Camelot to follow the legendary Nijinsky by lifting Triple Crown with St Leger triumph Put in place centuries before any marketing men were let loose on the racing programme, the Triple Crown entails winning the 2,000 Guineas over one mile, the Derby over 1½ miles, and finally, the St Leger, first run in 1776 and racing's oldest Classic, over one mile 6½ furlongs. In terms of achievement in the athletic arena, the closest human equivalent would be asking Usain Bolt to line up in the 800 metres, having previously hacked up in the 100m and 200m. It is that big a step up. When O'Brien points out that Camelot will be leaving his comfort zone in today's Ladbrokes St Leger, he is not exaggerating. There have been 15 Triple Crown winners, the most recent, Nijinsky in 1970, who is considered one of the great champions in the latter part of the 20th century. Yet, in the past 42 years, no one has tried to emulate Vincent O'Brien's flagship achievement, which in reality, is because of the way the international racing scene has developed. In Nijinsky's day, there was no Breeders" Cup, no Japan Cup, no Hong Kong International. The horse's great trainer, Vincent O'Brien knew that after Doncaster, the limited options available were headed by the Arc and Newmarket's Champion Stakes. The trainer had won the Washington International with Sir Ivor in 1968, but that was a foreign race incredibly ahead of its time, and the tight Laurel circuit may not have suited the big-striding Nijinsky. This adventurous challenge with Camelot has been the brainchild of Coolmore's owning triumvirate of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. It is bold because it flies in the face of the accepted practice in breeding circles of ensuring that a horse's profile is not in any way threatened by suggestions that he may lack speed. While that may be hard to argue about one fast enough to have won a Classic over one mile, being also able to stay an extreme distance such as the St Leger, is nevertheless dangerous in terms of reputation in a fickle industry. In essence, Coolmore are calling time on such attitudes, albeit with a special type of horse, who it may suit. If Camelot wins the Triple Crown, it will be something quite extraordinary, and pure gold for the marketing men, who will be eager to promote the colt as the replacement for his sire Montjeu, who died earlier this year. Camelot has been a standout in this year's three-year-old crop. He has trounced mediocre opposition, but the colt cannot be blamed because others of his own vintage are not up to scratch. On the evidence so far, we know he has a brilliant turn of foot and that he can stay a strong mile and a half, even when conditions, such the soft ground as he experienced in the Irish Derby, are against him. John Gosden, a specialist at winning Legers, has three runners, and his Thought Worthy will pose the biggest threat to the odds-on favourite. William Buick has chosen to ride Thought Worthy, who is a brother to Lucarno, a previous St Leger winner and a solid stayer. But the focus remains firmly on Camelot and his young jockey Joseph O'Brien. It is theirs to lose, rather than their rivals raising their games to triumph. O'Brien junior is not fazed by such occasions. He has the fearlessness of youth and he has used it as his trump card all year. On Saturday, on Town Moore, it will be no different.