Aidan O’Brien is poised to launch another bid for an elusive Melbourne Cup victory after his star stayer Scandinavia captured the Group 1 St Leger (2800m) at Doncaster on Saturday.
Ridden by Tom Marquand, the $3 favourite outstayed his rivals to secure a ninth St Leger for O’Brien, backing up his Group 1 Goodwood Cup (3200m) triumph in July. The victory also made O’Brien the first trainer in the 249-year history of the St Leger to prepare three consecutive winners, following Jan Brueghel (2024) and Continuous (2023).
“He’s in the Melbourne Cup and that’s a possibility,” O’Brien told reporters. “He has to go and get scanned to see if he’s eligible, but there’s every chance the lads (Coolmore) might want to go down there with him. He’s a typical Justify, very genuine, and the drier the ground the better. Every week he’s getting better.”
Scandinavia is now expected to shorten in markets for the $10 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4, though he must first pass Racing Victoria’s rigorous veterinary checks. The fate of last year’s St Leger winner Jan Brueghel, who was scratched by RV vets days before the Cup, serves as a recent cautionary tale.
Another consideration will be the release of Melbourne Cup handicaps on Tuesday, which could significantly shape Scandinavia’s spring program.
Online bookmaker mybet has Scandinavia as the $11 third favourite in Melbourne Cup odds.
Punters can follow Scandinavia’s progress towards Flemington and secure early Cup odds via Australia’s leading betting sites.
