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By Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent
St Leger week started over the honours list of Theresa May, but owner Paul Dean has his own ideas.
Sir Ron Priestley, rated a playful contender against Logician, Sir Dragonet along with co. in flat racing’s oldest and final traditional race of this year staged in Doncaster, is just one of a series of horses Dean has appointed following friends to whom he is also granted’his own type’ of all knighthood.
The late Mr Priestley was a first client from the betting shop opened in the 1960s by Dean, one of the racehorse owners who was firmly about the Mark Johnston bandwagon nicely before his prolific operation at Middleham, North Yorkshire became high profile as it is today.
And talking of awards, Sir Ron Priestley’s jockey Franny Norton, 49, could soon be deserving of an equine name-check, if not a gong, having been a standing dish at the jockeys’ changing room for years.
The Scouser, a champion boxer who turned down the chance to go to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in order to concentrate on becoming a jockey, has had to punch his way into the summit of racing.
A particularly apprentice rider, he initially found that the hefty because a rider, however, a subsequent teaming up with Johnston, who saddles outsider Nayef Road, has established a revelation.
However, although Norton’s staged in 3 Classic races – in the 2014 St Leger and at two stagings of the 1,000 Guineas – he’s never been successful at the highest Group One level of the sport.
Maybe Sir Ron Priestley, twice a winner at Goodwood in August, could fulfill that CV void .
Norton said:”We haven’t got to the bottom of himand he is always dug deep for me.
“We all know what Logician and the others are attracted to the table, however we also know what we’re bringing to the table and, most importantly, if there is any chinks in their armour Sir Ron will locate them since he is tough and he is brave.
“The three facing him in the betting, are they really that bombproof? I’m really positive and I will be giving my horse all the positive vibes.”
Together with Norton being the level jockey – just ahead of Frankie Dettori – and having ridden his first winner in May 1989 before most of his rivals were born, a victory at this level could be acclaimed.
While admitting it could be a”great story”, he insists he’s philosophical about what may or may not occur.
“If Franny Norton ends his racing career, and he did not ride a Group One winner, then will I lose some sleep? No I will not,” he explained.
“Should Franny Norton wins a Group One race along with even a Classic, does this make it better? No it does not. Will it place my livelihood up farther? No, because I’ll be completed in a few years anyway.
“But you are right it’d be a great story – folks love a rollercoaster, and that’s what I have needed – so, yes it would be fantastic.”
As much as eight runners are expected to lineup in the St Leger, initial staged in 1776 prior to the Epsom Derby.
The Logician, a grey-coloured son of champion racehorse-turned-stallion Frankel heads the field, ridden by Dettori and trained by John Gosden.
Dettori, who is looking for his sixth largest St Leger success – in contrast to Gosden for whom victory could be number five – said:”He is still learning, however, he struck the line well [in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August], and that is going to bring him on further.”
The Dettori/Gosden accessibility has been more like a juggernaut in major prizes throughout the summer – and much more to come, notably Permit in October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris – although that the Irish-based Aidan O’Brien group has been in almost equally potent kind.
As a result, O’Brien and Gosden are effectively neck and throat at the prize-money-decided British coaches’ championship – which proceeds till 31 December – but although Gosden retains a #300,000-plus lead, the #700,000 online at Doncaster, together with benefits down to sixth position, could easily make all the difference.
Sir Dragonet, that shot to prominence when running away with all the Chester Vase in May before completing down the field in the Epsom Derby, is best fancied of a three-strong O’Brien challenge since the County Tipperary coach goes for a third win in 3 years, seven full.
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