KEW Gardens fended off the late challenge of favourite Lah Ti Dar to give Aidan O’Brien a sixth victory in the Group 1 William Hill St Leger at Doncaster.

Sent off a 3/1 chance in the hands of Ryan Moore, Kew Gardens was buried in the pack early on as stablemate Nelson set the early gallop in company with Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee.

They were lining up in behind with half a mile still to run – where inexperience seemed to tell on the market leader – and Moore was eager to push on, assuming control at the two-furlong point.

Lah Ti Dar eventually did hit her stride for Frankie Dettori, but Kew Gardens had already flown, securing his second Group 1 victory of the season by two and a quarter lengths.

Fellow O’Brien inmate Southern France kept on for third, a further four and a half lengths adrift.