on for second, with favourite Honolulu in third.

Mick Kinane was determined to set a decent gallop on Mahler as he knew his mount would stay every yard of the extended mile and six furlongs.

And it proved the best place to be as a couple of the field ran into trouble in behind, but when Fortune brought Lucarno to challenge it always looked like he had too much speed for his rivals.

Johnny Murtagh tried his best on Honolulu but the market leader could not match the winner’s kick.

The win gave Gosden a second success in the Leger following the victory of Shantou in 1996.