SPEAR VALE'S TURN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 13

SPEAR VALE'S TURN

QUEENSLAND CUP HISTORY

Turf history was made on the second day of the Queensland Turf Club's Meeting when Spear Chief's brother, Spear Vale, reversed Derby places with Spearace in the Queensland Cup, two miles, and became the first maiden performer to capture this important distance event. It was also a further triumph for the 'stock of the Melbourne Cup winner Spearfelt. Though Spear Vale had not previously won a ra,ce, he had been placed on several occasions. The previous Saturday he ran Spearace to a head in the Q.T.C. Dex-by and was unlucky to lose, as he jumped a crossing and became unbalanced for some distance in the straight in that race. Over the two miles of the Queensland Cup he trounced Spearace, winning easily by three lengths, but the Derby winner was conceding hum 91b and was attempting to win'with 31b more than weight-for-age. In the circumstances Spearace gave a great performance. Pantius, who had filled third place in the Q.T.C. Derby, occupied a similar position in the Queensland Cup. Spear Vale is the twenty-fourth of his age to win the Queensland Cup. His time for the distance was Smin 23sec, time that has been beaten only three times since the race was instituted in 1878. He was bought as a yearling by his owner-trainer, W. A. Tucker, who gave 750 guineas for, him. His success fulfilled the hopes of Tucker that he would prove himself a true stayer.