V.R.C. MEETING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 136, 5 March 1941, Page 14

V.R.C. MEETING

St. Leger Stakes To Tranquil Star AUTUMN HANDICAP (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.- —Copyright.) (Received March 4, 9.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 4. Nightbeam had a long overdue win in the Elms Handicap ■ on the second day of the V.R.C. autumn meeting at Flemington today. Seventh at the turn, he finished brilliantly. New Warrior made a promising effort. Alstone weakened into third place. Tea Cake, one of the most consistent juveniles of the season, held off a late challenge from Primavera tn win the March Nursery, Pyramus defeated the pacemaker. Kelo«, for third positiori. Alcmena, unbeaten in three previous starts, showed pace in the early stages, but weakened. Tranquil Star, last at. the turn, outclassed her rivals in the St. Leger Stakes. She is the first filly to win the race since Furious in 1922. Lucrative had every show, but was no match for the winner over the final two furlongs. The pacemaker, Positron, tired, but had no difficulty to secure third position. Tidal Wave disappointed. . Dashing Cavalier improved on reecnt efforts to win the Autumn Handicap. He finished fast to beat Mabson and the unlucky Saul. This completed a double for the trainer J. McCurley, who won earlier with Nightbeam in the Elms Handicap. Laiur'eata, trained by H. Freedman and owned by Mr. R. W. McLean, compensated for Lucrative’s failure by winning the Hopeful Stakes. Murmuring, who was seventh, made a promising debut. Results: — ELMS HANDICAP, of £7OO. One mile. NIGHTBRAM, 7.9 (W. Cook) 1 NEW WAKKTOK, 7.2 (J. Purtell) 2 ALSTONE. S.l (A. Cooper) 3 Thirteen started. One length and a half; two and a half. Sir Locket was fourth. Time, 1.381. MARCH NURSERY, of £7OO. Six furlongs. ', TEA CAKE, 8.10 (J. Purtell) 1 PRIMAVERA. 8.12 (V. Hartney) 2 PYRAMUS, 8.1 (H. Badger) 3 Eleven started. Neck; halt a length. Kelos was fourth. Time, 1.141. ST. LEGER STAKES, of £l6OO. One mile and three-quarters. TRANQUIL STAR, 8.7 .... (F. Sbean) 1 LUCRATIVE, 8.10 (M. McCarten) 2 positron, 8.10 (A. Breasley) 3 Seven started. Five lengths; two and a half. Then came Tidal wave. Velocity, Exactly, Dark Felt. Time, 2.591. AUTUMN HANDICAP, of £lOOO. One mile and a half. DASHING CAVALIER, 9.3 (J. Couttsl 1 MABSON. 7.S (W. Cook) 2 SAUL, 8.7 (M. McCarteni 3 Eight, started. Half a length; half a head. Saki was fourth. Time, 2.32. HOPEFUL STAKES, of £7OO. Five furlongs and a half. LAUKEATA, 8.5 (IT. Morneroent) 1 MISS PERSIA, 8.2 (R. Heather) 2 AVION, 8.5. (A. Breasley) 3 -Twenty-nine started. Half a length: one length and a half. Condignity was fourth. Time, 1.8.