EXCLUSIVE: Mahler has ideal credentials for classic win

When Mahler burst clear of Veracity, who he meets again today, in the Queen's Vase he put in a decisive performance packed with stamina but with enough pace to put distance between himself and his rivals.

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He seems ideally equipped for today's test. I should know. I tried and failed to win it often enough.

I was beaten on five favourites and finished second twice on Diminuendo (1988) and Hellenic (1990).

There was also the devastating defeat of the great Shergar in 1981.

It seemed inconceivable that the dual Derby winner would not win but the Doncaster test proved a race too far in his wonderful season he was fourth to Dick Hern's 28-1 shot Cut Above.

If that defeat hurt me badly, 1988 was not much better.

That season my boss Sir Michael Stoute had let me off his runner Zaffaran to substitute for the injured Steve Cauthen on Henry Cecil's 4-7 favourite Diminuendo.

We cruised up to Minster Son looking poised to win, but the unremitting Doncaster straight can be a cruel place.

As Willie Carson continued to urge Minster Son on, the fuel gauge on Diminuendo fell rapidly into red.

No matter what the going, the extended 1m 6f of our oldest Classic takes some lasting. You need a runner that can relax. Wasted energy is not a luxury that you can afford.

That's why I like Mahler. He looks straightforward. Mick Kinane will be able to put him where he wants in the early stages, but it will be a surprise if he is not near the front, maybe even making the running.

The apparent negative in Mahler's credentials is his run in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month when fifth to John Gosden's winner Lucarno and behind stablemate's Macarthur (third) and Acapulco (fourth).

But the slow tempo of that 1m 4f race made it an insignificant test of the credentials needed today.

That was most disadvantageous to Mahler and also masked Lucarno's stamina limitations.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has said that he had given Mahler a break before the Voltigeur, a trial he was viewing as a prep race for the main event.

O'Brien, admittedly, expects all his three Voltigeur runners to improve for their York efforts and believes his Ebor Handicap runner-up Honolulu, who the bookmakers make favourite, has also progressed.

Of the rest, you have to respect Samuel, even though he is a maiden. His trainer, John Dunlop, has won the Leger three times so knows what it takes.

The same applies to Celestial Halo, who represents another St Leger winning trainer, Barry Hills.

Then there is Regal Flush, who Stoute added to the field at a cost of £40,000 on Monday after winning at Haydock last weekend.

The Leger is the one glaring omission from Stoute's list of successes after 24 attempts and five seconds.

How ironic it would be if a colt, who joined the line-up through the back door, could break his duck.

Don't be fooled into thinking his entry is an afterthought. I'm sure my old boss will have had this at the back of his mind for a while and you could see why at Haydock.

He stays well and has a quick action with a good turn of foot, which gives him a decent eachway chance.