Legendary St Leger

       
           The VRC St Leger is a legendary race with so much history .  The St Leger was the principal  race on the opening day of the autumn meeting at Flemington until 1972. It was then that the race was transferred to Anzac Day . Since 1972 the VRC St Leger has steadily declined in importance but remains a race still carrying the historic St Leger name . It was a Group 2 race from 1980-1990 and Group 3 from 1991- 2005 and now is a Listed Race . The VRC St Leger in its golden years was won by some of Australia’s greatest champions including numerous Melbourne Cup winners.The notable winners on the VRC St Leger honour roll include Phar Lap, Grand Flaneur, Poseidon, Hall Mark, Tranquil Star, Tulloch, Comic Court, Delta, Gurner's Lane, Sailor's Guide, Martini-Henri, Abercorn, Prince Foote, Patrobas, Artilleryman, Furious, Spearfelt, Trivalve, Hua, Hydrogen, Prince Grant, Taras Bulba, Lord Dudley, So Called and Shiva’s Revenge. Bart Cummings trained seven winners of the VRC St Leger. Tommy Smith trained six winners . Yesterday, it was Tommy's daughter, Gai Waterhouse with her co trainer Anthony Bott who trained the winner, Runaway, who is out of  the Catrail mare Catshaan half sister to Abbey Marie . Runaway joined an honour roll which includes Phar Lap, Comic Court and Tulloch, the latter, trained by Waterhouse's Hall of Fame father. 

Gai Waterhouse has called on Victorian racing authorities to rejuvenate the VRC St Leger 2600m after claiming her third win in the past six editions of the three-year-old classic courtesy of the son of Manhattan Rain, Runaway, who led throughout in the staying feature at Flemington. Gai said yesterday "It's a wonderful race but keep it for three-year-olds only and increase the prizemoney and increase the status because I'm telling you, this is the exact stepping stone we need to go to the Melbourne Cup," "The St Leger is a time-honoured race all around the world but particularly in England and Australia."It's a great staying test for young horses but it's slipping under the radar and it really shouldn't.

 Runaway at the 2016 

Inglis Easter Yearling Sale

       An eye catching debut during the Anzac Day meeting at Randwick yesterday . An emerging colt with huge potential called Autumn Sun. A Queensland winter carnival campaign now looms for the Redoute’s Choice two-year-old after his commanding win in the Armistice Plate 1200m with the Group One JJ Atkins on June 9, his target . Despite being trapped three wide the trip and with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle ,he still had enough in reserve. He cost $700,000 as a yearling purchase and is out of the Galileo mare , Azmiyna. That leads to another winner i wanted to mention yesterday Milwaukee who is by Fastnet Rock out of the Galileo mare, Hummingbird scored in the 1200m race. The Fastnet Rock breed really do love that Flemington straight which is all a big positive for Merchant Navy's appearance down the Royal Ascot straight. The grand dam is Cashier who is by Danehill.  
 The continuing success of the So You Think's were displayed again yesterday with his filly, Think Bleue winning the 3yo Vobis Hcp in effortless fashion. Ridden by Damien Lane for Darren Weir , a big future is in line for this filly. The breed are really stamping themselves on the world stage and as they mature i can see many more victories in store. Once they step up to 1400m and beyond they show their inherited talent.