Incredibly, he went from a Warwick Farm maiden to the Melbourne Cup in 11 weeks

The bold striding son of Danehill, by Leica Pretender, (Sir Tristram), Nothin' Leica Dane was one of the most underrated horses of his time, in an era that featured a crop of legendary stars, such as, Saintly, Octagonal, Catalan Opening and Filante. The leggy colt attracted little attention when he stepped out for his first race start at a low key Sunday meeting at Warwick Farm on August 20th 1995. It was the first of Shane Dye’s nineteen rides on Nothin’ Leica Dane. Not surprisingly he’d run last of nine in his first barrier trial over 804m, but had improved sharply to finish second over 1200m in his second trial. He was quoted at $13 when the eighteen horse field jumped away in a 1400m race for non-metropolitan winning three-year-old colts and geldings. The colt overcame a slow start and heavy traffic to storm home and grab a last stride win from Darren Beadman’s mount Madjic - a tidy effort but certainly not an indication of the heights he’d reach in the months ahead. He was back at Warwick Farm a fortnight later to finish ninth of twelve in a 1600m one metro win race, only 2.8 lengths from future Group one 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 slow away and striking some trouble in running, however a couple of victories would soon follow over Catalan Opening.

Three wins and a placing in five starts had already generated four times the colt’s yearling purchase price of $75,000. Scottish born businessman, the late John Hodge was the original buyer on the recommendation of Tommy Smith, who was in the process of winding down his training career. Hodge immediately offered a forty five per cent share to his coal mining business partner Helen Dalton, who became almost as well known as the deeds of her glamour colt. Gai Waterhouse was the official trainer, but John placed a lot of credence in T.J's opinion. Three weeks after the Spring Champion Stakes, Nothin’ Leica Dane was at Caulfield for the listed Norman Robinson Stakes. He raced on the pace throughout before outstaying Catalan Opening, who by now must have been developing an inferiority complex. One week later Shane Dye rode at 48.5 kgs to win the W.S. Cox Plate on three year old Octagonal. Asked if he would stay with Octagonal in the Victoria Derby seven days later - “No I’m riding Nothin’ Leica Dane.”

It’s now history that Nothin’ Leica Dane parked outside the leader in the Derby, while Octagonal raced midfield on the fence. He was held up at a crucial stage on straightening up, but Shane got him into the clear at the 300m. The colt’s tendency to swish his tail on occasions was evident in the closing stages of the Derby. The more he swished, the harder he tried. On the day it was almost a gesture of defiance. When the euphoria subsided after the Derby presentation, Tommy Smith dropped the bombshell. He insisted Nothin’ Leica Dane will back up in the Melbourne Cup three days later. Gai needed a little persuasion from her father, but Helen was mortified. It was beyond her comprehension that her noble young horse could be assigned such a challenging undertaking. After all he was at the tail end of a long preparation, and she was aware he was still a few weeks short of his official third birthday. Despite protests the decision was made to attempt something that hadn’t been achieved in 54 years. To make matters worse the rain started to tumble down, and by Cup day the track had deteriorated to a Heavy 10. 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 Cup as one of his best. Doriemus was a seasoned five year old and absolutely relished the heavy ground. He beat the rest easily that day but what a tremendous run by the colt to finish runner-up.

It was indeed an amazing run for a 3yo and an amazing preparation. This kind and gentle colt had gone from a Warwick Farm win as a maiden to a Melbourne Cup second placing in eleven weeks - an unthinkable journey and one that stamped him as one great racehorse. The many 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 next up. He actually led early, travelled in second spot to the turn before beating Octagonal, Catalan Opening and Filante. An inherently sound horse, Nothin’ Leica Dane did develop a few back complications after the Hobartville Stakes. Gai Waterhouse 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. Dane led for most of the trip before weakening to finish 5th, 3.5L from Saintly whose win was explosive. On returning from Melbourne the colt finished a gallant third in the Rosehill Guineas, and a fighting fourth in the Australian Derby, after which he went for a well earned break. Sadly, Nothin’ Leica Dane never won again but continued to race well at the elite level. In subsequent campaigns he ran seconds in a Metropolitan and Sydney Cup, while he registered placings in a Hill Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes. He was far from disgraced in a second tilt at the Melbourne Cup finishing fifth only 3.6 lengths behind Saintly in 1996.

Helen Dalton decided to put into play a plan designed to help her realise a lifelong dream. She had always the aspiration of running a horse in the prestigious Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, and firmly believed that Nothin’ Leica Dane possessed the exceptional qualities to realise this ambition. He hadn’t raced for four months when he stepped out for a Gr 3 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 dream looked a little more realistic a couple of weeks later, when he ran a cracking second in a Gr.3 at Longchamp, however the stallion received no favours in the eighteen horse field of the Arc, finishing with the tailenders - a disappointing result but an unforgettable adventure.

Back in Australia Helen was trying to find a commercial stud prepared to stand the well bred entire. Eventually Nothin’ Leica Dane found a home at the Hawcroft family’s Byerley Stud at Sandy Hollow in the Upper Hunter Valley. His subsequent record as a stallion far exceeded expectations. From 666 foals, Nothin’ Leica Dane sired 258 winners of 772 races for total prize money of over $16 million dollars. In one season (2001/2002) he got a very impressive 55 winners. The stallion’s headline act was unquestionably the brilliant Hot Danish who won 16 races including two Group 1’s. On a dry track the mare possessed an astonishing turn of foot. Cinque Cento gave his sire another Group 1 with a Doomben Cup win in 2007. Nothin’ Leica Dane also sired three Group 2 winners and one at Group 3 level. His daughters have left an impressive 112 winners of 345 races to date. One of those winners was fifteen time Singapore winner Stepitup.

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. Although Nothin' Leica Dane had the limelight thrust upon him very early in life he performed majestically and unfortunately never gained a major Cup title, however his 1995 Derby win will always be testament to the class of the great thoroughbred.

RACE RECORD - 26-6:5:3

EARNINGS - $1,771,016

Spring Champion Stakes (1995)

Norman Robinson Stakes (1995)

Victoria Derby (1995)

Hobartville Stakes (1996)