Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young added another major staying feature to their résumé on Thursday as American Wolf delivered them their first victory in the historic VRC St Leger.

The classic, first run in 1857, was claimed in gritty fashion by American Wolf ($12), who fought tooth and nail down the Flemington straight to edge out Danny O’Brien’s Litzdeel ($8.50) by a long head, with Kicking King ($12) six lengths adrift in third.

“Got a beautiful run. Just sat out the back, third last, and just relaxed nice and beautifully,” said Natalie Young.

“John Allen just rode him an absolute treat… he was ridden more forward last start when he won at Ballarat and to come here today and do that, it means next week he’ll be ready to roll.”

The three-year-old son of Tivaci is now being aimed at the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m), with Young saying he’ll run if he comes through the St Leger in good order.

“Definitely if he pulls up well, eats up, all the usual things, you might as well, you’re only three once. You don’t have to do much with him, he’s run 28 (hundred metres) today, he’s going to run 25 next week, so you’ve just got to tick him over basically,” she added.

John Allen, who has a remarkable record in the South Australian Derby with four wins in the past decade, said the gelding is trending the right way.

“You’d like to think so,” Allen said.

“He’s a horse on the up, lightly raced, he seems big and strong enough, as long as he comes through that run well enough. But he seems to have a good enough constitution, so I reckon he’ll be certainly there with a fighter’s chance.”