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The St Leger Stakes
Saturday, 10th September 2011
13 Sep 2011: Masked Marvel Aimed Towards 2012 Features
12 Sep 2010: Arctic Cosmos Wins St. Leger Stakes
11 Sep 2010: St Leger Festival 2010 – Day 4 Horse Races
10 Sep 2010: Today’s Races at Doncaster – Where to Bet?
The St. Leger Stakes is the last event in three intertwined series of races; the British Classic Races, the English Triple Crown and the Fillies' Triple Crown. The Classic Races are comprised of the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks, the Epsom Derby and, finally, the St. Leger Stakes. The 1,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Oaks are the first two legs of the Fillies' Triple Crown; the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby are the first two races of the English Triple Crown series. The St. Leger Stakes conclude both series, meaning there can never be a Fillies' Triple Crown champion and a Triple Crown champion in one season.
Doncaster Racecourse hosts the event annually in September over one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards. It is the longest race of the English Classics series and has spawned a variety of international spin-offs. The world-wide versions of the St. Leger Stakes include the Prix Royal-Oak in France, the Irish St. Leger, the German Deutsches St. Leger and the St. Leger Italiano. The original St. Leger is worth £500,000, one of the most valuable races of the British racing season. It is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds colts and fillies.
The St. Leger Stakes were introduced in 1776 but did not become hugely popular until 1800, when the racing world got a first taste of what would become the Triple Crown. A horse by the name of Champion won not only the St. Leger Stakes but also the Epsom Derby in the 1800 racing season. Half a century later, in 1853, the triple win of West Australian in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes, finally elevated the race to its current glory by turning it into the deciding event of the Triple Crown.
Recent Winners of the St. Leger Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Arctic Cosmos |
William Buick |
John Gosden |
3:03.12 |
2009 |
Mastery |
Ted Durcan |
Saeed Bin Suroor |
3:04.81 |
2008 |
Conduit |
Frankie Dettori |
Sir Michael Stoute |
3:07.92 |
2007 |
Lucarno |
Jimmy Fortune |
John Gosden |
3:01.90 |
2006 |
Sixties Icon |
Frankie Dettori |
Jeremy Noseda |
2:57.29 |
2005 |
Scorpion |
Frankie Dettori |
Aidan O'Brien |
3:19.01 |
St Leger Stakes 2011 Odds and News
12 Sep 2010: Arctic Cosmos Wins St. Leger Stakes
The winner of the St. Leger Stakes, Arctic Cosmos, gave his connections a reason to celebrate with his outstanding performance at Doncaster this weekend. Arctic Cosmos held his own as an outsider in an amazing field of runners, largely due to the excellent leadership and skill of jockey William Buick.
| Place | Margin | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | / | Arctic Cosmos | 3 | W Buick | J H MGosden | 7-1 |
| 2 | 1 ¾ | Midas Touch | 3 | C O’Donoghue | A P O’Brien | 7-1 |
| 3 | Nose | Corsica | 3 | J Fanning | M Johnston | 50-1 |
| 4 | 1 ¼ | Snow Fairy | 3 | E Ahern | E A L Dunlop | 8-1 |
| 5 | 2 ¾ | Joshua Tree | 3 | J P Spencer | A P O’Brien | 8-1 |
| 6 | ¾ | Rewilding | 3 | L Dettori | M Al Zarooni | 11-8 |
| 7 | 1 ½ | Theology | 3 | P Hanagan | J Noseda | 33-1 |
| 8 | ½ | Dandino | 3 | P Mulrennan | J G Given | 7-1 |
| 9 | 22 | Total Command | 3 | R L Moore | Sir M Stoute | 33-1 |
| 10 | 6 | Ted Spread | 3 | D Holland | M H Tompkins | 12-1 |
Arctic Cosmos was not considered a strong contender for the final 2010 British Classics title, neither by bookmakers nor by punters – the colt’s entry in the St. Leger Stakes was overshadowed by the buzz around the favourites Rewilding, Midas Touch and Snow Fairy. Even as the race was in progress, spectators paid little attention to Arctic Cosmos, who was held up in the mid field, seemingly unable to make a break.
The St. Leger Stakes was dominated from the off by Mark Johnston-trained Corsica, who was travelling well under jockey J. Fanning. The colt was tracked closely by Total Command under Ryan Moore and Ted Spread under Darren Holland. However, when the St. Leger Stakes hit the final two furlongs, the leading trio came under heavy attack by the remainder of the field of ten.
Buick proved himself a true champion jockey on Arctic Cosmos, leading his mount to the lead with one furlong to go and giving him the okay to let loose. The final stretch saw a brief duel between Arctic Cosmos and St. Leger co-favourite Midas Touch, which saw Arctic Cosmos pulling away and extending his lead to the winning margin of 1 ¾ lengths. Former leader Corsica was working hard to keep up with the front runners and was rewarded by a valiant third place in the final British Classic race.
Snow Fairy, another St. Leger Stakes favourite, came home fourth – a pleasing result according to trainer Ed Dunlop, as the filly is not technically a stayer. The much championed Rewilding ended up in a disappointing sixth place under jockey Frankie Dettori, leaving trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni concerned for the colt’s health.
11 Sep 2010: St Leger Festival 2010 – Day 4 Horse Races
7 Sep 2010: St. Leger Stakes Odds & Favourites – Midas Touch
6 Sep 2010: St Leger Stakes 2010 Odds & Favourites – Snow Fairy
