Scandinavia Dominates in St. Leger for O’Brien’s Ninth Victory

The Justify colt confirmed his favoritism, capturing the final leg of the English Triple Crown at Doncaster

Scandinavia Guts Out Historic G1 Victory / DONCASTER

DONCASTER, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- The Justify colt Scandinavia showcased both grit and class to deliver Aidan O’Brien a historic ninth victory in the St. Leger (G1), the world’s oldest Classic, run Saturday at Doncaster.

Under Tom Marquand, the Coolmore–Ballydoyle bay tracked the early leader Lambourn (Australia), a dual Derby winner who set a demanding pace from the start. Turning for home, Marquand urged his mount, igniting a fierce battle: surrounded by rivals and facing heavy ground, Scandinavia never gave in, holding off a powerful late surge from Rahiebb (Frankel) by a nose. Stay True (Galileo) finished a length back in third.

“He’s a horse with a beautiful temperament,” said Marquand, claiming his second St. Leger win after Galileo Chrome (Australia) in 2020. “Everyone told me how straightforward he was, and today he proved it. They came at him from every angle, and still he fought back bravely. He’s very special, and it’s a privilege to ride him for Coolmore and Ballydoyle.”

O’Brien, watching from Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival, was delighted: “He’s a typical Justify—genuine and tough. We knew the soft ground could pose a challenge, but Tom gave him a wonderful ride. The better the surface, the better he’ll look, and he still has a lot to offer. He’s on the Melbourne Cup radar, and there’s a very good chance he’ll go to Australia, provided he passes the usual vet checks.”

Marquand even recalled his first experience with the colt: “I rode him when he was still a maiden, and you could already see his potential. I never imagined he’d give me another St. Leger, but today he confirmed he’s an exceptional stayer.”

For Ray Dawson, experiencing his first Classic with Rahiebb, the defeat was bittersweet: “In the final furlong, I thought we had it, but it wasn’t to be. He’s a fantastic horse and will surely make headlines next year.”

With this victory, Scandinavia confirms his development following his Goodwood Cup (G1) success and establishes himself as one of Europe’s top stayers, while also keeping dreams of a major Southern Hemisphere challenge alive.