Roger Varian’s Defoe on track for the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster after Newbury win
Defoe is now as short as 5-1 for victory at Doncaster and Varian admits he must now go there with a big chance following his Geoffrey Freer Stakes victory at the weekend
ROGER VARIAN is eyeing up William Hill St Leger glory for Defoe.
Varian's three-year-old warmed up for his trip to Doncaster with a win in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last weekend.
Varian said: "I thought Defoe was very impressive at Newbury. I liked the way he moved into the race and he beat them fairly comfortably.
"I think we can be very excited about the St Leger. I have thought for a long time he could be a St Leger horse, even when he was winning those handicaps over 10 furlongs.
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"It was encouraging to see him win over that trip as I always felt this horse would stay well.
"I don't think you can compare him with Kingston Hill, as they have gone on very different paths.
Kingston Hill won a Group 3 and Group 1 as a two-year-old and had run in the Guineas, Derby and Eclipse by the time he won the St Leger.
"This horse has come up through the ranks, winning two very good handicaps, a Listed race and now a Group 3. He looks a potential Group 1 horse, but he isn't yet as he has not run in one.
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"Although they have taken very different paths, it doesn't mean to say that Defoe will not end up being as good.
"Both are similar looking horses that have got the ability and great attitudes to go with it."
Defoe is as short a best-priced