Peleid won the St Leger in 1973. He was an improving handicapper – he was second in the King George V at Royal Ascot and won the Magnet Cup at York before finishing a respectable fourth in the Ebor. That seemed to represent the limit of his ability, which was reflected in his 28/1 starting price for the Leger. However, he was quietly fancied by his Malton trainer Bill Elsey – provided he didn’t run as freely as he had in the Ebor. Ridden by veteran Frankie Durr, he settled nicely and was able to power clear in the last quarter of a mile to win by two and a half lengths.
It wasn’t a vintage Leger, and Peleid didn’t win as a four-year-old until he was exported to Hungary. After that he went to stud there.
He was bred by his owner Bill Behrens near Malton, so as a Yorkshire-owned, bred and trained winner of the oldest Classic, he was bound to have a race named after him and this began in 1975. It didn’t last long, though. Its final running was as a mile and a half maiden in May 1983. The following year it was the ICI Petrol Maiden Stakes.
A peleid is also a type of butterfly, and in Greek mythology Peleid refers to the son of Peleus, better known as Achilles.