Story highlights
Camelot fails in bid to win prestigious Triple Crown in St Leger Stakes at Doncaster racecourse, England
Winner of this season's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby beaten into second by Encke, ridden by Mickael Barzalona
English racing was deprived of its first Triple Crown winner in more than 40 years after Encke, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, got up to beat favorite Camelot by three quarters of a length in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse Saturday.
Camelot had been aiming to emulate Nijinsky by winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in the same season. But he was out-gunned by Encke, whose victory gives his owner, Sheikh Mohammed, a sixth victory in this race and puts him second on the all-time list.
French jockey Barzalona, riding in his first St Leger, described his victory aboard Encke as “very easy,” saying he was very happy with the result.
In a highly tactical race, pacemaker Dartford dictated the early pace, with Camelot content to settle towards the back of the field.
But when the field turned into the home straight Camelot’s jockey, Joseph O’Brien, was unable to get his colt into space and Encke was able to open up daylight between himself and the chasing pack.
When Camelot was eventually maneuvered into position he ran on well to close the gap on the Godolphin horse but could only get to within three quarters of a length.
Encke’s victory means that not only does England’s 42-year wait for a Triple Crown winner continue, but also that Aiden O’Brien does not become the first trainer in history to make a clean sweep of the English Classics in one season; his Ballydoyle operation had already won the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby with Camelot as well as their fillies’ equivalents, the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.
Camelot’s immediate future remains uncertain with a tilt at next month’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now arguably more, rather than less likely following his defeat at Doncaster.
