'Every chance' Continuous could head to the Arc next after dominant St Leger win for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien

Continuous delivered Aidan O'Brien a magnificent seventh St Leger and Ryan Moore a hat-trick in the world's oldest Classic – and his autumn exploits might not be over yet.

On the occasion of Frankie Dettori's last ride in a British Classic and in the presence of the King and Queen who were at Doncaster to watch Desert Hero, O'Brien's greatness shone through once more on Town Moor with a colt who has really come to hand.

An impressive winner of the Great Voltigeur at York last month, Continuous had never raced beyond a mile and a half before, but he showed a potent combination of speed and stamina to have the race wrapped up a good couple of furlongs out.

Continuous could be the word used to describe O'Brien's relentless pursuit of success, but it might also be the name of Ballydoyle's primary hope for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday week, for which he would need to be supplemented.  

Ryan Moore on Continuous: "He's got a great attitude, a lot of pace and he quickens very well"Credit: Alan Crowhurst

"You'd say looking at him at York, he was nailed on for this race and he had form on soft ground," said O'Brien. "He didn't have any problem with the trip. He's got a lot of class, you could see it in his work every day. We're over the moon. 

"The lads will think about the Arc, I'd say. He handles soft ground and gets a mile and a half very well and has class. There's every chance he could and he has all the things that could work in an Arc. It's just whether the two-week turnback is too tight or not. He has a great constitution, though."

O'Brien has gone on to the Arc with his last four St Leger winners, Kew Gardens (2018), Capri (2017), Leading Light (2013) and Scorpion (2005), although there is a week shorter gap to the race this year. 

Following the dominant success, Continuous was cut to 12-1 in places for the Arc and also to 10-1 for the Qipco Champion Stakes on October 21.

Continuous pulls clear of Arrest and Desert HeroCredit: GROSSICK RACING

"He had a break before York, where we felt he was just ready to run," said O'Brien. "He's got a lot of speed on the dam's side but the first time Ryan rode him as a two-year-old, he said he'd stay because horses by Heart's Cry all stay in Japan."

With the St Leger usually clashing with last week's Irish Champions Festival, Moore's visits to Doncaster for the Classic, much like O'Brien's, have been fleeting in recent years, but when he has been here, he has certainly made his mark.

The ace jockey completed three straight Leger wins, five years after his last ride in the race, on a horse he described as "special".

"He's got a great attitude, a lot of pace and he quickens very well, and he's always been really genuine and wants to do it for you," he said. "I was in front a long way out there and he kept rolling. We went steady and he won it through a turn of foot and he had the courage to keep going."

Continuous was followed home by the Dettori-ridden Arrest and Desert Hero in the royal colours and O'Brien was almost apologetic about beating the crowd favourites.

"I'm very sorry about that, absolutely, but it's sport and anytime anyone wins we're more delighted than anybody," the trainer said. "We know how tough and hard it is. Sport is about competing and doing your best. When you do your best and fail, it's easy to accept.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore accept their St Leger prizes from Betfred's Fred DoneCredit: GROSSICK RACING

"It's so special to have the King and Queen here. You could see the buzz around the parade and the passion and goodwill for them. It's incredible, it's very special really."

On Dettori, who can count a Leger win for O'Brien among his final score of six, the trainer added: "Frankie has been unbelievable in so many ways. He's ridden a lot of big winners for us, but he's beaten us more times than I can tell you and I cannot wait until he retires. 

"He's been the most unbelievable rider we've ever seen and he's a great fella too. Hopefully if he does retire, he's not going to go out of racing."

Read this next:

'Very exciting' Iberian sparkles in Champagne to earn 25-1 quote for 2,000 Guineas 

Frankie Dettori: 'Between the three and the two I thought 'I could win this' - then with my second glance I saw Ryan' 

'We thought we might not get him back this year' - Al Qareem downs Bluestocking to claim Listed success 

Do you want £400+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.