The VRC St Leger has failed to scale any great heights in recent times but there is a good argument that more emphasis should be placed on one of Australia’s oldest races.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The St Leger was first run in 1857, just two years after the first running of the VRC Derby, and four years before Archer strolled down the highway to win the first Melbourne Cup.
It has a grand history with the honour roll bearing the names of many of Australia’s finest, such as Phar Lap and Tulloch, but it has had no real bearing on Australia’s most famous race since Subzero came off a second placed effort in the Leger to win the Cup in 1992.
This century the winners have returned Timeform ratings generally floating around the 105-106 mark with Grey Song’s 2002 win, rated at 110, the pick of the form in that time.
Suggestion in recent years that the Derby distance could be reduced from 2500m to 2000m to be more enticing to the Guineas horses is not without merit and if that were to be considered then the St Leger could, and should, be given a good boost.
A triple-crown set-up with the Guineas, Derby and Leger might be fanciful but surely a cash bonus to link the Derby and the Leger should be considered.
Financial bonuses for running into the frame in both races would surely entice Derby runners with good stamina profiles to turn up at Flemington in April.
A ticket straight into the Melbourne Cup for the winner would almost certainly see a more positive turnout and ensures another spot in the great race for a lightly raced and improving southern-hemisphere stayer.
A stayer like the improving Gai Waterhouse trained Hippopus perhaps, who is the most interesting runner coming into this years renewal off a solid effort in the ATC Derby.
While the Derby was far from a vintage renewal of that great race the winner, It’s A Dundeel, was certainly a vintage winner and Hippopus’ effort in finishing fifth returned a rating of 112, good enough to win every St Leger run this century and back to 1995 when Count Chivas scored en-route to winning the SA Derby and later that year running second in a Caulfield Cup.
Of course there is a long way to go for Hippopus to follow in the footsteps of a Count Chivas or a Subzero but he gives this year’s renewal of the Leger some hope that it could be a factor going into the spring.
It is worth noting that last years winner Vatuvei did go on to win the Moonee Valley Cup in the spring and was briefly being considered a hope on the first Tuesday in November but his form has since tapered off.
Early markets have Hippopus trading around the $2.5 mark for the Leger and that looks purely a bet to whether he will stay.
Being by High Chapparal, the best influence for stamina in recent times in Australia, he is bred for the task. His dam, Straight Eight, was campaigned in New Zealand out to two miles and produced her best form beyond 2000m.
The influence of New Zealand on stayers in Australia is well documented, though it has taken a couple of knocks in recent times with more and more buyers heading to the UK and France in search of stamina.
Those types typically arrive after their classic season, though, and so races like the St Leger are still heavily influenced from across the Tasman.
The main danger to Hippopus on form is the New Zealand St Leger winner (a race floundering itself) Serpent, who looks sure to relish the 2800m on offer here.
He had to give weight all around in the Galilee, his first run in Australia in lead up to today, and stuck on well despite never really looking a winning hope.
Up to 2800m with that run under the belt and back to level weights he is best positioned to take advantage if Hippopus was to be off his form.
Others through the Galilee include Green Roller who was good running third and while her pedigree suggests she should be a big query for stamina here but she stuck to her task and indicated that she would be okay at the longer trip.
McNulty closed to fourth there and while he meets Green Roller and Serpent worse at the weights, and is still a maiden, he does have upside and looks a certain stayer.
Fellow maiden (Teddy Bear won this race as a maiden in the lowest rated Leger on record in 2000) Chapkin, like McNulty, has plenty to find on form here but is lightly raced and a horse worth watching with an eye to the future.
