REMEMBERING NOTHIN’ LEICA DANE - BEST STAYING THREE YEAR OLD OF THE 1995 SPRING

Even in the hustle and bustle of raceday Nothin' Leica Dane had the perfect temperament. Shane Dye described him as a "kid's pony" - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Mere mention of the Spring Champion Stakes rekindles memories of some of its most notable winners. Inaugurated in the autumn of 1971 as the Australasian Champion Stakes, the important 2000m 3YO contest was renamed and switched to the spring carnival in 1978 - a move implemented to coincide with the transfer of the iconic AJC Derby to the bumper Easter Saturday programme. 1995 Spring Champion Stakes hero Nothin’ Leica Dane wasn’t in the same league as winners like Kingston Town, Sir Dapper, Beau Zam or Tie The Knot but what this horse achieved in his very first campaign remains a source of wonderment to racing students of the day.

He was a member of the second Australian crop by the iconic shuttle stallion Danehill from the Sir Tristram mare Leica Pretender. Nothin’ Leica Dane attracted little attention when he debuted at a lacklustre Sunday meeting at Warwick Farm on August 20th 1995. It was the first of Shane Dye’s nineteen rides on the leggy colt who’d run last of nine in his first barrier trial over 804m before improving to finish second over 1200m in his second trial.

He was quoted at $13.00 when the eighteen horse field jumped away in a 1400m race for non city winning three year old colts and geldings. Nothin’ Leica Dane overcame a slow start and heavy traffic to storm home and grab a last stride win from Darren Beadman’s mount Madjic - a tidy enough effort but not the slightest indication of the heights he’d reach in subsequent months.

He was back at Warwick Farm a fortnight later to finish ninth of twelve in a 1600m one metro win event, but only 2.8 lengths from future Gr 1 winner Shindig. Next assignment was the listed Spring Stakes over the Newcastle mile in which he finished a close third to Vernai and Slav defence after being tardy to begin and striking some trouble in running.

Shane Dye has fond memories of one of his all time favourite horses. “Gai Waterhouse indicated she wasn’t going to run Nothin’ Leica Dane in the Dulcify Quality prompting me to take the ride on Super Slew for Clarry Conners,” recalled the former ace jockey. “Gai made a snap decision to accept for that listed race, and Larry Cassidy picked up the ride. “The colt won with ease from Catalan Opening and I finished third on Super Slew.”

“I made sure I was back on for the Spring Champion Stakes only a week later. He was never going to get beaten and won easily from Super Slew and Catalan Opening. Many horses in their first preparation would have shown signs of tapering off after five runs, but not this big boy. He did so well after the Gr 1 that Gai decided to take him to Melbourne for the Derby with a lead up run at Caulfield also on the agenda.”

He was getting better week by week! Nothin' Leica Dane cruised home in the 1995 Spring Champion Stakes - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Three wins and a placing had already generated four times the colt’s yearling purchase price of $75,000. Scottish born businessman John Hodge was the original buyer on the recommendation of Tommy Smith who was in the process of winding down his training commitments. Hodge immediately offered a forty five per cent share to his coal mining business partner Helen Dalton, whose cheery disposition became almost as well known as the deeds of her glamour Danehill colt. Hodge also insisted on T.J. Smith being allocated a smaller share. “Gai was the official trainer, but John always placed a lot of confidence in Tommy’s opinion and was keen to have him involved.”

Shane Dye rode Nothin' Leica Dane in 19 of 27 starts. Those colours were designed with a purpose - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

The partners came up with a novel idea in designing their racing colours - tartan with a black band, and a tartan cap crowned by a prominent black pom pom. “The Royal Stewart tartan symbolised John’s Scottish heritage, while the black band and pom pom represented the coal seam which had become so important in our lives,” said the former school teacher.

I learned only last weekend that the remarkable and immensely likeable Helen Dalton had passed away in 2024 at 88 years of age - twenty nine years after Nothin’ Leica Dane’s amazing spring of 1995. “She died in her sleep at a Sydney nursing home,” recounted son Tom Dalton. “Although she was in declining health I got to take my mother to the United States for a short holiday just a few months earlier, and she enjoyed every minute of the trip. Once we were home she got all of her affairs in order and was gone in a short time. Memories of that USA trip will stay with me forever.”

Meg Collins, perhaps Helen’s best friend in later years never ceased to be amazed by her no nonsense approach to life and bottomless energy levels. “The first time I met Helen at our retirement village, she was actually in a wheelie bin trying to push a load of leaves downwards with her feet,” said Meg. I helped her out of the wheelie bin, but I’ve got no idea how she got into the thing in the first place. She invited me into her apartment for a drink or two and a wonderful friendship began. She did things her way throughout life. If she was wrong, she copped it on the chin, but more often than not she was right.”

