King Charles and Camilla backed for St Leger glory as patriotic punters pile into horse left to him by late Queen
KING Charles and Queen Camilla are going to be backed by patriotic punters to end 46 years of Royal hurt on Saturday.
Bookies are braced for a tidal wave of support as Desert Hero, the three-year-old colt left to the King by his late mum, bids to win the St Leger.
Queen Elizabeth II won the St Leger, which will take place at 3.35pm on Saturday, in 1977 with Dunfermline.
But it is Desert Hero, who reduced the King to tears with his 18-1 Royal Ascot win in June, who carries the hopes of a nation this weekend.
The timing of this year’s race – worth more than £420,000 to the winner – could not be more poignant either, coming a year after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
Desert Hero is 5-1 third-favourite for the final of five Classic races this season.
Trainer William Haggas is the man tasked with having the thoroughbred in peak condition while Tom Marquand, husband of fellow rider Hollie Doyle, will be in the saddle.
Marquand recently rode his 1,000th winner but then followed it up by riding the shortest-priced loser in British history at 1-25 on a horse appropriately named Doom.
Haggas recently joked that meant the pair had already made history this season.
But the duo know victory for Desert Hero would be a story that extends far beyond the world of racing.
Bookies reckon it could line a few punters’ pockets too.
Coral reported they are expecting a flood of money for the eye-catching chestnut in the run-up to the off.
Bookie David Stevens said: “It was during last year’s St Leger meeting that the sad news of the Queen’s passing was announced.
“So, 12 months on, it would be a fitting tribute to her lifelong love of, and involvement in, the sport of horseracing if a horse Her Majesty bred the winner of the world’s oldest Classic race, the St Leger.
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“Victory for Desert Hero would be a fitting tribute to a monarch whose love of racing was well documented.”
The King and Queen are expected to be at the track having missed Desert Hero’s most recent win at Glorious Goodwood last month.
Haggas, whose wife Maureen is legendary late jockey Lester Piggott’s daughter, said even owners of the other horses in the race would be happy if the Royals won.
He told QIPCO British Champions Series: “Desert Hero winning would mean the world to everyone in our industry.
“We have been fortunate for so long to have such stoic Royal patronage, and anything that can enhance that will be good.
“As much as we all want to win, I think even connections of the other runners would enjoy a victory for the King and the Queen.”
Standing in the way, though, will be the likes of Frankie Dettori.
The world’s most famous jockey will race in his final St Leger as part of his global farewell tour – after which he’ll rent out his Newmarket mansion for £15,000 a month and travel the world.
A last-minute switch sees him get the leg up on Arrest, while Ryan Moore, arguably the world’s greatest jockey, will ride joint-fav Continuous.
Hold onto your hats (and crown) – it’s going to be a cracker.
St Leger – latest Coral betting
10-3 Arrest
10-3 Continuous
7-2 Gregory
5-1 Desert Hero
7-1 Middle Earth
12-1 Tower Of London
12-1 Chesspiece
20-1 Alexandroupolis
40-1 Denmark
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