Sea Moon, ante-post favourite at 6/4 with sponsor Ladbrokes, heads 17 horses going forward for the £500,000 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 10, following the August 23 scratchings deadline

Sir Michael Stoute's lightly-raced charge earned his position at the head of the market for the world's oldest Classic with a stunning eight-length triumph in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes over 12 furlongs at York on August 17. That win was his third from four career starts.

Stoute saddled his first Ladbrokes St Leger winner in 2008 when Conduit prevailed. The brilliant colt went on to win the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as back-to-back renewals of the Grade One Breeders' Cup Turf.

A fantastic renewal of the Ladbrokes St Leger is on the cards this year with the news that Godolphin's Blue Bunting (9/2 second-favourite), who added the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks to Classic victories in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Darley Irish Oaks, is a possible starter for the race.

Mahmood Al Zarooni's charge could bid to become the first 1,000 Guineas heroine to win the Ladbrokes St Leger since the extraordinary Oh So Sharp in 1985. The most recent filly to win the race, the outstanding User Friendly, was also the last to complete the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Ladbrokes St Leger treble when successful in 1992.

The Richard Hannon-trained Census (5/1) landed the Group Three CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on August 13, from Brown Panther (12/1) who is owned by Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen.

Another with the Ladbrokes St Leger on his agenda is the Andrew Balding-trained Whiplash Willie (33/1). The Phoenix Reach colt could attempt to improve upon the effort of his triple Group/Grade One-winning sire, who was third for Balding behind Brian Boru in the 2003 renewal.

Whiplash Willie landed competitive handicaps at Salisbury and Glorious Goodwood earlier this summer. The progressive individual was a creditable runner-up when conceding 8lb to the victorious Parlour Games in the Melrose Handicap over a mile and six furlongs at York on August 20.

Balding revealed today: "Whiplash Willie would want plenty of rain that week but the Ladbrokes St Leger is certainly an option. He stays well and, while it is obviously a massive jump in class for him, somebody has got to finish third or fourth.

"His sire ran well in the race and he is tough, he just wouldn't want the ground too fast.

"It was a good effort at York last week. He travelled well and he is improving with each run, so we are very pleased with him. He is going to be a fun horse for next year and it will be nice to have a fun day out at Doncaster - hopefully he can run well."

Of the 17 entries remaining, five are trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien. Seville (8/1) heads the quintet having been placed second in a brace of Group One contests, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris, before filling third spot behind Sea Moon at York.

O'Brien has won the Ladbrokes St Leger previously with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). Ireland's champion trainer could also run Wonder Of Wonders, placed in the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as Melrose Handicap third Apache, Freedom and Regent Street

John Gosden saddled Arctic Cosmos to land the spoils in 2010, having also scored with Shantou (1996) and Lucarno (2007). This year he may run Masked Marvel, who defeated Census to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July, as well as the progressive Buthelezi and Thimaar.

The Mark Johnston-trained Namibian proved his stamina when winning the Group Three Queen's Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot and then exhibited speed to triumph over 12 furlongs in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood but was a below par fifth in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last time, one place behind the Al Zarooni-trained Genius Beast. Johnston may also saddle Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial winner, Dordogne.

Well Sharp finished third to Brown Panther in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot but Michael Dods' charge was last of 10 behind Namibian at Goodwood last time.

Ladbrokes St Leger Day on Saturday, September 10, is the final day of the four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, which commences on Wednesday, September 7.

Latest sponsor's betting for the Ladbrokes St Leger:

6/4 Sea Moon, 9/2 Blue Bunting, 5/1 Census, 8/1 Seville, 8/1 Masked Marvel, 12/1 Brown Panther, 14/1 Namibian, 25/1 Wonder Of Wonders, 33/1 Whiplash Willie, 40/1 Apache, 40/1 Thimaar, 66/1 Buthelezi, 66/1 Genius Beast, 66/1 Regent Street, 100/1 Dordogne, 150/1 Freedom, 200/1 Well Sharp