Väsby Häst AB, Annike Bye Hansen and Elione Chaves came out victorious on Thursday evening in Norsk St. Leger, when the American-bred If He Says So was clearly best over the 2970 metres on the sand track. The Summer Front son won by five lengths ahead of Amason and Kjell Hroar.
If He Says So was at one stage down as the last horse in the small field, which had a non-runner in advance in Fyensløbet winner Captain’s Choice (Dawn Approach). Up front Sandro de Paiva dictated the pace on the back of Amason (Appel Au Maitre), who several times along the way came under pressure on the outside from All Star Bling (Sea The Stars) and Manuel Martinez.
When Chaves finally gave the marching orders to If He Says So shortly before the field hit the home turn for the last time, the answer came promptly, and even though Amason did not immediately give up without a fight, the favourite was simply strongest at the end.
In third came the Norwegian Derby runner-up Kjell Hroar (Zoffany), while All Star Bling was fourth ahead of Exit To The Moon (Accelerate).
The first prize in Norsk St. Leger was worth NOK 91,000 to Väsby Häst AB. Converted into Danish kroner the three-year-old gelding thus received just under 60,000 for winning the classic race at Øvrevoll – but a classic is a classic after all.
If He Says So was bought last year for €40,000 at Arqana’s Breeze Up Sale in Deauville. It was Martin Buick who secured the knockdown on behalf of Väsby Häst, after the horse had cost $8,000 in the ring at Keeneland in Kentucky as a yearling.
If He Says So is out of the winning Street Cry daughter Pick And Choose, who is already the dam of three winners.
The second dam, Pictavia (Sinndar), won among others Select Stakes (Gr.3) and was second in Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr.1) as well as third in Epsom Oaks (Gr.1), and she is herself out of a Listed-winning half-sister to Beverly D. Stakes (Gr.1), 1000 Guineas (Gr.1) and Champion Stakes (Gr.1) winner Hatoof.
Thursday at Øvrevoll also offered Norsk Mesterskap for two- and three-year-olds, and both races were won by horses bred by Morten Buck and by the stallion Sporting Chance (Kodiac).
First Oliver Wilson won Norsk Mesterskap for two-year-olds in the irons on Cathrine Erichsen-trained Big Chance, and then Silja Støren’s Sticky Chance came out on top in the three-year-olds’ championship under Manuel Martinez.
Big Chance is out of the Muhtathir daughter Celeste and thus among others a half-brother to last year’s Danish 2000 Guineas winner Bud (Moohaajim), while Sticky Chance is among others a half-brother to the Swedish Kriterium and Breeders’ Trophy Mile winner Shalalee (Strategic Prince).
