Continuous claims St Leger at Doncaster for Ballydoyle

Continuous added to Aidan O'Brien’s Classic haul with a clinical triumph in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.

On a day when a first royal Classic winner since 1977 was a real possibility, it was racing royalty that came to the fore as O’Brien won the showpiece event for the seventh time with the 3-1 second-favourite striking in the hands of Ryan Moore.

The Ballydoyle runner had marked himself out as a prime contender for the final Classic of the season with victory in the Great Voltigeur at York and franked that form in supreme style on Town Moor.

With stablemate Denmark setting the pace from Gregory, Moore was at pains to bide his time aboard Continuous alongside Desert Hero towards the rear of midfield.

But on turning for home Continuous showed his class up the long, stamina-stamina Doncaster straight, working his way to the front two furlongs from home and surging clear to register a two-and-three-quarter-length success over favourite Arrest, who was ridden by Frankie Dettori in his final Classic.

Desert Hero ran with credit in third for King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were on course to watch the William Haggas-trained colt.

O'Brien said: "He got the distance very well in York and we were not sure about the distance but he has got it well again.

"There are a lot of possibilities and it will be down to the lads, the Arc is in two weeks and is a possibility, but we’ll talk to Ryan and see what they want to do.

"He’s a lot of class this horse this horse and he does stay and he does handle soft ground. There is every chance he could, he’s a hardy horse and he could back up in two weeks.

"The lads will decide that, but I would say there is a chance."