SEPTIMUS GRADUATES TO O'BRIEN STAMINA SQUAD
22 August 2007
Racing Post

HE ALREADY dominates the Cup division with dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, but Aidan O'Brien unearthed a potential successor to his staying champion when Septimus passed his long-distance examination at York yesterday.
The door is now open to any of the events for which Yeats will also be considered, the Irish St Leger, Doncaster Cup or Melbourne Cup, after Septimus captured the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup on his first start over 2m.
Only three runs after he had scored an emphatic success in last year's Dante Stakes, Septimus enjoyed another rewarding visit to the Knavesmire when posting a length victory over a field that included last year's winner Sergeant Cecil.
Confidently ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Septimus hit the front a furlong and a half out and found enough in reserve to hold the late thrust of Balkan Knight and Anna Pavlova, who finished clear of Distinction and a laboured Sergeant Cecil in fifth.
"He loved the distance and the ground," said Murtagh. "He got a bit jarred up at Epsom and prefers ease in the going. As soon as I gave him a flick he quickened very well."
Septimus is in the Melbourne Cup, along with stablemates Yeats and Scorpion, and William Hill quote him at 20-1 to prevail in Australia. O'Brien described him as "a possible" at this stage.
"We will probably have to decide Irish St Leger time," said O'Brien. "It's possible Yeats could go for that and they are both possible for Melbourne. We had to see what happened here first, but Septimus loved the trip.
"He had never run this far before, but he always looked like he was going to get further. He travelled sweetly all the way and it was his first run back after a break. We decided to give him an autumn campaign after the Coronation Cup."