The Things You Should Know About the Classic St Leger
First run in 1776, horse racing’s St Leger is the oldest of the five British classics. Staged at Doncaster’s Town Moor Racecourse, the contest has produced some of the sport’s most memorable moments. Shantou, who gave John Gosden his first British classic winner in 1996, and Oh So Sharp, landing the Fillies Triple Crown for Henry Cecil and young jockey Steve Cauthen, are two that spring to mind.
Frankie Dettori, aboard Shantou, celebrates giving John Gosden his first classic victory in 1996. ©Getty
The one-mile six-furlong contest is also a hit with punters. Since 1993, 15 winners have scored as favourite or joint favourite. An additional 11 betting favourites have finished in the frame in the same period. And the housewives’ choice, Frankie Dettori, has won the race six times.
But how did the St Leger come into being? Who was the most outstanding winner of this staying race? What trainers and jockeys have set records in the modern era? Will the Triple Crown ever be won again? And what does the future of this famous race hold? Read on to discover some amazing facts in our guide to the St Leger.
The Early Days of the St Leger
The race title, St Leger Stakes, was decided at a 1778 dinner party in the Red Lion Inn, Market Place, Doncaster. The hostelry still stands today – it is now part of the Wetherspoons pub chain. Colonel Anthony St Leger, a British soldier born in Grangemellon, County Kildare, Ireland, was among the guests.
The MP for Grimsby between 1768 and 1774, St Leger had established a two-mile race for three-year-old horses staged on Cantley Common, Doncaster – described as a “25 guineas sweepstakes” – in 1776. In 1778, the name of this new race was given to St Leger, and it was held on Town Moor for the first time.
The race first came to the public’s notice in 1800 when that year’s Derby hero – a horse called ‘Champion’ – collected the prize after winning at Epsom. The St Leger trip was reduced to one-mile-six-furlongs in 1813, but no Derby winner completed the double again until 1848.
In 1853, West Australian became the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger – thus becoming the first Triple Crown winner. For good measure, he took the following year’s Ascot Gold Cup. He was the first of many true champions to win the St Leger.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
The St Leger trip has stayed the same for two centuries, and Town Moor has remained the home of the St Leger with only a few exceptions: Between 1915-18, due to the course’s use as an army depot, the race was staged at Newmarket.
1939’s St Leger was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. It was then held at Thirsk, Manchester, Newmarket and York during the war years. 1989’s St Leger was moved to Ayr after the track’s surface fell victim to subsidence. When Doncaster Racecourse was redeveloped in 2006, the race went to York.
With the race restricted to three-year-olds, no horse can contest the race more than once. It means no horse has won the St Leger twice. But the history books show John Scott trained more St Leger winners than any other trainer – 16 between 1821 and 1846. His brother, Bill Scott, rode nine St Leger winners as a jockey.
Recent St Leger Winners
| Year | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Eldar Eldarov | 9/2 | Roger Varian | David Egan |
| 2021 | Hurricane Lane | 8/11 | Charlie Appleby | William Buick |
| 2020 | Galileo Chrome | 4/1 | Joseph O’Brien | Tom Marquand |
| 2019 | Logician | 5/6 | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori |
| 2018 | Kew Gardens | 3/1 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2017 | Capri | 3/1 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2016 | Harbour Law | 22/1 | Laura Mongan | George Baker |
| 2015 | Simple Verse | 8/1 | Ralph Beckett | Andrea Atzeni |
| 2014 | Kingston Hall | 9/4 | Roger Varian | Andrea Atzeni |
| 2013 | Leading Light | 7/2 | Aidan O’Brien | Joseph O’Brien |
Reef the Last Triple Crown Colt
The undoubted hero of the St Leger in the 1960s and 1970s is Lester Piggott. The riding legend won the race six times between 1960 and 1972. Aged 49, he won it for a seventh time in 1984 aboard Commanche Run.
His finest winner was Nijinsky. In 1970, he rode the Vincent O’Brien-trained horse to become the first Triple Crown-winning colt in 35 years. He is also the last horse to have garnered the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and St Leger. Nijinsky is an all-time great.
In total, 15 horses have won all three Triple Crown races. Ten horses have won the Guineas and the Derby but failed in their attempt to win the St Leger. They are Cotherstone (second in the 1843 St Leger), Pretender (fourth in 1869), Shotover (third, 1882), Ayrshire (sixth 1888), Ladas (second 1894), St. Amant (seventh, 1904), Minoru (fourth, 1909), Manna (tenth, 1925), Cameronian (10th in 1931), Camelot (second in 2012).
The Wonderful More Recent St Leger Stories
Among the list of modern St Leger winners are some unforgettable horses with interesting backstories. Towards the end of his career, Pat Eddery recorded his 4,000th career victory aboard short-head Derby second Silver Patriarch in the 1997 St Leger.
1992’s St Leger went to the brilliant User Friendly. Unraced at two, she won three Group One prizes – including the Oaks – before heading to Town Moor to impressively take a fourth race victory at the highest level.
At 40/1, Moonax was one of the biggest-priced St Leger winners. Pat Eddery’s mount had experience of Doncaster, having run and won a three-year-old maiden at the venue on the opening day of the 1994 flat season.
Few horses perform well after such a long season. But, incredibly, Moonax raced again following his St Leger triumph, and he won the French version of the St Leger, the Prix Royal Oak, a few weeks later. He is the only St Leger winner to claim both races.
What Are the Best St Leger Trials?
Trawling through the most productive trial races makes sense when trying to pinpoint a St Leger winner. Until recent times, the Derby had been the best form pointer. Shantou (1996), Silver Patriarch (1997) and Rule Of Law (2004) all finished second in the Derby before taking the St Leger. Derby third, Hurricane Lane, won the 2021 St Leger.
Additionally, Dushyantor (1996), Camelot (2012), Galileo Rock (2013), Romsadal (2014) and Mojo Star (2021) were placed in both the Derby and St Leger. Three Oaks winners have been placed in recent St Legers. They are Ramruma (1999), Look Here (2008) and Talent (2013).
But York’s Great Voltigeur Stakes has proven itself to be the most significant St Leger trial in recent times. Eight of the last eighteen winners took part in that race. Rule Of Law (2004), Lucarno (2007) and Logician (2019) won the 11-furlong contest before claiming the Doncaster showpiece.
Another race to consider is Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes. Nine horses have won this contest and doubled-up in the St Leger. The most recent are Millenary (2000), Sixties Icon (2006) and Conduit (2008).
Interestingly, 2022 St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov warmed up by winning Ascot’s Queen’s Vase in June. Leading Light (in 2013) and Kew Gardens (2018) also won the Leger following success in this Royal Ascot contest.
The Best St Leger Betting Advice
While favourites have an outstanding record, the same cannot be said for second and third favourites. Recent trends suggest punters should expect a short-priced or a big-priced winner with little in-between. Harbour Law was 22/1 when tenaciously scoring in 2016, and Encke returned on 25/1 when winning the 2012 event.
As the St Leger is raced over 14 furlongs and field sizes are usually small, there is never a distinct draw bias to consider. However, with the race staged at the start of the autumn, the ground may turn soft or heavy. Be conscious of this if backing a good-ground performer ante-post.
Amongst current trainers, Aidan O’Brien has the most St Leger victories on his CV. His six wins put him one ahead of John Gosden. However, with just 20 runners in the race – of which 45 percent have been placed – Gosden has the superior record. O’Brien has saddled 57 St Leger runners. Of them, only 28 percent finished in the frame.
