Punters in crisis as connections reveal Lah Ti Dar likely to bypass St Leger in favour of Arc mission
John Gosden's star filly will have a crack at the Prix Vermeille before taking on the big guns in the Longchamp showpiece
PUNTERS will be wiping away their tears after it was revealed brilliant York winner Lah Ti Dar is a doubt for the St Leger.
Connections of the star three-year-old are favouring a trip to the Arc rather than a tilt at the Doncaster Classic.
Following a very impressive victory on the Knavesmire last week in the Galtres Stakes, jockey Frankie Dettori implied the St Leger was the most likely next stop for his unbeaten mount.
However, connections are now looking at a possible tilt at the Prix Vermeille, the traditional Arc trial for fillies, before taking on the boys in the big one.
If going down the Arc route, the unbeaten three-year-old would likely lock horns with last month's impressive Group 1 winner Sea Of Class, who waltzed away from some top fillies in the Yorkshire Oaks.
The decision is likely to be a painful one for regular rider Dettori, who now has to choose whether he wants to ride last year's Arc winner Enable, or stick with the one-time Oaks favourite.
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It's also a painful decision for punters, who'll be licking their wounds after they made Lah Ti Dar the 2-1 favourite for the St Leger following last month's Galtres romp.
Simon Marsh, racing manager to owners Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber, told the Racing Post: "Lah Ti Dar has come out of the race very well and is absolutely fine, but while she'll be left in both the Leger and the Vermeille we're leaning towards the Vermeille.
"If we were to go for the Vermeille, we would then look at running her in the Arc.
"I'm not discounting the St Leger and we'll take a close look at both races. I think Lah Ti Dar will stay the Leger trip, and I don't think her inexperience would stop her from running very well, but it is still a big ask of a three-year-old filly to get nearly two miles."
Impressive debut winner Too Darn Hot was thought to have Group 1 targets after his Solario Stakes romp but trainer John Gosden has lined up the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting instead.
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The two-year-old was scintillating on his first start at the Esher track last month and was even better at the Sandown last week.
Gosden told the Daily Mirror: "I think the Champagne at Doncaster is the logical target for him - there's a two-week gap, so that works out pretty well - and that's probably where we'll head."
