“Why not the St Leger, it’s a famous and historical race,” recalls Laurie Macri, the former ATC Chairman when the staying event for The $20m TAB Everest Day was named the ATC St Leger Stakes.
“History confirms this race had a place in the program as the former AJC St Leger — it’s our oldest classic, first run in 1841 at Homebush before it was disbanded for the second time in 2002.”
“I’m a huge supporter of staying races, and with the William Haggas-trained Sam Hawkens now being prepared by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, do we see another style of ‘import?’”
“Did Hong Kong owner Bon Ho and Newmarket trainer James Ferguson in 2023 take advantage of Land Legend’s 4.5kg drop in weight to 52.5kg, after an unplaced 57kg start at Goodwood?”
“Today the Delta St Leger Stakes is a well-deserved Group 3, but its $500,000 prizemoney needs to be raised, and will Sam Hawkens take advantage of his 55.5kg having last won carrying 55.5kg.”
And now coming off a three-in-a-row race victory over 1m6f (2800m) at Glorious Goodwood in August, he remains on 55.5kg with the St Leger being for 3YO & Older at set weights with penalties.
He was weighted on 60kg when winning over 2600m at Hamilton, then 57.5kg when winning at Newcastle over 2500m, having won his 3yo maiden with 60.5kg at Salisbury over 2400m.
And with the ATC St Leger run over 2600m, and champion hoop James McDonald having the ‘plumb’ ride on Sam Hawkens as the $2.45 race favourite, he’s drawn Barrier 7 of the 11-horse field.
In fact, can James McDonald take advantage of Sam Hawkens’ weight, the same as Tyler Schiller did on Land Legend in 2023, winning easily by 2¾ lengths in a track record time of 2:38.87s.
And with Land Legend remaining in Australia to win The Metropolitan under Chris Waller, and third in the Caulfield Cup, it’s Sam Hawkens who will also remain with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Bred and raced by Westerberg originally with trainer John Hannon, it was Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock who purchased him for 105,000gns from the 2024 Tattersalls Online Sale.
A 5yo to SH time, Sam Hawkens, like Land Legend, is a son of Galileo, from the Group 2 placed winning Dark Angel mare Perfect Angel, a sister to the Princess Margaret winner Angel’s Hideaway.
Now in the navy blue and gold hoops with white sleeves and cap of the highly successful OTI Racing, who last year had Athabascan win the St Leger, trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
“Why not encourage owners and trainers to campaign their horses in Sydney, and then go on to Melbourne,“ as Laurie Macri continued. “This is not sinister, but to be congratulated.”
“Sam Hawkens heads 10 foreign-breds for this St Leger, while Royal Supremacy won The Metropolitan, and with the Colin Stephen Stakes they are the principal Sydney Spring staying races.”
“The winning owners may wish to go to the Melbourne Cup, or by-passing the ‘First Tuesday,’ there are a host of good-money staying races available throughout the year across Australia.”
And, “Again why not,” said Laurie, “as The $20m TAB Everest is the ‘Richest Turf Race in The World’ — we have Ka Ying Rising as its hot $1.80 race favourite as the world’s fastest sprinter.”
Said to be ‘not let go’ when a close third in a recent Randwick Barrier Trial before a mighty crowd, Ka Ying Rising has drawn Gate 7 of the 12 runners for Zac Purton and trainer David Hayes.
In fact, it was Rodney Schick of Windsor Park Stud who put it best: ‘trainers should be the best breeders as they best know their horses’ — for it was trainer Fraser Auret who mated his winning mare Missy Moo to Shamexpress, the Newmarket win