Can 'worthy favourite' Secret State handle the step up to Group 2 company?

Wednesday: 3.00 York
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) | 1m4f | 3yo colts and geldings | ITV/RTV

The Great Voltigeur is well established as the leading St Leger trial below Group 1 company and three winners of the Classic have warmed up for Doncaster in this over the past decade.

Aidan O’Brien likes to test his Leger hopefuls here and has saddled 22 runners in the last ten years, although without great success. Idaho, who scored at odds of 5-6 in 2016, was his only winner in that timeframe.

That he relies on one this year can be interpreted in two ways. Either it is a significant vote of confidence for Aikhal, or the stable lacks the depth we have grown accustomed to seeing in their team of three-year-old middle-distance colts.

On the two recent occasions O’Brien has only ran one in the Great Voltigeur, both failed to oblige. However, Aikhal arrives with a completely different profile to 2020 third Mogul and 2013 second Foundry.

Aikhal has never run over 1m4f but shaped as if the trip will present no issues when a dominant winner of the Group 3 International Stakes over 1m2f last time.

His unexpected success at the Curragh in June, 11 days after finishing last over a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at odds of 50-1, is testament to the training prowess of O’Brien.

That performance is the standout on Racing Post Ratings and while Aikhal’s dam was a miler, the sire’s side of his pedigree combined with how he shaped at the Curragh is convincing evidence the trip will be within his compass.

Secret State is favourite after landing a couple of top handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, although he is officially rated joint second-lowest in this six-runner field.

Perhaps Secret State’s price owes more to trainer Charlie Appleby’s general dominance in the division and recent success in the race (two winners from the last four runnings at 6-1 and 7-1) and the booking of William Buick, who could have ridden Walk Of Stars instead.

The rapidly improving Deauville Legend will have his supporters but James Ferguson’s second string, El Bodegon, makes some appeal under the proviso the showers forecast at York materialise.

There are shades of 2020 winner Pyledriver about his profile. Pyledriver had no right to be sent off a 10-1 chance on previous form, and El Bodegon’s early odds underestimate him as the sole Group 1 winner with the highest official rating.

There is an absence of front-running form in this field and while El Bodegon has not led recently, he dominated from start to finish in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on very soft ground as a juvenile.

Don't rule out this strong stayer pinching a soft lead and taking some pegging back against the more fancied runners.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

State could boost St Leger claims

Not for the first time, Charlie Appleby saddles two runners in this to give a pointer towards the St Leger but only Secret State can run in the Doncaster Classic as stablemate Walk Of Stars is now a gelding.

Appleby was won this twice before with Old Persian in 2018 and the gelding Yibir a year ago and Secret State steps out of handicap company to test his mettle against more experienced Group performers. The Moulton Paddocks team will then make a decision about whether he will join stablemate New London in the line-up for the world’s oldest Classic on September 10.

Secret State is seeking a fifth straight win and Appleby said: “The form of his Royal Ascot win [King George V Handicap] has worked out well and he backed that up with another good performance at Goodwood. He’s a Dubawi who is progressing with each race. He goes there a worthy favourite.”

On his St Leger plans, Appleby added: “We are lucky to have New London, who is favourite for the St Leger, which has always been his target. As for Secret State, we will make a decision regarding his trip after the Voltigeur. There’s a question mark over whether he would get a strong mile and three-quarters. We will see in time.”

Walk Of Stars (near): the mount of James DoyleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gelded after disappointing in the Derby, Walk Of Stars has since had one start, finishing a close third to the reopposing Deauville Legend in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Appleby said: “We’ve always held Walk Of Stars in high regard. We ran him in the Derby because we felt he was one of our better middle-distance horses. Since his gelding operation, we have seen a marked improvement in him mentally. If he can put it together, a race such as the Voltigeur is well within his compass.

“We have used this race before as a guide to future targets at home and abroad, with Yibir being a good example. If he runs well, we might look at America for him later in the year."

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Aikhal
His first run back this season in the St James's Palace was only over a mile and we were delighted with him at the Curragh on his next start when stepping up to a mile and a quarter. This is another couple of furlongs further so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

James Ferguson, trainer of Deauville Legend and El Bodegon
Deauville Legend has progressed with every run. His second at Goodwood last time was very good considering he was giving weight away. The track will suit him and this is a logical step before he heads to Australia for the Spring Carnival. El Bodegon has been a good horse from day one and is the only Group 1 winner in the field. He’s also bound for Australia and it’s a shame we have to run them against each other.

Grand Alliance: will sport cheekpieces rather than a visorCredit: Edward Whitaker

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Grand Alliance
We're mixing it up by fitting him with cheekpieces. I don’t think the visor was to blame for his showing at Goodwood, however, I just think he hated the track. He’ll love York and going left handed will suit him but I would love a bit of rain for him. If he hadn’t run at Goodwood he would be a 10-1 chance for this rather than the outsider at 22-1.
Reporting by David Milnes

Wednesday's previews:

1.50 York: can Dakota Gold bring the house down as Ebor festival starts with a sprint?

2.25 York: outsider could prove the value as unexposed juveniles line up in open Acomb

3.35 York: 'I think he'll stay, no problem' - Haggas on Baaeed's Juddmonte test

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