Conduit team look to future after St Leger win

Ladbrokes St Leger hero Conduit could emerge as a fascinating middle-distance prospect in 2009 after outstaying his rivals in the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Ballymacoll Stud-owned colt provided Michael Stoute with his first Leger win when coming home three lengths clear of Unsung Heroine on Town Moor, having graduated from the handicapping ranks during the summer.

“I don’t know if he’ll run again this season, but the main thing is that he’s a nice horse for next year,” said Peter Reynolds, racing manager for Ballymacoll stud.

“He showed a nice turn of foot and it looked a reasonable Leger. After all he’s beaten an Oaks winner (Look Here) and an Irish Derby winner (Frozen Fire).

“He seems to go on any ground and that’s always going to be a bonus. These staying horses and mile-and-a-half races are coming back into fashion which is great news.”

Connections of Unsung Heroine are likely to decide in a fortnight whether to run the gallant runner-up again this season.

The Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on October 4 and the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita three weeks later are the options for the daughter of High Chaparral.

“She’s home, she’s safe and well and seems OK,” said trainer Tommy Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzy.

“No excuses, she got beaten by a better colt on the day, but she ran a cracker. We were delighted with her and we’ll see what we do, whether she runs again this year. We’ll make our minds up in a couple of weeks.

“There are two options, the Breeders’ Cup Marathon or the Prix de Royallieu. We’ll see how she is.”

Look Here is described as “50-50” to run again this season following her creditable third place under Edie Ahern.

A possible target for the Juddmonte Oaks winner is the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on October 5.

“She may run again this year, I’d be 50-50 about that at the moment,” said trainer Ralph Beckett. “She’s in the Prix de l’Opera and that would be a possibility, but we’ll see.

“She’s come out of the race fine which is the main thing. She’s sound and she looks fine this morning.

“Having watched the replay it’s possible she didn’t stay. She got hampered by the no-hoper (Maidstone Mixture) going back, but I don’t think it affected our finishing position. She ran a good race and she stays in training next year.”