Aidan O'Brien knows exactly what it takes to win the St. Leger Stakes (G1). After all, he has landed Britain's oldest classic seven times.
The Ballydoyle maestro, who fields three runners in this year's race Sept. 14, including favorite Illinois, is adamant the ideal candidate will combine "class, stamina, and speed".
It's invariably a tough race, and O'Brien believes a 3-year-old needs to stay the extended 1 3/4 miles really well and have the class to get into it.
He is confident Illinois, the unbeaten Jan Brueghel, and recent 20-length scorer Grosvenor Square all possess the right credentials.
Illinois proved his stamina by winning the Queen's Vase (G2) over 1 3/4 miles at Royal Ascot before showing the necessary class when going down by only a neck to Irish Derby (G1) hero Los Angeles in York's Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2).
"We've always thought Illinois was a St. Leger horse," O'Brien said. "He stays very well and we've had the race in mind for him for a very long time.
"We were delighted with him at York and we know he will stay this longer trip well. It's important he gets nice ground so hopefully he will."
Punters are instinctively drawn to an unbeaten horse and Jan Brueghel, a short price on bare achievement but with the potential for significant improvement at this longer trip built into his odds, has won all three starts.
The son of Galileo landed the Gordon Stakes (G3) at Goodwood despite appearing not to handle the ups and downs of the Sussex track particularly well.
He should be far happier on Doncaster's flat, galloping circuit, and his trainer feels Jan Brueghel has improved significantly since.
"We think this longer trip will suit Jan Brueghel and we also think he has improved a good bit since Goodwood," O'Brien revealed. "I think the long, flat straight will really suit him and he seems in good form."
Grosvenor Square might be the biggest price of O'Brien's three runners, but he certainly looked to have a nice blend of class, stamina, and speed when making all over 1 3/4 miles at the Curragh last time out in the Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes (G3).
O'Brien said: "Grosvenor Square is an unusual horse in that he seems to have an awful lot of stamina but he is a very high cruiser at the same time.
"He'll go out there and make the Leger a very tough race. We've been very happy with him since he won at the Curragh."
