THE RACE FOR THE ST LEGER.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 442, 13 November 1875, Page 3

THE RACE FOR THE ST LEGER.

( From the Pall Mall Gazetted) As was to be anticipated, the last great three-year-old race of the season was one of the most uninteresting ever witnessed at Doncaster, where some very exciting contests have taken place on former occasions between the herees of earlier prizes such as the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks, &c. But the winners of these events ana the best of the French three-year-olds were, from one pftlrse ob another, prevented from competing in The St Leger, which wqs ponsequently left tp the refuse of the runners of the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby, and to two second-rate French colts. As none of the thirteen animals which eventually came t( the post bad any great public performancesto recommend them, it was all the more diffi cult to select a favorite, and the betting, which ban valiCd Ih the most perplexing planner for the last six weeks, underwent jjtili further changes in the course of twenty four hours preceding the race. St Cyr, whi jn company with Rabagas II reached Don paster last week, it having been deemed desirable to give them time to recover from the effects of a journey across the Channel. wa« not liked when seen at oxer

dsn ;iii l l was driven to very long odds i nfor the (lag fell. Habagas II did not fare t.-nieh better in public opinion, or in the r.i • , ii.-e f, t’ ough he did manage to finish in fr0..1 of ins more “fancied” compatriot. There w. re thirteen runners, the field consisting of Craig Vlillar (T Chalouer), Balfe (T. Cannon). Karl of Dartrey (J. Goater), St L.cger (M in i ), Dreadnought (F. Archer), Uab.igas 11. (Heslop), Seymour (T. Osborne), St Cyr (Hudson), breechloader (F. Webb), New Holland (Parry), Gilbert (Fordham), Perkin Warbecl: (J. Osborne), and Dalbreck (Custanc ) All of them found support at some price or other, though the outlays were heaviest at the last upon Seymour, Craig Millar, and Earl of Dartrey, who supplied two out of the first three. It can scarcely be said that the success of Craig Millar was a surprise, for he started third favorite at, 7 to 1, after having been backed down from the most “outside” prices, which were always obtainable until Lord Ailesbury withdrew Temple Bar in his favour. Even then, and with the knowledge that he would be the sole representative of the Fyfield stable, it did not appear possib’e to anticipate his success ; for, not only is he a son of Blair Athol, whose progeny have hitherto been so lacking in stamina, hut he is bred for speed rather than stoutness on his dam’s side. Moreover, in all or nearly all his previous engagements, he has displayed much the same qualities. Craig Millar ran very creditably as a two-year-old, and it may be pointed out that when he made his debut in the July Stakes he finished second to Caraballo, beating Balfe. who was second to him on Wednesday. But in the Chesterfield Stakes at the same ra eting Balfe turned the tables on him, and he did not even obtain a place, Dreadnought, who was unplaced in the St Leger, being second, and Claremont third. Craig Millar then beat Telescope for the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, and afterwards secured the Ruckenham Stakes at the Newmarket First October Meeting. He was beaten by Mirliflor, Earl of Dartrey, and others, for a rich sweepstakes a fortnight later ; but he wound up the season successfully by defeating Moriturug and three others for a similar prize at the Houghton Meeling. Craig Millar was one of the favorites for the Two Thousand Guineas, but he ran very badly, so badly that his owner did not think it worth while to start him for the Derby. He was defeated by Bay of Naples at Ascot after a dead heat, and he then beat Earl of Dai trey for a sweepstakes at Goodwood. His victory on Wednesday was very easily achieved ; Balfe being three clear lengths in his rear, while Earl of Dartrey was a gopd third, thus securing the place for which he had been bo heavily supported. Craig Millar and Balfe would have carried more confidence but for the doubt felt as to their stamina, in which quality, however, they do not appear to be more deficient than the rest of their opponents. Craig Millar, whose only other engagement this year is in the Newmarket Derby, was ridden by T. Chaloner, who has on four previous occasions secured the Doncaster race—on Caller Ou, Marquis, Achievement, and Formosa. Balfe, as might have been guessed, proved better than his stable companion New Holland ; and -"t Leger, who won the Great Yorkshire Handicap on Tuesday, so far justified the support accorded to him for the race after which he takes his name as to finish fourth. Gilbert, on the contrary, ran very badly, nor did Dreadnought show prominently at any part of the race.