Stardom ready to slam rivals in St Leger

STARDOM appears fated to emulate his full-brother, Calculus, who won the St Leger and Jamaica Derby for Gary Subratie in 2021, using sheer stamina to mow down rivals over two turns, dominating a year later as the country’s top distance horse by landing the Menudo Trophy and Miracle Man Cup, which he defended in 2023 against 2020 derby winner, King Arthur.

Were it not for gate 10, which kept him wide down the backstretch and into the lane of last month’s 2000 Guineas, followed by his own stablemate, SALUTE THE DON, drifting out then inwards, causing Dane Dawkins to switch lanes in the stretch run, STARDOM would have been on course for the Triple Crown.

Closing five lengths from off the pace at the top of the lane, STARDOM came charging inside the last furlong but was shadowed by SALUTE THE DON drifting out into his intended path under left-hand whipping while challenging STRONG AVEENU.

SALUTE THE DON’s drifting forced Dawkins to angle STARDOM inside, eyeing a path between horses, only to have that route closed a half-furlong out when Raddesh Roman switched to right-hand whipping.

Darting inside and running off a true line, STARDOM went past STRONG AVEENU but SALUTE THE DON had already flown the coop on the outside, lasting home by a diminishing three-quarter length.

Having already proven that he is capable of chasing down SALUTE THE DON, announcing himself as a classic horse by winning the Kingston from behind by a half-length at seven and a half furlongs, STARDOM will relish the St Leger’s two turns and more relaxed pace, which will have him creeping up on rivals before they know what hit them.

WE JAMMIN, champion two-year-old of last year and Prince Consort Stakes winner, returns from a near two-month lay-up, having missed the 2000 Guineas after a lacklustre sixth-pace finish in the Kingston.

Working reasonably well for his return, WE JAMMIN will be partnered by Reyan Lewis, replacing Omar Wallker, who won three races from five starts aboard the Bern Identity-Jammin colt. Another rider change to note is Robert Halledeen, summoned by Patrick Lynch to partner STRONG AVEENU, who would have probably won the Guineas were Wesley Henry able to muster extra inside the last furlong.

However, the St Leger’s two turns point to STARDOM’s stamina as the winner after being denied by SALUTE THE DON’s wayward drifting in the 2000 Guineas.

Similar to the 2021 St Leger, which STARDOM’s brother, Calculus, won by almost seven lengths, beating Further and Beyond and She’s A Wonder, third, don’t be surprised if this year’s top filly, DREAM CATCHER, finds her way into the frame.