A Marathon Turned Miraculous
Many years ago, in a small town near Melbourne, a chestnut colt was born. He grew tall, taller than the other young colts, and spent his days outrunning them all in the pastures. He earned the name “Leggs,” and none doubted that he deserved it. Leggs had a successful racing career running marathon turf races, swallowing any distance he was given. Nothing could dampen his enthusiasm for running all day and then some.
Leggs’ local fans built a statue of him, depicting him stretched out in full run. After a number of years, the statue faded into the scenery and Leggs was largely forgotten. This remained the case until the miracles began. A young filly told the first story: she had been walking past the old statue when she felt a tail brush against her side. Perhaps, detractors said, all the filly felt was the weeds growing around it being blown in the wind. But the truly unbelievable happened the next day when that same filly, who had been struggling in sprints, walked resolutely to the starting gate in a fourteen furlong marathon, ran, and won in spectacular style. Soon, others were attributing sudden floods of stamina to standing in proximity to Leggs’ statue. Empty water buckets left nearby were inexplicably filled the next day. Crowds journeyed from afar to rub the statue’s knees, now polished and surrounded by flowers.
The climax came when one group began a letter writing campaign to Rome, petitioning for Leggs to be made the first ever animal saint. Their request was immediately denied. The lack of official recognition dampened no one’s spirits, as the community continued to celebrate their “St. Leggs.” Victoria’s preeminent track promptly carded a race in his honor: the St. Leggs Marathon, a Grade III race for all horses three years old and up to be run over fourteen furlongs, the same distance as the legendary first miracle run by the now revered filly.
Or so this was the story told to me by the young Testa Rossa filly I recently claimed (spreading the tale around my stables seems to have inspired the other horses as well, and since most of them have been wimps at anything over seven furlongs, this may be a good thing). I had to see for myself. The statue is still there for anyone to visit, although somewhat difficult to find from the main road. Also in the vicinity were eight colts and two fillies in town for the race, none wanting to appear too desperate for St. Leggs’ attention, but nine of the group understandably nervous. The fashion had become tapping the statue’s knees six times, as the six horse was agreed by all to be the threat. But let’s go through this field one at a time.
Celtic Legend (FR) appears first in the post parade. Corrections’ seven-year-old is the favored horse of the race, but he certainly does not feel it. Although he won his last start, an eleven furlong allowance, the son of Irish River (FR) has never run farther than that. He appeared to like a mile until he was stretched beyond nine furlongs, so is perhaps experiencing a “born again” moment as a marathoner. Celtic Legend (IRE) has some of the fastest speed figures in the field, but they came at shorter distances. He ran second in another Grade III, the mile and a sixteenth Port Marshua Handicap, and has been improving from there save for one unfortunate start in the rain. He should be on or near the lead, and goes off at 5/2.
The two horse spent quite a lot of time hanging around St. Leggs. Teddy’s Republics admits to seeing Leggs as something of a role model, although he refused to comment on the legend’s newfound deity. The son of Seattle Dancer comes off a disappointing start in the Grade I KY Horsemen Bourbon Cup, but had previously finished second in a sixteen furlong stakes. He has won at fourteen furlongs before, so the distance is not a concern for fangs’ seven-year-old. Teddy’s Republics does have a strangely inconsistent record and may or may not turn in a good run. Overall, his speed figures appear to be decreasing, and many believe he will not be able to handle this race. At 7/1, he’s a good one to take a chance on.
Number three is one of the two girls in the field. Tbgifted’s Impulsion does not see what all the fuss is about, going to see the renowned statue only once to take a few pictures. That was her story, anyway. The five-year-old has looked a little better on the dirt, but since a poor performance at Equinics has taken up turf racing full time (all connected with her refused to comment on whether this was out of embarrassment or a genuine love for the grass). Her last fourteen furlong turf start resulted in being beaten by thirteen lengths, but Impulsion recently had a win in a thirteen furlong allowance so she seems to have figured things out. She has gone to the lead, but has had more success stalking others so that will likely be the strategy for this daughter of Woodman. She has improved in her last two starts and looks poised to improve more. She is at odds of 7/1.
