Scorpion heads seven for St Leger

Scorpion is rated evens for the St Leger at Doncaster

Scorpion will lead Ballydoyle's tilt at a third St Leger win in five years when the season's final Classic takes place at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Grand Prix de Paris winner and Irish Derby runner-up heads seven declarations, one of the smallest fields on record.

Against him are Hard Top, The Geezer, Avalon, Kong, Tawqeet and Hattan.

Scorpion, the mount of Frankie Dettori, is the favourite, with Sir Michael Stoute's Hard Top next in the betting.

Despite his many Classic wins, Stoute has yet to train a St Leger winner with five runners-up in the past, including Quiff in last year's race.

Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O'Brien, who is also represented by Avalon, is neck-and-neck in the running for the trainers' championship with Stoute.

He is employing the services of champion jockey Dettori for only the second time in eight years.

Kieren Fallon, who rides many of O'Brien's top horses, is riding stable-mate Oratorio in the Irish Champon Stakes at Leopardstown on the same afternoon.

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St Leger latest odds:
5-6 Scorpion, 9-4 Hard Top, 6-1 The Geezer, 12-1 Avalon, 16-1 Tawqeet, 33-1 Kong, 50-1 Hattan.
(Source: Ladbrokes 09/09/05)