FRANKIE DETTORI is hoping that Blue Bunting’s determination will help him land a sixth success in Saturday’s Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.
Dettori opened the four-day Leger festival with victory on Humidor (14-1) for trainer George Baker in the Scarbrough Stakes.
And he will be looking for more success in the final Classic of the season.
The last filly to win the Leger was User Friendly back in 1992 but Godolphin and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni are hopeful their Dynaformer filly can follow suit.
Dettori has ridden Blue Bunting to victory in the 1,000 Guineas, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks this season with the only defeat coming when she fourth to Dancing Rain in the Epsom version.
Blue Bunting is a best-priced 4-1 second favourite with most firms behind 11-8 market leader Sea Moon.
Dettori said: “Usually it’s very hard for a filly to take on the colts, but she’s tough.
“She has won three Group Ones and I always like riding her.
“She’s as hard as nails and we go into the race hoping she is going to run another big one.
“The only time she got beat was at Epsom, which was slowly-run and turned into a sprint. This will be a strongly-run mile and six furlongs, she goes on any ground and I’m looking forward to riding her.”
Dettori acknowledges the threat posed by Sir Michael Stoute’s Sea Moon, who has headed the market since his impressive wide-margin success in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Dettori sadded: “He’s a worthy favourite.
“The Voltigeur is always the best trial and he won that by eight lengths.”
Census, a best-priced 5-1 third favourite, will be without a high-profile supporter when he heads to Town Moor.
One of the members of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Beeswing syndicate is Elizabeth Hurley, but she has acting commitments in America where she is currently filming the next series of Gossip Girl.
Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere, said: “It is so exciting to have another Highclere runner competing in one of the Classics and we are all hoping that Census can go one better than Highest, who finished second in 2002.
“It’s a great shame that Elizabeth can’t be with us, but Census will not lack support on the day as the majority of his owners will be there cheering him on.”
TODAY’S NAP: Damika (4.10pm Doncaster).
