Betfred St Leger: arrest to return in 2024 after Doncaster second; Westover in great shape before the Arc | Racing News

The arrest is expected to be postponed until next season after running second in his bid to provide Frankie Dettori with one last classic success at the Betfred St Leger in Doncaster on Saturday.

Having put Derby and Royal Ascot disappointment behind him with victory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last month, the Frankel colt was the Italian’s chosen mount as he sought to secure a seventh victory in the centerpiece of Town Moor.

While the impressive Continu was too good on the day, Arrest stuck to his task to finish best of the rest and his connections can’t wait to see what he can accomplish at four.

Barry Mahon, racing director of Juddmonte owners, said: “I was delighted and thought he had a great race. I was more disappointed for Frankie than anything else as it would have been wonderful for him to live a fairy tale ending at the last Classic of the year, but it wasn’t to be.

“The horse had a brilliant race and Frankie was very complimentary about him afterwards and said what a good horse he thinks he will be next year. I think we have a lot to look forward to with him.

“I think that seemed to be the consensus with John, Thady (Gosden) and Frankie after the race, that we’re putting him away for the year now and that he’ll be a good horse next year.

“He still has a lot of strengthening to do – he’s a tall, lean horse and he’s going to get three to four stronger. We’re looking forward to spring next year.

“We know he likes to get a little comfortable and once there’s a little juice in the ground he’ll be doing all those big mile races next year.”

Westover ‘perfect’ for Arc bid

Juddmonte’s other leading performer in the middle distance division is Westover, trained by Ralph Beckett, who enjoyed a gallop at Salisbury Racecourse on Friday in preparation for a tilt in the Prix de l’Arc de Triumph Sunday week.

The four-year-old has remained fresh since being narrowly denied by Hukum in a thrilling renewal of the King George at Ascot in July, and Mahon is counting down the days until his next big race in Paris.

He added: “Westover had a day at Salisbury and everything went well. Ralph was very happy and Rob (Hornby) was very happy with him. He had a good knock afterwards and that will put him on the right track .

“I think he will go to the beach this week, as he usually does, and then he will be ready to go to Longchamp.

“His form is very good – he competed with the best of them – and just looking at the long-term forecast the weather looks pretty stable in Paris, so hopefully we can have a nice pitch, which would be great.”