To win a classic race, a horse must not only have talent but also what most would refer to as "racing luck". There is no doubt that 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby winner Camelot (GB) has talent, but his racing luck ran out at Doncaster today where he failed to win the third leg of the English Triple Crown, the Group 1 St. Leger Stakes.
Camelot, under regular rider Joseph O'Brien (son of Camelot's trainer, Aidan O'Brien), found himself bottled up behind horses inside the final three furlongs with little racing room. The eventual winner, Encke, raced to the outside of Camelot and was able to get first run on the odds-on favorite, stretching out to a three length lead and never seriously threatened inside the final furlong. And while Camelot kicked on for home in a strong fashion once he was finally able to find space outside of the tiring frontrunners, the distance between him and Encke proved to be too much to make up in deep stretch.
Below is the video replay of the St. Leger Stakes from At The Races UK. Camelot's rider wore purple silks with purple and white stripes on the sleeves and a purple cap. He races towards the rear of the field in the early stages. Winner Encke is in the all blue of Goldolphin.