Starting in fourth is Marquet Rate, a six-year-old son of Exchange Rate. He was last seen buying out the postcard and t-shirt stand near the aforementioned statue, but trainer timetofly assures all that his mind is on the race. Marquet Rate has never been tried longer than thirteen furlongs, and seems to prefer twelve where he won a stakes and an allowance. The horse and his connections are exceedingly confident, however, citing the unpredictability of the marathon races. He is currently at 7/1.
In the fifth spot is the comparative youngster of the field, the four-year-old Pedro’s Speedster by Red Ransom. He prefers to visit Leggs in the evening hours, after most of the crowds have dispersed, and has been seen there every day this week. Mrenforcer’s colt has improved in his last two starts, both of which came at fourteen furlongs, and one of which was a stakes win. He tried dirt and he tried sprinting before finding this niche for himself. Like Impulsion, Pedro’s Speedster has gone to the lead before but has found more success when rated. He has been running in stakes for awhile, although with mixed success as he has tried different race types, and is eager for a graded attempt. He goes off at 8/1.
The notorious six horse who has made everyone nervous is dawnrun’s Worldfly’s Wells. The five-year-old Spinning World horse is ranked 13th in his long turf division, and won the Grade I KY Horsemen Bourbon Cup where he defeated Teddy’s Republics and Mockingbird. He has proven himself a true marathoner, winning at both fourteen and sixteen furlongs. Worldfly’s Wells will go to the lead, most likely unchallenged, as he has many times on the way to convincing wins. Although an admirer of Leggs’ story, he stated quite strongly that he feels the commotion to be a distraction before the race and will not visit the site until Sunday (several fillies, whom I paid to eye the crowd, reported seeing a horse who looked a lot like him duck behind some trees near the statue on Wednesday. How much you trust fillies is a matter of personal opinion). Worldfly’s Wells is a generous 5/1.
In the slot next-door is long shot Queenie Remembered. Ldyssecret’s son of Storm Cat won a fourteen furlong allowance in his last out, and feels ready for this jump in class. The six-year-old has some of the slowest speed figures here, but stamina is what may come in more handy. Queenie Remembered tried several distances, looking for a good fit, before arriving at marathons. He is allegedly the one who started the “tap St. Leggs’ knees six times” trend, but no one is actually confessing to anything. 16/1 makes him a long shot who still has a chance to make some noise.
Moving toward the outside, we find D. C. Savage in post eight. The six-year-old has been finishing in the money in stakes starts and is looking for a challenge. He has certainly found it here, and his strategy may help shape the race as he has shown ability to rate or possibly go to the lead. Dandcstble’s son of Loup Sauvage improved in his last start, as he had previously been beaten by double digit lengths. He is the only open scoffer of the St. Leggs story, though whether this was a bluff to intimidate the others was unclear. He will be 8/1 on Saturday.
Breaking ninth is Mockingbird by Atticus. The four-year-old is the 12th long turf filly and has run against the boys in her last two starts, both at sixteen furlongs. One of them was a win in the One For All Stakes, and the other a respectable 4th in the KY Horsemen Bourbon Cup. She is successful in allowance and stakes runs, but may not handle the graded company. Alluvial’s filly enjoyed taking pictures next to Leggs all week and has become something of a crowd favorite around town. She will be 10/1.
On the outside, in post ten, is hornfrog3’s entry Ol Twinkle Toes (IRE). The five-year-old sports an incredible sense of humor, circulating tales of actually growing up with Leggs and being “best buddies” through much of their time together. Completely preposterous, of course, but hilarious nonetheless, especially since many seem to believe him. The son of Theatrical (IRE) is looking to come back after two poor starts (one of which can be chalked up to an off track). He has shown that he can win marathons, and until those last two starts was usually in the money. Ol Twinkle Toes (IRE) will be 11/1.
And there we have it. It appears that only a smile from St. Leggs himself (or a well-timed tail swish) will be able to hand a victory to anyone but Worldfly’s Wells this week. If anyone is to beat this horse, look to Celtic Legend (FR) or Impulsion to have big runs here. Time will tell if there is any basis to reported miracles. I certainly can’t speak to anything between truth and fiction, as much of my time in Victoria has been spent in the company of storytelling fillies.