Aside from the English Derby, there are few events in the calendar with a greater sporting legacy than the St. Leger.
Its home from 1927-1974 was the old ‘Twin Towers’ Wembley, and although only 700 yards, compared to the current 710m (776yds), the huge gallop around the football pitch made it as tough a six bend competition as you might find.
The event would switch to Wimbledon in 1999 and onto Perry Barr in 2017.
Here are just four Leger tales:
He was probably the most dominant St.Leger winner ever – and you’ve probably never heard of him.
The dimunative Dante II- one of the greatest stayers of all time – photographed near the paddock at White City
1947 winner Dante II (Well Squared-Olives Idol, Jun 44) must rate as one of the most impressive winners of the event in its entire history – and he also has a connection to the Birmingham Cup.
Trained by Bob Burles at Wembley, the compact 58 pound (26.5kg) black already had won the Edinburgh Cup, Northern Flat and Pall Mall in 1946.
He made his first appearance of 1947 in the heats of the Wood Lane Stakes at White City. The grass track was very heavy in April, as was reflected in his winning time, 31.44. Winning distance 15 lengths.
He dead heated in his semi-final before winning the final as the 2/1fav, all three races from Saturday to Saturday.
Following more wins over 525 at Wembley and White City, Dante’s next defeat was in the Derby semi-final where he finished third – two to qualify. He duly landed the Derby consolation.
In July he finished second to English Derby winner Trevs Perfection in the Scottish Derby at Carntyne – heats and final were run in the afternoon and evening of the same day.
Although Perfection must rate in the ten top trackers of all time, Dante II was not being given a fair crack of the whip. 525 yards was never going to be his forte.
In August he was eased up to 600 yards in Wandsworth’s Olympic. When the 4/7f crossed the winning line in the final, his aggregate winning distance was 24 lengths from three races and he was the new track record holder.
Perhaps the real reflection of his dominance was his winning time – 34.67. The consolation was won in 35.98.
With minimal six bend opportunities the Burles black was switched back to four bends and went unbeaten through the Summer Cup at Wembley. He won the final at 1/4fav in 29.20 (TR 29.02).
That was followed on September 6 by the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr. It was another heats in the afternoon, final in the evening. Although quickest in the qualifiers, and favourite for the final, Dante II finished runner-up to Funny Mick in the final. The 1946 Derby winner/1947 runner-up Mondays News was third.
All of this was of course preparation for the St.Leger, back at Dante’s home track.
1st round – he started at 1/10f and won by 14 lengths in 40.00. The next fastest winner was 40.92.
Semi final – he started at 2/9f and won by 8 lengths in a new track record of 39.70. The other semi was 40.08.
Dante II started at 2/9f for the 1947 final and won by eight lengths in 39.80.
Until Dante II, the fastest Leger Final winning time was 39.92 and his time wasn’t bettered until 1961.
No wonder, on retirement, he was renamed Dante The Great.
This is all about the photo!
When it comes to a shout-out for the great St.Leger winners, Fox Watch’s victory in the 1981 final probably wouldn’t make a first breath.
Trained by Geoff De Mulder to win the 1980 Manchester Puppy Derby, the fawn was bought by Peter and Jennie Leeper and transferred to Surrey based Jill Holt.
He was a decent enough winner having justified favouritism in beating British bred Alfa My Son in the final though it would be by far his greatest claim to fame.
So who is in the pic?
Jill Holt (second left), who also trained Whisper Wishes in his first season and the excellent Precious Time, was married to Gordon Holt (extreme right), Chairman of the Breeders Forum.
The picture shows Jennie and Peter Leeper (right of centre) collecting the trophy from former England and Yorkshire cricket captain Brian Close with former opening batsman Sir Ted Dexter – owner of many top class hounds with Terry Dartnall – to the left of Mrs Holt.
Which just leaves identification of the fresh faced young kennel lad . . . Graham Holland.
Westmead County
One of the most famous St.Leger stories concerns the British breeder who was distraught when his ante post favourite led at the last bend of the 1972 Leger Final only to pull up lame with a broken hock.
The dog was Westmead County and the joint owner was Nick Savva. Wife Natalie held the trainer’s licence.
Three years later, two of County’s sons – Drynham Star and Countville – contested the Wembley classic but were beaten by Derek Law’s Tartan Khan.
The Savvas had to wait just one more year before Westmead Champ, a pup that they had bred but sold on as a pup, won the 1976 final for Pam Heasman with the Savva trained and bred Drynham Star finishing runner-up.
A year on and Westmead Melody (Westmead County-Pallas Melody) finished runner-up before finally, at the seventh attempt, the Savvas bred and trained their first St.Leger winner.
Westmead Power, the previous year’s Gold Collar winner and Romford 575m record holder was never headed at any stage throughout the competition.
In total, Westmead County would sire eight St.Leger finalists including two winners and three seconds.
As for the kennel, they would win it on another two occasions as trainers (Tralee Crazy ’97) and Ratify (’99) and also as breeders with Spiridon Louis (’07).
Two trainers have won the St.Leger on five occasions. One was the resident Wembley trainer Jack Harvey. The other is Mark Wallis (of Yarmouth, Harlow and Towcester!).
Here is just one of Mark’s big race wins – as was reported in the Greyhound Star newspaper in December 2012.
