'He just keeps getting better' - Paddy Twomey planning Classic bid with his first Royal Ascot winner

Paddy Twomey is considering the St Leger for his unbeaten Queen's Vase winner Carmers after the trainer's flying form in Ireland translated to a first Royal Ascot success.

Twomey, who trains in County Tipperary, has already beaten last year's tally of 19 winners in Ireland and his select team were in sizzling form in Berkshire, with three of his four runners at the meeting finishing in the top three.

“Ascot was great,” Twomey said. “It's fiercely contested over there but we only take horses who we think can be competitive and they all ran well. Carmers beat the track record when landing the race and it was good to get the win.”

Carmers won the Queen’s Vase by three-quarters of a length under Billy Lee to extend his unbeaten record to three. Twomey feels that the St Leger at Doncaster, for which he is 12-1 with sponsors Betfred, is the logical next step.

Twomey said: “Every time Carmers runs he gets better. He stays well and I think the St Leger looks a reasonable target for him. 

Carmers: 12-1 for the St Leger after Royal Ascot winCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"We'll have a think in the next few weeks about how we get there but he's progressive and a strong stayer.”

Catalina Delcarpio was sent off the 2-1 favourite for the Ribblesdale Stakes over a mile and a half and led up the straight before ultimately fading into third. Twomey is unsure of whether the three-year-old filly is capable of staying that distance at this stage of her career. 

He said: “I probably had slight reservations about the trip when we were going there. Her pedigree says she will get a mile and a quarter but maybe she didn’t stay a mile and a half in a truly run race.

“I think she'll stay that trip well when she's a bit stronger. That was only her third start and she has only just about filled her frame. 

Catalina Delcarpio (yellow silks, centre): finished third in the Ribblesdale StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“She has instant acceleration and a ready turn of foot so we may just drop back to a mile and a quarter for the time being because she looked very comfortable over that trip.

“She's a classy filly who I rate highly and I think she'll continue to build. Whatever she does at three, she'll be a better four-year-old."

Rogue Legend was another who went close for the trainer when he was headed late on in the Windsor Castle Stakes and finished third behind Havana Hurricane.

“He ran a very good race but when there are 23 runners on the straight track it's a bit of a lottery,” he said. 

“That was his fourth run in five weeks and he is taking his racing well. It was a big step up on what he'd done before and I think he's a horse who will continue to improve. 

“He's a very straightforward uncomplicated horse and is a pleasure to train. I think he'll pitch up in all those two-year-old sprints for the season.”

Betfred St Leger (3.40 Doncaster, September 13)
Betfred: 11-4 Lambourn, 10 Tennessee Stud, 12 Carmers, Lazy Griff, Merchant, Minnie Hauk, Stay True, 14 Puppet Master, 16 bar.

Read more . . .

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'The way he was ridden, there is no way of knowing. It was just a terrible ride' 

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