King Charles' horse Desert Hero only third in St Leger but Royals still pocket £80,000 in Doncaster feature

KING Charles' horse Desert Hero could only finish third in the St Leger - but the Royals still pocketed £80,000.

The final Classic of the season was won by 3-1 Continuous for all-conquering Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

It means the wait for the next Royal Classic winner goes on after the late Queen Elizabeth II won this very race with Dunfermline in 1977.

Desert Hero finished strongly but simply wasn't up to catching the 3-1 second-fav.

Frankie Dettori, racing in his final Classic, finished second on 11-4 fav Arrest while Desert Hero made up the places at 6-1.

Victory for O'Brien and Moore was worth over £400,000 - but the King and Queen still got £80,000 for third.

The couple - who shook the hands of punters in the parade ring - arrived at Donny at 3.35pm, around an hour before the big race.

The King had been at Cumnock in Scotland earlier in the day but made it to the track for the first time in his life on time.

ITV footage showed royal racing advisor John Warren chatting to the King as he made his way out on to a balcony to take in the course.

The timing of this year's race was poignant, coming a year after Queen Elizabeth II's passing.

She bred Desert Hero and left her to the King as part of his Royal racing empire inheritance.

The horse reduced the King to tears with his 18-1 Royal Ascot win in June and backed that up by winning again at Glorious Goodwood.

Up against stronger horses though he just got found out - although he rallied well at the end.

Tom Marquand, who rode the William Haggas-trained colt, said: "It was fabulous to have the King and Queen here with us. It's fantastic for racing and the public have enjoyed it.

"Unfortunately we didn't win but he ran super and lost nothing in defeat."

It wasn't to be for Dettori either.

The world's most famous jockey has won 23 Classics - the top races for three-year-old horses - but couldn't make it the magic 24.

He will continue his farewell tour with his final race on British soil coming at Ascot on Champions Day on October 21.

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