Top UK-based jockeys Oisin Murphy and William Buick won’t be riding in the final British Classic this season – the Doncaster St Leger – on Saturday, with the pair taking up rides in Canada instead.
The 2024 St Leger is the oldest of the five British classic horse races, but this year the contest will be void of many of the top jockeys that ply their trade in England.
Ryan Moore, who has won the St Leger three times since 2017, is already missing – as, along with fellow top rider Tom Marquand, will be in action at Leopardstown on Saturday for their Champion Stakes meeting.
While the latest big name jockeys that will be missing at Doncaster on Saturday will be Oisin Murphy, who has never won the St Leger and William Buick, who has two successes in the Classic – both will be jetting off to Canada to ride at Woodbine.
This season’s leading rider in the jockeys’ horse racing championship Oisin Murphy will give up the chance to ride Sunway in the St Leger – a horse he’s ridden in all-bar-on one of his nine career starts.
Christophe Soumillon will, instead, get the ride on the David Menuisier runner.
Murphy will instead get the leg-up on New Century for his retainers Qatar Racing – who runs in the Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes over 1m at Woodbine.
Murphy told the Racing Post – “I’m looking forward to riding New Century, who won at Salisbury last time. His sire Kameko is having a very good time of it at the moment and it would be good to get him a Group 1 on the board. We’re hopeful he can run a big race out there.”
With Godolphin’s Ancient Wisdom also pulled from the St Leger earlier this week, this has made William Buick’s decision easier – as he also heads to Toronto.
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William Buick will be continuing his love affair with the Woodbine Mile in Canada, with Godolphin’s number one rider and trainer Charlie Appleby having won this race for the last two years.
Modern Games took the pot in 2022 and Master Of The Seas in 2023 (watch below).
Buick will be looking for a famous treble – this time with Naval Power, who has not been on the track since being beaten a head in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day back on May 4th.
Naval Power is also sure to be a big fancy with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
Oisin Murphy and William Buick might need some strong coffee over the weekend though – or some toothpicks to keep their eyes open.
As the pair are also expected to be flying straight back from Canada to Ireland, with Murphy due to ride Giavellotto in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday.
Giavellotto was also last seen winning the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July (watch below).
Murphy has been booked to ride Giavellotto in the big race – saying “I’ve won on him the last twice and hopefully he can make it three in the Irish St Leger.”
Buick is not as confirmed to ride at the Curragh, but there is every chance he’ll be hopping on the same flight back as Murphy as Godolphin’s smart prospect Aomori City is among the entries for Sunday’s Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
