Star Begonia set for Leger

Star Begonia and Sunshine Street look set to fly the Irish flag in the last English classic of the season, Saturday's Pertemps St Leger at Doncaster.

Aidan O'Brien yesterday described the Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Star Begonia as a likely runner and Sunshine Street is due to arrive in Britain today, where he will board in Mark Dwyer's livery yard.

Noel Meade yesterday said: "Sunshine Street will run if the ground is good or faster but we will leave a decision until as late as we can." Richard Hughes has been booked to ride the colt whose best price is 9 to 1.

The ante-post market on the race was thrown into turmoil yesterday when Godolphin announced that Sea Wave and Central Park will miss the Classic and instead both colts will run in the Prix Niel at Longchamp the following day.

"Nedawi will run in the Pertemps St Leger," said Godolphin spokesman Simon Crisford. John Reid will ride.

Victor Chandler have installed Nedawi as the new favourite at 3-1 (William Hill go 2-1), with Sadian, supplemented for the race last Saturday at a cost of £20,000, next on 7 to 2 (13-2 with William Hill).

David Hood, Hill's spokesman, commented: "These withdrawals may actually work in the race's favour by making it look a little more competitive, although it is pretty thin on true Classic quality."

Also prominent in the betting is Sir Michael Stoute's TaLim, a 5 to 1 chance, who will be bidding to continue his progress in the £320,000 event.

Richard Hills, who takes the ride again at Doncaster, partnered the March Stakes winner in some work at Newmarket on Saturday morning and the colt satisfied connections.

An Irish-trained horse hasn't won the Doncaster St Leger since Boucher won for Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott in 1972.

Aidan O'Brien also hopes to runs his Heinz 57 winner Lavery in Friday's Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, while the Nureyev colt, Borromini, runner-up to Wish List on his debut at Tipperary, could go in the Flying Childers Stakes on Saturday.