Scandinavia is set for Classic glory in St Leger

SCANDINAVIA can secure victory in the Betfred St Leger Stakes (No Geldings) (3.40pm) at Doncaster this afternoon.

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The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old son of Justify can give his Irish handler a ninth victory in the final Classic of the season on Town Moor and beat dual Derby hero and stablemate Lambourn in the process.

Scandinavia has been improving all through the summer and he can land a second successive Group One victory stepped back down to the 1m6f of the oldest Classic.

The Justify colt failed to win as a juvenile but got off the mark on his seasonal return when comfortably landing a 1m2f maiden at Navan in May.

He was then fifth to the reopposing fellow Irish raider Carmers when stepped up to 1m6f for the first time in the Group Two Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in June. He hinted that he was still a work of progress in Berkshire, but looked like he would improve with racing.

And he did just that in fine style landing the 1m5f Group Three Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting, scoring superbly by a massive eight-and-a-half lengths from Nightime Dancer.

He stepped up on that when moved into all-age company and up in trip to two miles for the Group One Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup at the Glorious Goodwood Festival later that month.

He stayed on strongly to outbattle stablemate and seemingly the first string Illinois, who was partnered by the now injured Ryan Moore, and score by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Scandinavia looks a powerful stayer and a tough nut to crack and having been favourite for the St Leger since that success, he can justify the odds with victory.