Aidan O'Brien secures sixth success in world's oldest Classic as market leaders come to the fore.

Kew Gardens oozed class and stamina as he gave Aidan O’Brien a sixth victory in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster.

The colt had advertised his claims with wins in the the Queen’s Vase and a Group One in France earlier in the year and fended off the late challenge of favourite Lah Ti Dar.

Sent off a 3-1 chance in the hands of Ryan Moore, Kew Gardens was buried in the pack early on as stablemate Nelson set the early gallop in company with Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee.

They were lining up in behind with half a mile still to run – where inexperience seemed to tell on the market leader – and Moore was eager to push on, assuming control at the two-furlong point.

Lah Ti Dar eventually did hit her stride for Frankie Dettori, but Kew Gardens had already flown, securing his second the spoils by two and a quarter lengths.

Fellow O’Brien inmate Southern France kept on for third, a further four and a half lengths adrift.

“We couldn’t be happier with him. He’s a horse that’s progressed lovely,” O’Brien said of the winner. “We saw what he did in (Ascot) and we were delighted with him in France.

“We always thought he was a horse that would stay well and we thought the distance would suit him. He has a lot of class and we’re over the moon really.”

Moore added: “He travelled well and got there easy. He’s a very uncomplicated horse with a fantastic attitude and he won it nicely. He kept going well.”

John Gosden was not too disheartened to finish second with Lah Ti Dar, as he felt his filly was caught out by her relative lack of experience.

He said: “She ran a great race and as Frankie said, that’s the first real race of her life. She’s only ever seen about one horse before today.

“She was beaten by a proper horse and a proper Leger horse – a Grand Prix de Paris winner and a Queen’s Vase winner. She’s run an absolute blinder and we’re thrilled with her.

“The early pace was a lot slower than we thought it would be. Everyone said ‘oh that’s good, she’ll stay’, and I said ‘actually I’m not sure it’s going to suit her’.

“In the end the best horse won – make no mistake – but I like the way she was closing him down late on. She was getting to him and getting to him.

“We’ll freshen her up and go for the fillies’ and mares’ race on Champions Day at Ascot and then put her away for next year. That’s the plan.”

British Champions Series