So Called wins V.R.C. St Leger

Press, 28 April 1978, Page 4 (Supplement)

So Called wins V.R.C. St Leger

NZPA Melbourne Racegoers at Flemington yesterday may have seen a Melbourne Cup winner in action after the South Australian three-year-old. So Called, put up a magnicent staying performance to win the 1978 V.R.C. St Leger Stakes (2800 m Ridden with “frightening condence” by the former New Zealand iockey, Brent Thomson, So Called outstayed the top colt, Lefroy, to win convincingly with outsider, Becidhim, a distant third.

Thomson showed plenty of patience early in the race, allowing So Called to drift back to near last while Lefroy was given the run of the race in fourth place. Thomson started to make ground from the 1000 metres but he did not go inside one runner and appeared to be setting his mount an enormous task. Brian Andrews, another ex Kiwi jockey, let Jefroy stroll up to the leaders approaching the turn and had a good hold on the colt at this stage. Andrews saw So Called coming on the corner and wisely came out to push his rival four and five wide on the turn. At that stage it appeared that Lefroy’s “easy” run might have given him the edge in the straight but Thomson urged So Called past Lefroy 100 metres out and was drawing away from h's rivals on the post. Thomson rode So Called hands and heels for most of the Flemington straight and only flicked him with the whip to keep his mind on the job The race proved sweet revenge for the pair, a* well aa Hie I

trainer Colin Hayes, who were considered most unlucky when second to Lefroy in the $lOO,OOO Champion Stakes at Randwick earlier this year. In that effort So Called was ridden in similar fashion but young Thomson was the centre of criticism after the race. Those critics could find little wrong with his ride yesterday