With the winner of the St Leger Stakes having been crowned, the British Classics series has reached its conclusion for this year. The five events have provided plenty of drama this season, with a number of talking points arising as a result, and Hurricane Lane is the latest horse to have etched his name into racing folklore by emerging triumphant in the St Leger Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby. This article tells you about the history of Leger Stakes and what we learned from St Leger Stakes.
The Classics always attract plenty of attention, and as the oldest of them all, the St Leger Stakes holds a special place in the hearts of many racing fans. It was an intriguing battle this year, so let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways from the Doncaster showpiece.
Hurricane Lane is not to be trifled with
Heading into St Leger as the 8/11 pre-race favorite, it was no surprise that Hurricane Lane provided such a dominant display, living up to his status in the horse racing tips from Betdaq. The three-year-old has lost just once in seven outings since bursting onto the scene with a win at Newmarket back in October 2020. Victory in the St Leger Stakes is the highlight of this fantastic colt’s career so far, and there will undoubtedly be further glory down the line.
Horses from the Godolphin stable are never to be underestimated, and this latest victory for Hurricane Lane will really propel him into the spotlight. Moving forward, you can expect the colt to be much fancied more often in the big races, and it will be interesting to see how he fares towards the end of the current campaign and moving into next season.
Appleby is at the top of his game
The victory is the latest in a fine season for Appleby. With Aidan O’Brien scooping so many of the top prizes in flat racing these days, it’s hard for other trainers to get a look-in, but Appleby has stepped up to the mark and provided some stiff competition this season. Thanks to Hurricane Lane’s triumph at Doncaster, he now has two Classic victories to his name this season, following Adayar’s success in the Derby earlier in the summer.
Moving into next season, you’d expect Appleby to continue operating at a very high level. He’s proven recently that he has what it takes to land winners in the biggest races, and no one will be underestimating his runners from now on. With two Classic titles to his name this season, this is a trainer with a magic touch.
Attention turns to the Arc
Hurricane Lane’s victory has led to his odds being shortened ahead of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which takes place on the first weekend of October. Horses such as Tarnawa, stablemate Adayar and Snowfall are still ahead of the Appleby-trained colt in the betting market, but the dominant nature of his performance in the St Leger has caused plenty to sit up and take notice.
The Arc is one of the most lucrative events in flat racing, and if it’s anything near as exciting as the St Leger Stakes, we could be in for a treat!
