St Leger 2026: Christmas Day, Searching for a Double 39 Years in the Making
The Derby winner will lead Aidan O’Brien’s formidable contingent this Saturday for the 250th traditional running of the British Classic, aiming to become the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to capture both historic events. Enceladus emerges as the premier threat to the Ballydoyle armada
DONCASTER, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Thirty-nine years separate Christmas Day (Camelot) from a classic double that was once considered a natural hallmark of greatness, yet today stands as a rare feat. Since Reference Point (Mill Reef) captured the Derby (G1) and followed up with a triumph in the St Leger (G1) in 1987, no winner of the Epsom classic has managed to sweep both events. This Saturday, in a renewal steeped in history, the Aidan O’Brien trainee will attempt to bring that long wait to an end.
This will be no ordinary St Leger. The oldest among the five British Classics celebrates its 250th running, featuring a purse of £700,000 and 11 contenders set to tackle the grueling 2900 meters over the turf at Town Moor.
Ballydoyle, naturally, arrives in full force. O’Brien has landed the last three renewals and seeks to extend his remarkable personal haul to 10 titles in the race. He will field four runners: Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard(Camelot), the filly Amelia Earhart (Camelot), and Action (Frankel).
Christmas Day established his credentials at the highest level by winning the Derby at Epsom, though he has been unable to return to the winner's circle since. He suffered a defeat in the Irish Derby (G1) and most recently finished third in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York, trailing Maltese Cross (Sea the Stars) as well as his own stablemate Pierre Bonnard.
Nevertheless, O’Brien has consistently maintained that the son of Camelot would thrive with the added distance at Doncaster. Furthermore, at York, he carried a five-pound penalty compared to Pierre Bonnard in a race used purely as a prep for this target.
The stable will also feature an important change in the irons. With Ryan Moore riding at Leopardstown for the Irish Champions Festival, Ronan Whelan will reunite with Christmas Day, having previously guided him to his historic victory in the Derby.
Wayne Lordan stays aboard Pierre Bonnard, while Tom Marquand picks up the mount on Amelia Earhart, and Sean Levey takes charge of Action. The latter two riders know the thrill of St Leger glory firsthand: Marquand won a year ago with Scandinavia (Justify), while Levey scored in 2024 riding Jan Brueghel (Galileo).
Amelia Earhart adds another intriguing dynamic to the field. The daughter of Camelot entered the Oaks (G1) as the favorite, but failed to deliver on that early promise both at Epsom and later in the Irish Oaks (G1). Initially pointed toward the Park Hill Stakes (G2) against fillies, her connections ultimately opted to give her one final classic opportunity against the colts.
The primary challenge to Aidan O’Brien’s stronghold may come, fittingly enough, from the barn of his son Joseph O’Brien.
Enceladus has made sustained progress throughout the European summer, arriving at Doncaster as one of the standout contenders on the back of victories at Royal Ascot and Goodwood, the most recent coming in the Gordon Stakes(G3). The son of Sea The Stars will sport cheekpieces for the first time, with Billy Loughnane taking the ride.
His odds have shortened dramatically in recent days, directly challenging Christmas Day for favoritism. William Hillreported that the colt has effectively monopolized early betting support.
Joseph, who won the St Leger as a jockey aboard Leading Light (Montjeu) in 2013 and as a trainer with Galileo Chrome (Australia) in 2020, also saddles Highwayman (Persian King). The recent winner of the Vinnie Roe Stakes(L) is another developing colt whose upward trajectory suggests plenty of untapped potential, with Saffie Osbornebooked to ride.
Among the local contenders, Hatteen (Lope de Vega) stands out as the most respected threat. Trained by Andrew Balding for Al Shaqab Racing, he will feature a rare jockey assignment in a British Classic, with Qatari rider Faleh Bughenaim taking the reins.
Balding also sends out Galiyan (Galiway), who will equip cheekpieces for the first time with Danny Tudhope in the saddle. Derby fifth-place finisher Alderman (Study of Man), trained by Richard Hannon; Golden Story (Lope de Vega), under the care of Karl Burke; and the outsider Rebel Rocker—a son of Cityscape (Selkirk), who stood at Haras Vacación in Argentina—complete the British contingent.
Aidan O’Brien enters once again with the odds in his favor, but also carrying the weight of chasing two milestones at once. Scoring a tenth St Leger victory would be extraordinary, while securing a fourth consecutive win would solidify his modern dominance over the Classic.
Yet, Christmas Day has the opportunity to achieve something even rarer.
Thirty-nine years after Reference Point, the Derby champion returns to lay claim to the St Leger. And he could not have chosen a more fitting stage to attempt it than the 250th edition of the world's oldest Classic.
