Harbinger Leger bid 'highly unlikely'
Harbinger is poised to skip the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster next month as connections continue to search for a reason behind his lifeless display in the Great Voltigeur Stakes.
Sir Michael Stoute's colt was prominent in the ante-post market for the Classic following his authoritative Goodwood success last month, but he flopped at York under Ryan Moore.
Sent off the 13-8 favourite, the Highclere Thoroughbred-owned colt trailed in last of the seven runners having failed to get competitive at any stage.
Highclere's Harry Herbert said: "I spoke to Sir Michael this morning and nothing has come to light.
"He is currently undergoing tests so hopefully we will know more later tonight.
"He was a little stiff this morning but we don't know exactly what the problem is.
"It could be the muscle problem he had earlier in the season causing trouble again, or he could have knocked himself coming out of the stalls.
"All we know is that Ryan said he never felt right on leaving the stalls and that wasn't his running.
"I don't know any more than that and while hopefully we will see him again this year, I would say a St Leger run is looking highly unlikely."
Peter Chapple-Hyam's 22-1 chance Monitor Closely forged clear to land the Voltigeur on his first crack at a mile and a half, but connections are siding against supplementing him for the Leger.
"Monitor Closely has come back fine from York - no problems at all," the trainer told his website, www.peterchapplehyam.com.
"I don't think at this stage that he will be going to the St Leger, so I'd just say don't be in a rush to back him for that.
"He is in the Champion Stakes and, while that is probably flying a bit high, you never know as he does seem to have improved. That was his best run ever on Tuesday.
"There is the Canadian International at Woodbine to consider and there are a couple of Grade One options in Hong Kong at the end of year."
Royal Ascot winner Father Time took third in the Voltigeur for Henry Cecil, and is one York runner who seems likely to head to Doncaster on September 12.
Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "It was probably the ground, we got away with it at Ascot but once they have done it once they remember it a bit more the next time.
"The Leger is still on his agenda, we'll obviously have to see nearer the time but the ground is more likely to be in his favour.
"The fact we also have Manifest (19-length Newmarket winner for Cecil) as a possible could come into it, although he would need to be supplemented.
"If Manifest was to run he would need to go straight there now as there isn't a suitable race in time for him."
Jukebox Jury was fourth in the race, perplexing handler Mark Johnston.
"He came home fine but I am not sure what to think really," he said.
"Two out we were in second place and he has finished fourth so it wasn't really the run of a horse who needs further. We will have to have a think about what to do."
Aidan O'Brien already had Age Of Aquarius prominent in the Leger betting, and added another string to his bow as Changingoftheguard narrowly went down in the totesport Ebor.
Ladbrokes responded by trimming the York second into 10-1 from 14s.
David Williams of the sponsors said: "Changingoftheguard lost little in defeat in the Ebor.
"He remains on course for the Ladbrokes St Leger and plenty of Ballydoyle supporters will be hoping he can go one better at Doncaster than at York."
Ladbrokes St Leger, sponsors bet: 5-2 Kite Wood, 7-2 Age Of Aquarius, 6-1 Monitor Closely, 10-1 Changingoftheguard, Father Time, Urban Poet, 12-1 Manifest, 14-1 Mastery, 16-1 Flying Cloud, 20-1 bar.
