St Leger Winner Scandinavia Headlines Friday’s Leopardstown Card
Leopardstown 7.22pm | Friday May 15th
Last season’s English St Leger winner Scandinavia will return to action in the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown on Friday night, with all eyes on the exciting young stayer as the road to the Ascot Gold Cup at Royal Ascot continues.
Winner of the BAR 1 Betting Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on his latest start, Scandinavia is currently 7/4 favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup on June 18th.
The Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes has proven to be a key stepping-stone towards the Gold Cup for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won the 14-furlong contest nine times in the last 19 years.
Horses to have completed the Saval Beg–Ascot Gold Cup double for O’Brien this century include Kyprios (2022, 2024), Order Of St George (2016), Fame And Glory (2011) and Yeats (2007).
Scandinavia arrives in strong form, having won his last four races, and is shaping up as a leading contender among the staying division.
He will face five rivals on Friday, including Dallas Star, who chased him home at Navan, and Leinster, who finished fourth, 2.75 lengths behind Scandinavia and 1.25 lengths behind Dallas Star.
Leinster’s trainer Joseph O’Brien will be seeking a first success in the Saval Beg, while his brother Donnacha O’Brien saddles Happy Pharoah, a horse with three wins from four starts at Leopardstown, although this represents a step up in class.
Donnacha O’Brien previously won the Saval Beg twice as a jockey — on Kingfisher (2015) and Order Of St George (2016) — and also as a trainer with Emperor Of The Sun (2021).
Interestingly, both Scandinavia and Happy Pharaoh are sired by American Triple Crown winners, Justify and American Pharaoh, respectively.
The field is completed by Le Destrier, runner-up in a Listed race in France on his latest start and making his first appearance for champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins after a 691-day absence, and Mont St Michel, who has plenty to find on official ratings.
All eyes will once again be on Scandinavia, as the Ascot Gold Cup trail continues at Leopardstown on Friday night.