Helen and Gai with trademark smiles after the Victoria Derby win - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Three weeks after his Spring Champion Stakes win, Nothin’ Leica Dane was at Caulfield for the Norman Robinson Stakes. He raced on the pace throughout before outstaying Catalan Opening, who by now must have been developing an inferiority complex about his Sydney foe. One week later Shane Dye’s well documented discipline saw him ride at 48.5 kgs to win the W.S. Cox Plate on three year old Octagonal. I recall his response when a Nine Network interviewer asked if he would stay with Octagonal in the Victoria Derby seven days later. “Not on your life, I’m riding Nothin’ Leica Dane,” said the ever confident jockey. “I believe he’ll prove the better stayer on the day.”

Raymond Shane was right again! It’s now history that the tough-as-teak Danehill colt parked outside leader Burrito for the last half of the 2500m trip, while Octagonal got caught in traffic at a crucial stage after turning for home. That said, Octagonal was in the clear before the 200m and looked likely to swamp Nothin’ Leica Dane for a few strides. Even Shane Dye thought he had his chance to win. “If you watch the replay closely, you’ll see Octagonal got out in time to win, but his run ended short of the line,” said Dye. “On the other hand, my bloke was just warming up in the last little bit.”

From a restricted race at Warwick Farm to a Victoria Derby win in just 11 weeks was an extraordinary feat - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Nothin’ Leica Dane’s tendency to “swish” his tail on occasions was evident in the closing stages of the 1995 Victoria Derby. Many horsemen believe this trait is a sign that a horse isn’t relishing the task at hand, but Nothin’ Leica Dane dispelled that theory. The more he “swished”, the harder he was trying. It was almost a gesture of defiance to his celebrated rival Octagonal.

The euphoria of a Derby win was highlighted by Helen’s lengthy speech at the presentation of trophies - a speech likened to the one delivered by Greer Garson after the famous actress had won an Academy Award in 1942 for her performance in “Mrs. Miniver.” The excited part owner thanked everybody down the chain from Gai Waterhouse to the man who delivered the horse feed to Tulloch Lodge. She wasn’t in the same ebullient frame of mind the following morning when she heard what Tommy Smith had in mind.

Perhaps still smarting at the fact that he’d been denied a Melbourne Cup start with three year old Tulloch thirty eight years earlier, the maestro was trying to sway everybody in sight that Nothin’ Leica Dane should run in the testing two miler just three days later. John Hodge, always amenable to T.J.’s opinion, instantly agreed. Horse loving Helen was stunned. She couldn’t accept the suggestion that her gallant colt could be set such a huge task. After all he was at the tailend of a long preparation, and more significantly his very first preparation. She was also aware the horse was still a few weeks away from his official third birthday.

Happy scenes after the Victoria Derby. From left - Shane Dye, Helen Dalton, Valerie Smith, John Hodge, T.J. Smith. At rear is long time AAMI CEO Brian Keane - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Despite Helen’s protests the majority decision was made to attempt a task that hadn’t been achieved since Skipton won the Cup fifty four years earlier. To add to her frustration the rain started to tumble down in Melbourne, and by Cup morning the track had deteriorated to a Heavy 10. Helen quickly reminded her opposers that Nothin’ Leica Dane’s seven runs had all been on good tracks - her plea fell on deaf ears.

Shane Dye only needed to watch his diet after having ridden Octagonal at such a light weight in the Cox Plate. He comfortably made the 47.5 kgs. To this day he regards his ride in the 1995 Melbourne Cup as one of his best. “I came out of barrier 15 to be three back on the fence at the winning post,” said the former ace jockey in his predictable style. “I came around only one horse at the top of the straight and had clear running from there. Doriemus was a seasoned five year old who loved the heavy ground. He beat us around four lengths but what a run by the three year old. He was amazing.”

It was indeed an amazing run and a gobsmacking preparation. This kind and gentle colt had come from a Warwick Farm maiden to be runner up in a Melbourne Cup in eleven weeks - an unthinkable journey and one that stamped him as one hell of a horse. Those who believed the Cup experience would prove detrimental to the Danehill colt were stunned to see him score a brilliant first up win in the Hobartville Stakes. “His work had been outstanding, and he ran right up to it in the Hobartville,” said Shane Dye. “He actually led early and then trailed a leader to the turn before beating Octagonal, Catalan Opening and Filante. It was obvious the Melbourne Cup run hadn’t hurt him.”

