THE Leger winner Shantou could bid to land next month's French equivalent at Longchamp, it was revealed yesterday. John Gosden is so happy with how the colt has come out of his Doncaster triumph that he is reconsidering his original plan to retire him for the season.
"Shantou is in great form," the trainer said yesterday. "He ate up last night and licked out his manager and he is very bouncy this morning.
"I think we will either rest him for the year or he could go to France for the Prix Royal-Oak if the ground was right - he likes some give."
The 15 1/2-furlong Group One contest on October 27th is known as the French St Leger, although it is open to older horses. Moonax became the first Doncaster winner to complete the double two years ago.
Derby third Shantou gave Gosden his first British Classic success when reversing Epsom form with Dushyantor in Saturday's mile-and-three-quarter contest.
And the trainer is already looking ahead to a profitable campaign next year. "There is hope that he has more improvement in him as he didn't run as a two-year-old, although he is not a big colt," Gosden said.
"And though he won over further yesterday he is pretty good over a mile and a half too so that gives us more options.
"He was criticised when he got beaten after the Derby but he is not an easy ride. He's a horse who can be very good when the race goes right and I thought he showed a lot of guts yesterday."
Gosden was frustrated by the guidelines which saw winning jockey Frankie Dettori handed a four-day ban for over use of the whip.
It is a dilemma we face," he said. "It is a very good rule with a lot of good intentions but in a major event with a tight finish, what are the chaps to do?"
Meanwhile, Allen Paulson has vowed not to sell his superstar Cigar, who impressively resumed his winning ways in the Grade One Woodward Stakes (9f) at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Cigar, coming off a shock defeat in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, was back to his aggressive best as he made light work of his four rivals.
Eltish, despite stumbling at the start, set the early pace as Cigar, under Jerry Bailey, waited in fourth. Eltish's bubble disappointingly burst before the turn, and after Cigar circled his other rivals, he then drew clear, once shown the whip, to beat perennial rival, L'Carriere, by four lengths.
Paulson said: "I have a firm offer from Japan for $30 million. However, I am not going to sell him. If I sold him, I would miss him."
David Elsworth yesterday announced that Persian Punch will miss next Saturday's Irish St Leger due to an ill-timed infection. And the trainer reckons Jeff Smith's Goodwood Cup third may not run again this year.
And Leading Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup fancy Samwar may miss the race. Due to the prevailing dry conditions in Scotland the second favourite, currently priced at 7 to 1 with William Hill, is not certain to make the trip. Trainer Gay Kelleway said yesterday: "Samwar is unlikely to run if it stays fine. He'll go instead for the Ascot Rated Stakes the week after."
The Whitcombe trainer also has top-weight Anzio in the Ayr feature but the gelding will not run after incurring a penalty for winning at Doncaster on Wednesday and will be re-routed to Italy. "Anzio doesn't run at Ayr, he will go for a Group Three in Milan on October 13th," the trainer added.
Nicky Adams is set for at least two weeks on the sidelines after a fall at Goodwood on Saturday. "It will be touch and go whether I get back for the Ascot Festival in a fortnight's time," the lightweight jockey said. "I have badly torn the ligaments on my right ankle. The left is a bit sore and everything else is too!"
