Racing: Balakheri heads the Stoute team for venerable Classic

It would be good to report that the final Classic of the year forms the undisputed centrepiece of next weekend's sport. It would also, sadly, be somewhat inaccurate. Interest in Saturday's 226th St Leger at Doncaster, for which 13 entries remained at yesterday's penultimate confirmation stage, is likely to be overshadowed by the appearance of High Chaparral and Sulamani, the first two in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting, at Longchamp the following day.

Even the St Leger's most ardent supporters have to admit that its function in the grand design of the thoroughbred is not what it was. But the fact that a test over an extended mile and three-quarters does not find favour with the modern breeder should not be used as a stick with which to beat the venerable race. It is a valuable part of the unique variation of the sport in this country and a spectacle – the primary point of racing – that should be cherished.

The oldest, longest and toughest Classic is a contest that has constantly evolved. Two hundred years ago, when the racing of horses as young as three was in its infancy as a fashion, the St Leger was emerging as one of the highlights of the Yorkshire circuit. Half a century later, with improvements in roads and transport, it had become the seasonal decider in which the best three-year-olds from the south challenged the best in the north.

By the end of the 19th century the term "Triple Crown" had been coined; the St Leger was the Derby winner's automatic target and the last event in a recognisable progression of three which tested the merits of a generation over different courses and different distances.

Fifty years ago the St Leger was still a must-have in the portfolio of any self-respecting sire but, since the American revolution of the Sixties and the rather worrying modern concept that merit over 12 furlongs – let alone an extended 14 – is not so much the optimum but the limit of stamina capacity a prospective stallion should display, targets for the perceived classiest horses have changed.

And any owners who duck the St Leger challenge with their best are probably rather pleased that they have an excuse that may be seen as legitimate, for the examination that the race offers is a difficult one to pass. Horses such as Alleged and Shergar, undeniably great over middle distances, failed when faced with the uncompromising Town Moor straight.

But those who decry the St Leger as an anachronism and call for changes in its conditions do not, tellingly, come from the ranks of the industry's shrewdest professionals. At the start of the year the notion foremost in the mind of Aidan O'Brien, for instance, was that Hawk Wing might follow in Nijinsky's hoofprints by bringing Triple Crown laurels back to Ballydoyle.

And Sir Michael Stoute has long been a staunch defender of the marathon's values. "I know the Irish and French have opened their St Legers to older horses but we must continue to cater for young stayers," he said. "It's difficult to criticise those breeders who go down the other road because they have to react to market forces. But there are getting to be fewer and fewer horses who truly stay a mile and a half and the clever fellows with an eye to the future will not be neglecting the stamina end of the gene pool.

"Shorter distances are currently fashionable but we don't know what might happen in the future and the pendulum may swing back and the facility of a staying championship for three-year-olds needs to be there."

The St Leger is the only domestic Classic missing from Stoute's portfolio. The best from his 15 runners has been three runner-up spots from Hellenic, Saddler's Hall and Air Marshall and 21 years on from his first attempt with fourth-placed Shergar, he will saddle three on Saturday: King Edward VII Stakes victor Balakheri; March Stakes winner First Charter; and Highest, who split Saturday's rivals Bandari and Bollin Eric in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. Balakheri, in the same Aga Khan colours as the race's most famous loser, has been well backed since working particularly well at Newmarket on Saturday and the imposing Theatrical colt may well challenge the Mark Johnston-trained Bandari for favouritism come the big day.

O'Brien will decide tomorrow which of his trio – Ballingarry, Black Sam Bellamy, and Sholokhov, who set the pace for Hawk Wing at Leopardstown three days ago – will go to Doncaster. All three are also in the Irish St Leger the same afternoon, but that Group One event looks a match between the older pair Vinnie Roe and Arctic Owl.

Kazzia is recovering from a hoof abscess, but her attempt to become the first filly Triple Crown winner since Oh So Sharp in 1985 is still in the balance and her Godolphin team has left Mamool in as backstop. Nysean, Mr Dinos and Lady's Secret complete the field for the £400,000 race at this stage.

ST LEGER (Doncaster, Saturday): Coral: 5-2 Bandari, 7-2 Balakheri (from 5-1), 13-2 Ballingarry, 8-1 Kazzia, Bollin Eric, 9-1 Highest, 11-1 Sholokhov, 14-1 Mamool, Mr Dinos, 16-1 First Charter, 20-1 Nysaean, 33-1 Lady's Secret, 40-1 Black Sam Bellamy.