Unbeaten in three starts heading into a first black-type engagement in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet G2 Voltigeur S. at York, Khalid Abdullah's Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) emerged with his perfect record intact and will now point to Doncaster's Sept. 14 G1 St Leger, for which he is 7-4 ante-post favourite with the Classic's sponsor William Hill. The homebred grey had previously annexed a May 17 maiden over 10 furlongs at Newbury and doubled up tackling the same trip in a June 21 Newmarket novice contest before easily dismissing inferior rivals in a July 4 handicap upped to 12 furlongs back at Newbury last time. Frankie Dettori was content to accept a lead and settled Logician six lengths off the pace through halfway in this 12-furlong test. Cruising closer on the bridle once into the home straight, the crowd's 10-11 pick eased into a narrow lead approaching the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching once poaching a decisive advantage entering the final furlong, hitting the line with plenty in hand. Constantinople (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could not match Logician's late tempo, but was not unduly punished to finish 1 3/4 lengths adrift, with a further seven lengths back to his Aidan O'Brien stablemate and G1 Irish Derby third Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “He's a classy colt and has a lot about him, but he's only won a maiden, a novice and a handicap so this was a bit of a leap in class,” admitted winning trainer John Gosden after claiming a fifth renewal. “He was a little green when he hit the front, but he's a young horse who didn't get to do much as a 2-year-old and he's only had three runs so is still learning. I was delighted with the run, he took the occasion in his stride and is having a normal blow so that's all pleasing. He's entered in the St Leger, we'll talk to everybody and we'll see how he is over the next ten days or so before any decision could be made.” Dettori, in the aftermath of also notching a fifth edition, was not so cautious in his appraisal of a possible Classic tilt and added, “He's still learning, he won well and he's got lots of potential. He's also got a great attitude and I like him a lot. He had to knuckle down to race and gave me plenty so it was all good. When you win a trial like that you have to go for the Leger, for sure.”
Logician is one of five winners from as many runners produced by Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. third Scuffle (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) and the homebred grey is a half-brother to MGSW GI E.P. Taylor S. runner-up Suffused (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Listed October S. placegetter Battlement (GB) (Dansili {GB}). He is also kin to a 2-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire), a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a colt foal by Time Test (GB). Scuffle is herself a daughter of MSW G3 Supreme S. third Tantina (Distant View) and thus a half-sister to G1SW sire Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) and G2 Temple S. victor and MG1SP sire Bated Breath (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Wednesday, York, Britain
SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR S.-G2, £170,000, York, 8-21, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT, 2:27.91, gd.
1–LOGICIAN (GB), 126, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Scuffle (GB) (SP-Eng), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tantina, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Didina (GB), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £96,407. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $143,090. *1/2 to Suffused (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSW-US, GISP-Can & SP-Eng, $697,248; and Battlement (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Constantinople (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–One Moment In Time (Ire), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-One Moment In Time Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £36,550.
3–Norway (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Love Me True, by Kingmambo. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Southern Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £18,292.
Margins: 1 3/4, 7, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 2.50, 10.00.
Also Ran: Jalmoud (GB), Nayef Road (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
