Doncaster St Leger: Famous races at the Festival and their histories

HISTORY OF THE 250th DONCASTER CUP

First run in 1766, the Group Two Doncaster Cup is the oldest race that still takes place under the Rules of Racing and this year mark its 250th anniversary. The two and a quarter mile contest, one of the highlights of the season at Doncaster, is the final leg of the historic Stayers’ Triple Crown that also incorporates the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup at Glorious Goodwood. It is also part of the British Champions Series.

The race was originally called the Doncaster Gold Cup and run at Cantley Moor until 1776. It has been staged over two and a quarter miles since 1926, having taken place over various distances of around four miles up to 1824, two miles and five furlongs from 1825 to 1890 and two miles, one furlong from 1908 until 1926.

Many of the Turf’s finest stayers have landed the historic prize and the most recent to clinch the Stayers’ Triple Crown on Town Moor was the great Double Trigger in 1995.

Trained in Middleham by Mark Johnston, “Trigger” captured the Doncaster Cup on three occasions, gaining back-to-back triumphs in 1995 and 1996 before finishing fourth to Canon Can in 1997 and then reclaiming his title in 1998.

The first dual winner of the 19th century was the John Scott-trained Touchstone (1835 & 1836), while the great mare Beeswing won the race a remarkable four times. Having prevailed in 1837, the darling of the north returned triumphant in 1840, 1841 and 1842. There have been eight dual winners since 1801. As well as Touchstone, Alice Hawthorne (1843/44) and Vedette (1857/58) achieved the feat in the 19th century, while Velocity proved too quick for his challengers in 1907 and 1908, The Queen’s Agreement triumphed in 1958 and 1959, the brilliant Le Moss reigned supreme in 1979 and 1980, Millenary bagged two wins in 2004 and 2005 and Times Up (2012 & 2013) is the most recent.

Voltigeur, Lord Zetland’s brilliant colt, won the Derby and the Doncaster Cup in 1850 and the following year’s Epsom hero, Teddington, completed the double when winning the Town Moor contest in 1852. In 1863, Macaroni won both races in the same season, as did Kettledrum in 1861.

The most recent Derby winner to carry off the Doncaster Cup was Lemberg who took the Town Moor race in 1911, having won the Epsom Classic in 1910.

The 2011 hero Saddler’s Rock was the latest three-year-old to take the Doncaster Cup. A total of 18 horses of Classic age have been successful since 1900. Double Trigger was a four-year-old when clinching his first success and, since 1900, more horses of that age have prevailed than any other, with 47 horses aged four carrying off the prize.

The oldest winner in that period is Persian Punch, who was 10 when taking the spoils in 2003 – the year the race became a Group Two contest. He outdid his old rival Millenary, winner of the 2000 Ladbrokes St Leger, who was eight when winning the Doncaster Cup for a second time in 2005. His trainer John Dunlop had a third Doncaster Cup in 2012 with six-year-old Times Up.

Eight horses, including Sergeant Cecil (2006), Boreas (2002), Millenary, Double Trigger and Times Up, have won the race as seven-year-olds since 1900.

Joe Mercer, with eight victories between 1953 and Le Moss’ second triumph in 1980, is the winning-most rider in the history of the race. The most successful jockey in recent times has been Ryan Moore with three wins. Moore, successful on Askar Tau in 2009, recorded back-to-back victories on Times Up (2013) and Estimate (2014) who gave The Queen her fifth victory in the race (the most for a current owner) and had won the Gold Cup in 2013.

Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, with seven successes, has more wins on the roll of honour than any other trainer, commencing in 1934 with Alcazar and culminating in 1963 with Raise You Ten. His late stepson, Sir Henry Cecil, is next on the list with six victories, the last being Canon Can in 1997.

There have been three dead-heats. As well as Kasthari and Millenary in 2004, Merry Gal and Sidus were inseparable in 1901, while Souepi and Nick La Rocca passed the post in tandem in 1953.

The biggest field to line up is 15 in 1834 when Tomboy won. A post-19th century record of 12 runners went to post in 2014 when Estimate triumphed in the colours of The Queen.

There have been four occasions since 1900 when only two runners started. Prince Palatine (1912), winner of the previous year’s St Leger, Long Set (1913), Colorado Kid (1933) and Exar (1960) each held off one rival.

At 1/20, Prince Palatine is the shortest-priced winner, while 33/1 shot Shangamuzo returned the biggest odds in 1977 under Pat Eddery.

Possibly the unluckiest horse in the race’s history is Petrizzo, who was first past the post in both 1984 and 1986, only to lose the race in the stewards’ room on each occasion for causing interference.

The Doncaster Cup has been a very successful race for The Queen. Her Majesty’s colours were first carried to victory by Atlas in 1956 and she has won the race a further three times, most recently with Estimate in 2014.

The 250th Doncaster Cup takes place on Friday 9th September 2016.

SAINT GOBAIN WEBER PARK STAKES

First run in 1978, the Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes was staged over its current distance of seven furlongs until 1993 at which point it became a mile contest, reverting to its original distance in 2003. The race gained Group Three status in 1986 and was upgraded to Group Two in 2004.

Dual winners have dominated the roll of honour in recent years with Arabian Gleam, successful in 2007 and 2008, following hot on the heels of Iffraaj, who triumphed in 2005 and 2006.

