Harbinger must pass York test to launch St Leger bid

The saga about whether 3-1 St Leger favourite Harbinger will attempt to give Sir Michael Stoute back-to-back Doncaster Classic successes won't be decided until after the colt has run at York next Tuesday.

Harbinger, who is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, has only run three times but, having broken his maiden at Chester in May, scored a hugely impressive victory in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, prompting a 16lb in the ratings to a mark of 112.

The three-year-old's next outing will be in the Group 2 mile-and-a-half Great Voltigeur Stakes and Stoute, who admits to having reservations about Harbinger's ability to stay the 1m 6f trip in the St Leger on 12 September, has advised punters to "hold your bets".

Alex Smith, assistant to Highclere's racing manager Harry Herbert, has confirmed that no decision will be made until after York.

Smith said: "Kieren Fallon rode Harbinger in a gallop at Newmarket last Saturday and was very impressed and, while he will do another serious piece of work today, provided there are no hiccups it will be all systems go for York.

"Sir Michael has not ruled anything in or out, but Harbinger has shown that he has plenty of speed and that is why we have entered him for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October."

Stoute had trained 25 consecutive losers in the St Leger until Conduit ended his jinx last September.

St Leger (Ladbrokes): 3 Harbinger, 5 Age Of Aquarius, 6 Father Time, 8 Kite Wood, Mourayan, Urban Poet, 12 Manifest, 14 Changingoftheguard, 20 bar.