Events / Malcolm Pannett / 07 September 2009 / Leave a comment

The St Leger is not only the oldest Classic but is also the final leg of the colts' and fillies' Triple Crown. Malcolm Pannett celebrates the race whose roll call includes many of the turf's greats.

"Lester Piggott broke Frank Buckle’s 157-year-old record for the number of Classic winners ridden when he steered Commanche Run home to record his 28th victory"

The first running of the race that would become the St Leger was arranged, between his two stints as Prime Minister, by Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, at the suggestion of former soldier and MP Anthony St Leger.

Six un-named horses went to post in 1776 for the two-mile contest at Cantley which was won by a filly owned by Watson-Wenworth beating a horse owned by St Leger. The winner was subsequently called Allabaculla and goes down in the record books as the first Classic winner. However at the time the name of the race hadn't been settled let alone Classic status granted.

A year later, after Bourbon had won the second running, there was a suggestion that the race should be called the Rockingham Stakes however Watson-Wentworth deferred to his friend and the race from 1778 became the St Leger. The following year the whole show moved two miles west to its current home at Town Moor. Incidentally there is now a Listed race for two-year-olds called the Rockingham Stakes which is run at York.

In 1800 the St Leger rose in importance in the national psyche after the aptly-named Champion became the first to complete the Derby-St Leger double. 13 years later the distance was reduced to the current 1m 6f and in 1853 West Australian became the first Triple Crown winner.

The history of the St Leger is so rich that the well-known stories, such as the innovative transportation of Elis (1836), together with the exploits of 'Crying Jackie' Mangle, the disqualification of Zanga, and the double runnings of 1819 and 1823 deserve articles in their own right. In this essay the emphasis, in honour of the first winner, is on the achievements of the fillies who have won 39 renewals.

Pride of place is shared by Formosa (1868) and the legendary Sceptre (1902) who both completed their haul of four classics in the St Leger.

They are followed by the other seven fillies' Triple Crown-winners Hannah (1871); Apology (1874) who also won the 1876 Gold Cup; La Fleche (1892) who also collected the Cambridgeshire and Gold Cup along the way; Pretty Polly (1904) who was only beaten by two horse in 24 outings; wartime-winner Sun Chariot (1942); Meld (1955) and Oh So Sharp (1985) (pictured above).

Imperieuse (1857), Achievement (1867), Tranquil (1923) and Herringbone (1943) all added the St Leger to their triumphs in the 1000 Guineas. While the Oaks-winners: Queen of Trumps (1835); Marie Stuart (1873); Jannette (1878); Seabreeze (1888); Memoir (1890); Dunfermline (1977) who won for the Queen in her Silver Jubilee year; Sun Princess (1983) and User Friendly (1992) all went on to win the St Leger.

In 1878 Dewhurst Plate and Yorkshire Oaks-winner Dutch Oven led home a fillies clean sweep beating Oaks-winner Geheimness with 1000 Guineas-runner up and 2000 Guineas and Derby-winner Shotover third.

The St Leger and was transferred to Newmarket and run as the September Stakes during the First World War (1915-1918). It was not run in 1939 and moved about for the rest of the Second World War: Thirsk (1940); Manchester (1941); Newmarket July course (1942-1944) and York (1945).

The race was run at Ayr (1989) after Doncaster's meeting was abandoned due to subsidence and York again (2006) when Doncaster was being redeveloped.

25 Year Ago - Lester Piggott broke Frank Buckle's 157-year-old record for the number of Classic winners ridden when he steered Commanche Run home to record his 28th victory. Piggott had taken a nasty tumble when the saddle slipped on a horse at Yarmouth in August and had only returned to the saddle a fortnight before the Leger. Likewise Commanche Run was also in the wars having sustained grazes on his forelegs after a fall in training. The two came together when Piggott, the master of jocking-off, bypassed trainer Luca Cumani, who wanted Darrel McHargue to ride, securing the ride via owner Ivan Allan. Librate led the field into the straight but was passed soon after by Commanche Run. The big danger was the Steve Cauthen-ridden Baynoun who came alongside at the three pole. Piggott and Commanche Run though were not for passing and stayed on resolutely to win by a neck.

10 years ago - Godolphin's third victory in the race as Mutafaweq beat favourite Ramruma to add to the successes of Classic Cliché (1995), and Nedawi (1998). With Frankie Dettori otherwise engaged steering Daylami to victory in the Irish Champion Stakes it was Richard Hills who rode the son of Silver Hawk who won by two lengths after hanging left in the final half furlong. Mutafaweq added further Group 1s in Germany and Canada before winning the Coronation Cup.

Five years ago - Godolphin's St Leger tally rises to four as joint-favourite Rule Of Law makes all to beat the other market fancy on what turned out to be his last racecourse appearance. With Dettori again in Ireland the most able deputy Kerrin McEvoy set a canny pace before kicking two furlongs from home and holding the challenges of Quiff and Tycoon by a head and one and a half lengths.

Last Year - With the fixture clash with the Irish Champion Stakes sorted out Dettori rides his fifth St Leger winner, and third in four years, on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit. Despite their close association Dettori has only ridden one St Leger winner for Godolphin namely Classic Cliché. In the race itself long shots made the pace for most of the trip with firstly Maidstone Mixture (200/1), then Hindu Kush (200/1) and finally Enroller (100/1) having their moments in the sun before Conduit cut them down going on to win by three lengths from the fillies Unsung Heroine and Oaks-winner Look Here to record a first win in the race for his trainer. Favourite Frozen Fire, who had won the Irish Derby, failed to fire.

Tags: Allabaculla, Bourbon, Champion, Commanche Run, Conduit, Elis, Formosa, Mutafaweq, Rule Of Law, Sceptre, West Australian