Iffraaj won for trainer Michael Jarvis on the first of those occasions before joining the Godolphin stable of trainer Saeed bin Suroor, for whom he prevailed a year later. That second success came at York during Doncaster’s redevelopment.

Bishop Of Cashel, trained by James Fanshawe and ridden by Walter Swinburn was the first dual winner of the race (1995/96).

The first running of the Park Stakes went to the Paul Kelleway-trained 33/1 shot Green Girl and no horse has returned at longer odds. The shortest-priced winner was the Henry Cecil-trained Salse who scored at 8/15 in 1988.

Three horses have won at odds-on, the others being 2,000 Guineas winner Known Fact (4/6) in 1980 and Iffraaj in 2006.

In 1993, four horses went off as 7/2 co-favourites and duly filled the first four berths with the Richard Hannon snr-trained Swing Low prevailing.

Willie Carson, with four wins, is the most successful jockey in the Park Stakes (1980 Known Fact, 1982 The Quiet Bidder, 1985 Lucky Ring & 1989 Gold Seam). Frankie Dettori is the winning-most current rider with three wins (1990 Green Line Express, 1998 Handsome Ridge & 2006 Iffraaj).

Major Dick Hern (1981 Kittyhawk, 1985 Lucky Ring & 1989 Gold Seam), Sir Michael Stoute (1982 The Quiet Bidder, 1994 Soviet Line & 2001 Tough Speed) and James Fanshawe (1995 & 1996 Bishop Of Cashel & 2003 Polar Ben) each have three wins on the board, more than any other trainers.

Hughie Morrison saddled the 2004 winner, Pastoral Pursuits. The 5/1 shot went on to Group One glory with a storming victory in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket the next year.

Duff took the 2009 contest for Ireland. The Edward Lynam-trained six-year-old returned in 2010 and ran his usual game race from the front before fading to fourth behind seven-year-old Balthazaar’s Gift, the oldest winner alongside Duck Row in 2002 and the 2011 hero Premio Loco. Lynam struck again with the well-backed Viztoria in 2013, who became the first filly to triumph since Guest Performer in 1987.

Ireland enjoyed a third victory in six years when the Sabrina Harty-trained Ansgar made all of the running under James Doyle to hold off 2/1 favourite Aljamaaheer by a half-length in 2014.

Limato was the impressive winner in 2015 and emulated Pastoral Pursuits by going on to win the G1 July Cup the following year at Newmarket.

The Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes takes place on Saturday 10th September 2016.

AT THE RACES CHAMPAGNE STAKES

(Pictured top: Toronado, 2012 winner)

First run in 1823, the At The Races Champagne Stakes has always been a leading Classic pointer and was increased in distance from six to seven furlongs in 1961.

Previously open to all two-year-olds, the race was restricted to colts and geldings in 1988 when Prince Of Dance was victorious. The last successful filly was Ambergris in 1960 and other notable winners of the fairer sex include greats such as Beeswing (1835), La Fleche (1891) and Pretty Polly (1903).

Bill Scott rode the first two winners of the race (1823 Swiss & 1824 Memnon) and went on to secure nine victories in all. He has the most number of wins by a jockey followed by Willie Carson whose eight victories commenced with Otha in 1972 and culminated with Bahhare in 1996. The most successful jockey currently riding is Frankie Dettori, who teamed up with trainer David Loder to notch a hat-trick with Noverre (2000), Dubai Destination (2001) and Almushahar (2002), before scoring on Poet’s Voice in 2009 and Saamidd in 2010, both trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Noverre passed the post first in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains the following spring but was later disqualified. He made amends for that with victory in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and ended the season as the champion three-year-old miler. Dubai Destination won a vintage renewal in 2001 when quickening impressively to defeat the exceptional Rock Of Gibraltar. The winner raced only once the following season due to injury, while the runner-up won his next seven starts, all at Group One level. Dubai Destination returned to action as a four-year-old, winning the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Legendary Middleham trainer John Scott saddled 10 winners, beginning with Swiss (1823), a feat matched by Mat Dawson whose initial victory came in 1864 with Zambesi, three years after Scott’s final success with The Marquis. The Marquis subsequently won the St Leger in 1862. Dawson’s 10th and last Champagne Stakes win came in 1893 when subsequent Derby winner Ladas was triumphant.

The race has produced three dead-heats. The first was in 1886 when Lord Zetland’s Panzerschiff and Grandison, owned by Lord Ellesmere, were inseparable. Galangal and Vedriana crossed the line in tandem in 1904, while 2005’s renewal saw the Terry Mills-trained Close To You joined in victory with Silent Times, trained by Eoghan O’Neill.

The third Aga Khan’s Palestine, trained by Frank Butters and ridden to success by Gordon Richards in 1949, is the shortest-priced winner. The colt, winner of the 2,000 Guineas the following spring, returned at odds of 1/9. In history of the race, only 16 horses have won at double-figure odds. The longest priced winner was Ayah, a 20/1 shot in 1897. More recently, the O’Neill-trained Vital Equine prevailed at 16/1 in 2006.

Toronado emulated Trumpet Major’s triumph to give Richard Hannon snr and Richard Hughes back-to-back successes in 2012. The son of High Chaparral established himself as one of the best of his generation with an impressive victory in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in 2013.

Outstrip followed up his Doncaster victory with success in the 2013 Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita, USA, giving Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby his first triumph at the highest level. Appleby was on the mark again in 2015 with Emotionless.

The At The Races Champagne Stakes takes place on Saturday 10th September 2016.