STICK by Simianna (2.55) for this afternoon's big sprint the Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap, one of the feature events on the first day of the star-studded St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

Alan Berry's filly has been putting in some sterling work over the past few weeks, notably at York seven days ago where she was a close third to the smart speedster Seel Of Approval.

Simianna was absolutely cruising with a furlong to travel and although the three-year-old didn't find quite as much as expected when jockey Fergal Lynch went for broke, she still plugged on with plenty of resolution.

Now back over the slightly shorter distance of five-and-a-half furlongs, Simianna is fancied to finally bag the prestigious prize she so richly deserves.

As usual there's a maximum 22-runner field for the immensely valuable six-furlong £200,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes.

One of the leading contenders, Cape Fear (2.20), is due to be partnered by reigning champ Kieren Fallon, who is sure to get a great tune out of his highly rated mount.

"Things didn't go right for Cape Fear when he ran in the Gimcrack at York last time, but he strode out nicely on Monday in preparation for this race," reported his Lambourn-based handler Brian Meehan.

Mark Johnston might easily bag the last two races for the "home team" via Badr (4.30) and Marinas Charm (5.00).

On sheer size, scope, and encouraging homework, Badr has always been regarded as one of Johnston's first division juveniles, so it was something of a shock when despite being made hot-favourite on his debut, Badr had to play second fiddle to stable-mate Baileys Dancer at Hamilton.

The form of the contest has subsequently turned out to be gilt-edged on account of Baileys Dancer bolting up at Haydock on Saturday, landing a juicy 13-2 winning nap for this column in the process.

Marinas Charm has also done us two monster favours this term with a 20-1 success at Hamilton, rapidly followed by a 5-2 triumph at Windsor. The filly owes us nothing and if you're prepared to forgive her rare below par run at Goodwood last time out then she must have a terrific shout in the closing mile-and-a-quarter Wilfreeda Beehive Classified Stakes.

Not too many jockeys since the great Lester Piggott have mastered the art of riding Epsom's notoriously difficult switchback track, however the promising apprentice Lisa Jones is making a pretty good fist of it.

Lisa was seen to particularly good effect when riding a double at course last month and further glory beckons when she gets the leg up on Franksalot (4.10), rated a major player in the Comtake Welding Handicap.

Brighton's predominantly downhill nature is not so dissimilar to Epsom, which bodes well for the selection having pulled out all of the stops to collect at the seaside venue a fortnight ago.

* Hawk Flyer, a leading fancy for the Seabiscuit St Leger, was put down yesterday after fracturing a pastern.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was as low as 6-1 for the final Classic of the season this Saturday after finishing third in both the Peugeot Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

''He has shattered his pastern very, very badly and had to be put down,'' confirmed Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. The owner and trainer had been seeking their second Classic success of the season following Kris Kin's victory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom in June.

Hawk Flyer, a son of Silver Hawk, made his racecourse debut just one week after his stablemate's memorable triumph in the premier Classic.

After finishing second on his debut at York, he won his next two races at Doncaster and Ascot before his fine efforts in two recognised Leger trials.

Stoute now does not have a runner in the one British Classic that he has yet to win and Frankie Dettori, who was to have ridden Hawk Flyer, is now left without a mount.

Hawk Flyer had been partnered in all his five races by Kieren Fallon and the champion jockey expressed his sadness at the news.

''It's a great shame. He was a very good horse and we hadn't seen the best of him. I think he could have won the Leger on soft ground,'' he said.

Coral reported that Brian Boru had been the subject of a £4,000 bet for the St Leger in an East London shop at 9-4 shortly before the news emerged.

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