St Leger Picture Changes After Sea Moon Demolishes Rivals In York's Great Voltigeur Stakes

The St Leger picture changed in dramatic style in the space of just a few minutes after Sea Moon hacked up to win the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes by eight lengths on the opening day of the York Ebor meeting. Nothing more than an unexposed handicapper stepping up in trip before the race, the Sir Michael Stoute trained three year old demolished  a field of top quality rivals that included the pre-race St Leger favourite, Seville, who trailed home in third place, while in second place came Al Kazeem.

Sea Moon had previously only had one run this season, winning a ten furlong handicap at York. It was a solid enough win but considering he had been entered in the Derby that win came in a race that certainly was beneath his capability. However, following this Group win, there is no doubt he's foudn his level and now looks a real prospect with further improvement likely and is now favourite to give Stoute a second win in the St Leger at Doncaster next month.

Bookmakers have now installed Sea Moon as the 6/4 favourite in the St Leger odds to win the final classic of the season with Seville out to 10/1 from 3/1. Seville may even miss the race now in favour of being rested as his run was well below par which could be attributed to a very hectic summer schedule which saw him run in the Epsom Derby, followed by a second place in the Irish Derby and a second place in the Group One Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp last month.

Of the other runners in the race, Al Kazeem's trainer, Roger Charlton, will be pleased with his Colt, who although no match for the winner, ran well enough to suggest that he can win in Group company in the future whilst Namibian, trained by Mark Johnston also ran disappointingly and was unable to put up the type of fight that has seen him claim the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last month. He was never really in touch with the leaders and had to be content with a fifth place finish.

These may not have been below performances from the winners but actually just beaten by a much better horse, it was a very pleasing performance from Sea Moon and as a late developer there's obviously plenty more to come the son of Beat Hollow, this season and beyond.