An inherently sound horse, Nothin’ Leica Dane developed a few back issues after the Hobartville win. Shane Dye believes he can pinpoint the exact source of the problem. “He got to gallop on the course proper at Randwick one morning, and slipped behind going over the 2000m crossing,” he said. “His hind end was almost on the ground and he was touchy around the back on cooling down. Gai had to get a chiropractor to him later in the day.”

The trainer was obviously of the opinion the horse was over his problem when she shipped him to Melbourne for the Australian Cup rather than follow the traditional path to the Canterbury Guineas. The three year old led for most of the trip before weakening to finish fifth 3.3 lengths behind Saintly whose win was explosive. “Jumping to 2000m second up was too much for him,” said Shane. “Saintly was having his third run back and was sensational on the day.”

On returning from Melbourne “the Dane” finished a gallant third in the Rosehill Guineas and fourth in the Australian Derby after which he went for a well earned break. Looking back today, Dye is still of the opinion the horse felt the effects of his Australian Cup run. “He raced well enough in the Guineas and the Derby but didn’t feel quite as good as he had in the spring.

Nothin' Leica Dane was one of an elite group of 3yos in the autumn of 1996. Here he is finishing a fighting 3rd to Octagonal and Saintly in the Rosehill Guineas. Great photo from Steve Hart.

Sadly Nothin’ Leica Dane was destined never to win another race but continued to race well at the elite level. In subsequent campaigns he was runner up in both a Sydney Cup and a Metropolitan while he registered placings in a Hill Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes. He was far from disgraced in finishing fifth in the 1996 Melbourne Cup only 3.6 lengths from the rampaging Saintly.

In the Australian spring of 1997 Helen Dalton put into play a plan to help her realise a lifelong dream. She had long fantasized about having a runner in the iconic Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe and believed Nothin’ Leica Dane was the horse to make it happen. Hurried preparations and huge expense saw her beloved horse on a flight to Paris, and into the stables of dual Arc winning trainer John Hammond at the famous Chantilly training precinct.

He hadn’t raced for four months when he stepped out for a Gr 3 race at Deauville with American jockey Cash Asmussen on board. Lack of fitness saw him finish last of five, but the run brought him on significantly. Helen’s Arc De Triomphe dream looked a little more realistic a couple of weeks later when “NLD” as she now called him, ran a cracking second in a Gr 3 at Longchamps with Gerald Mosse replacing Asmussen.

Publicity about the Dane’s European mission had sparked the interest of a number of Aussie racing enthusiasts. To Helen’s amazement a group of 35 supporters landed in Paris to help fly the Aussie flag at the famous Longchamps course. The stallion got no favours in the eighteen horse field and finished with the tailenders - a disappointing result but an unforgettable adventure for the trailblazing Helen Dalton.

Back in Australia she had to face the daunting task of finding a commercial stud prepared to stand the well bred entire. “He had an impressive record of six wins and eight placings for almost $1.8 million in prize money,” she said. “You’d think a Derby win and a Melbourne Cup second would have been credentials enough, but he had the reputation of a dead set stayer, and nobody wanted to stand a stayer in this country.”

Eventually “NLD” found a home at the Hawcroft family’s now defunct Byerley Stud at Sandy Hollow in the upper Hunter Valley. His subsequent record as a stallion exceeded expectations. From 666 foals, Nothin’ Leica Dane sired 258 winners of 772 races for over $16 million in prize money. In one season he was credited with the winners of fifty five races.

The stallion’s headline act was unquestionably the brilliant mare Hot Danish who won 16 races including two Gr 1’s in the care of trainer Les Bridge. On a dry track the mare possessed a sizzling turn of foot. Cinque Cento gave his sire another Gr 1 with a Doomben Cup win in 2007. Another good performer for the Barbara Joseph stable was Ain’t Seen Nothin’ whose eight wins included three at stakes level. Nothin’ Leica Dane also sired three Gr 2 winners and another at Gr 3 level. His daughters have left an impressive 112 winners of 345 races. One of those was fifteen time Singapore winner Stepitup.

Nothin' Leica Dane's achievements at stud exceeded expectations. His star performer was dual Gr. 1 winner Hot Danish seen here winning impressively in the 2010 Canterbury Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Nothin’ Leica Dane was twenty five years old when he developed an incurable ulceration of the throat. Hunter Valley vets tried several treatments but were unable to correct the disorder. The stallion found it difficult to swallow food and lost condition alarmingly towards the end. The decision was made to euthanise the gallant horse in 2018.

On the thirty first anniversary of his incredible three year old campaign, we pay tribute to a horse of kindly nature and unwavering determination. Three year olds just don’t do what Nothin’ Leica Dane did in the spring of 1995.