During the last five years Paddy Twomey has sent out 133 winners from 462 runners on the flat in Ireland for an impressive strike rate of 29%. The trainer has yet to make the same sort of impact with his British raiders, having saddled only two winners from 22 runners in the same period, but one of those successes came in the Queen's Vase (G2) at Royal Ascot with talented stayer Carmers.
The son of Wootton Bassett renews his rivalry with Furthur, Rahiebb, and race favorite Scandinavia, who finished second, third, and fifth, respectively, at the Berkshire track, and looks tailor-made for the demands of the St Leger Stakes (G1) Sept. 13 at Doncaster.
Carmers lost his unbeaten record when going down by a length and a half to Pride of Arras in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York last month, and will relish the step back up in trip to this 1 13/16 miles after finding 1 1/2 miles on the Knavesmire a bare minimum.
Twomey said: "I thought he ran a very good trial in the Voltigeur. That race should leave him spot on for this one.
"He won the Queen's Vase over this trip and all of his wins have been at this distance, so I think the step back up will see him to better effect. The track is similar to York with a long straight, which will play to his strengths because he is a strong stayer, so Doncaster should suit him nicely."
Coolmore's Scandinavia is a Kentucky-bred 3-year-old colt by Justify . He has risen through the ranks this season, culminating in group 1 glory in the Goodwood Cup Stakes (G1) in July. He aims to provide Aidan O'Brien with his third consecutive success in the St Leger following recent victories by Jan Brueghel and Continuous.
Ballydoyle stablemate and outsider Saratoga was the sole absentee at the declaration stage Thursday, leaving a field of seven for the final British classic of the season.
Tom Marquand on Scandinavia is one of three jockeys stepping in for Ballydoyle due to the absence of the injured Ryan Moore, suspended Wayne Lordan, and O'Brien's chief stand-in Christophe Soumillon, who is set to ride at Leopardstown Saturday. Sean Levey picks up the ride on Epsom and Irish Derby (both G1) winner Lambourn, who disappointed when odds-on in the Great Voltigeur, while Mickael Barzalona will partner the lightly raced Stay True.
Roger Varian knows what it takes to win the St Leger, having landed the stayers' classic with Kingston Hill in 2014 and Eldar Eldarov in 2022, and he believes his 25-1 outsider Rahiebb is more than capable of outrunning his odds.
"We're taking on a dual Derby winner and Scandinavia, who has improved a stone since Royal Ascot, but I don't consider we're out of our depth. I think I've got Rahiebb in as good form as I've had him all year," Varian said. "I've always liked him and felt he could be a Leger horse. The Queen's Vase form gives me hope he won't be too far away."
Andrew Balding is two-handed via Furthur, the mount of Oisin Murphy, and Tarriance. Furthur won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) in good style at Newbury last time, and looks a natural for this stamina test.
Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte, owners of Tarriance, said: "He's been very progressive all season and showed guts and determination to win the Melrose. He has a bit to find on ratings, but Andrew has been very pleased with him since York."
