Camelot defeated by Encke in St Leger

(CNN) -- English racing was deprived of its first Triple Crown winner in more than 40 years after Encke, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, got up to beat favorite Camelot by three quarters of a length in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse Saturday.

Camelot had been aiming to emulate Nijinsky by winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in the same season. But he was out-gunned by Encke, whose victory gives his owner, Sheikh Mohammed, a sixth victory in this race and puts him second on the all-time list.

French jockey Barzalona, riding in his first St Leger, described his victory aboard Encke as "very easy," saying he was very happy with the result.

Camelot, the horse with the mythical name, has so far lived up to his billing, winning the Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas. Will he win a fairytale Triple Crown at the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday?

Jockey Jospeh O'Brien rode the three-year-old colt to victory at the Epsom Derby. The 19-year-old Irishman has ridden Camelot in all of his starts and will play a decisive role masterminding Saturday's race.

Jospeh's father and trainer Aiden O'Brien, pictured, has admitted Camelot's bid to become the first horse since Nijinsky to win the Triple Crown will be a push for the colt.

Team Ballydoyle inspect the track at Melbourne Cup's Flemington Racecourse. The Ballydoyle stables in Ireland were also home to Nijinksy -- the last Triple Crown winner.

The British Royal Family watch Camelot storm to victory at the Epsom Derby. The Queen's horse, Carlton House, had been the bookmakers favorite to win, but came third.

The Ballydole operation has made a clean sweep of the English Classics this season -- the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and their fillies' equivalents the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.

Father Aiden says the tactics of the race will be left to jockey son Joseph, adding: "I presume he'll take his time on him, he usually does. That's the way he rides every race, he rides it by feel and takes it as it comes."

The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Nijinsky in 1970, seen here being led at Ascot by a different O'Brien -- legendary trainer Vincent.

Bahram won the Triple Crown 35 years before Nijinksy. Nowadays, very few horses even attempt the Triple Crown due to the extreme versatility required to win races ranging from one mile to one-and-three-quarter miles.

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Will Camelot rise again?

In a highly tactical race, pacemaker Dartford dictated the early pace, with Camelot content to settle towards the back of the field.

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But when the field turned into the home straight Camelot's jockey, Joseph O'Brien, was unable to get his colt into space and Encke was able to open up daylight between himself and the chasing pack.

When Camelot was eventually maneuvered into position he ran on well to close the gap on the Godolphin horse but could only get to within three quarters of a length.

Encke's victory means that not only does England's 42-year wait for a Triple Crown winner continue, but also that Aiden O'Brien does not become the first trainer in history to make a clean sweep of the English Classics in one season; his Ballydoyle operation had already won the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby with Camelot as well as their fillies' equivalents, the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.

Camelot's immediate future remains uncertain with a tilt at next month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe now arguably more, rather than less likely following his defeat at Doncaster.