But Arc bid not off the table yet for Leger fourth.
Deira Mile, the impressive St Leger fourth, may take a well-deserved winter break, although a shot at the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remains on the table. Trainer Owen Burrows is weighing his options for the Camelot colt, who also finished fourth in this year's Derby, trailing City Of Troy, Ambiente Friendly, and Los Angeles.
After a summer break, Deira Mile made his return in the Listed August Stakes at Windsor, finishing second by a neck after an 84-day absence. His next outing was the final Classic of the season, where he took on a demanding trip of just over a mile and six furlongs at Doncaster. Sent off at 28-1 under Jason Watson, Deira Mile crossed the line in third but was later demoted to fourth for bumping into Sunway.
The Arc has been mentioned as a potential next step, though Burrows is mindful of giving the colt time off. "We're just deciding whether he's done for the year or not," Burrows said. "I'll talk to the owner and see. He did mention running him in the Arc, but we’ll evaluate and decide if it’s better to save him for next season."
Burrows added, "He’s proven he's close to the top level—fourth in the Derby, third (well, fourth) in the Leger, beaten by just a length and a half. Ideally, we could have used a stronger gallop, and 24 hours later, the rain would’ve been perfect for him, but that’s racing. We're excited for next year."
Another potential winter break looms for Nakheel, Deira Mile’s stablemate and the commanding winner of the Group Two Park Hill Stakes over the same St Leger distance. Though the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Arc weekend is an option, Burrows is also considering giving the filly time off ahead of a 2024 campaign.
"She's pulled up well, but we’re still assessing her," Burrows said. "Sheikh Ahmed is keen to keep her in training next year, so she might have done enough for this season. The race in France is still an option, but we’d only need to supplement her a few days before, so we'll see how she is."
Burrows concluded, "Nakheel is a well-bred filly who will only get better with another winter behind her. She’s had just one run as a two-year-old, so there’s a lot to look forward to."
