VICTORIA DERBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26608, 3 November 1947, Page 3

VICTORIA DERBY

BEAU GEM SUCCESSFUL IN PHOTO FINISH Rec 9 p.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 2. In a thrilling finish Beau Gem, the South Australian colt, defeated Chanak by half a head in the Victoria Derby. After his win in the W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last Saturday, Chanak had been the popular choice, and he started a firm favourite. Valiant Crown, who led all the way to win the A.J.C. Derby, attempted to repeat that performance to-day. He led until the straight entrance, where Beau Gem and Chanak headed him. With a' furlong to go Chanak appeared the probable winner, but Beau Gem fought back. With Munro and Badger riding desperately, the colts passed the post together, and the judge called for a photo finish. This showed that Beau Gem had a win by half a head. Conductor made up considerable ground to . finish third, but he was five lengths away. Valiant Crown weakened to run fifth. In spite of a 51b penalty, Money Moon made an exhibition of the field in the Cantala Stakes. Gathering speed very quickly, he was soon in front. At no stage did he appear likely to be overtaken, and going right away in the straight, scored very easily. The New Zealand horse Da Vinci was well placed early, but could not improve his position and finished well back in the field. Money Moon is another South Australian, and he has proved himself ope of the fastest milers in Victoria at the present time. * The former New Zealanders, Grey Nurse and Deep Sea, did well at Canterbury. In the fillies’ section- of the Juvenile Stakes Grey Nurse appeared to have lost her greenness of the previous week. She jumped into a handy position and moved into third place. She passed Sheba at the Leger to win handily. In the Flying Handicap Deep Sea got well away, but settled down in second place. He challenged at the Leger and won in the last stride in a photo finish. The results were:— Wakeful Stakes (three-year-old fillies). One mile. —First division: Nizami’s Ring, 8.4 (F. Swinton), 1; Nell Gwynne, 8.9 (M. Gillwood), 2; Shading, 8.11 (J. Thompson). 3. Sixteen started. Two lengths and a-half, two lengths. Time, lmin 301 sec. Second division: Jalna, 8.11 (J. Purtell), 1; Saxony, 8.4 (H. White), 2; Genoese, 8.9 (R. Heather), 3. Seventeen started. Length and a-quarter. half a length. Time, lmin 383 sec. . .Maribyrnong , Plate (two-year-olds). Five furlongs.—Scotwyn, 8.5 (R. Heather), 1; Gay Archer, 8.5 (W. Cook), 2: Bengal, 8.5 (H. Badger), 3. Fourteen started. Length and a-quarter. three lengths. Time, - lmin. L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes (standard weight-for-age). One mile and a-quar-ter. —Don Pedro, 9.3' (R. Heather), 1; Attley, 9.3 (J. Purtell), 2; Columnist, 9.3 (H Badger), 3.- Nine started. Head same. Time, 2min 2Jsec. Victoria Derby. One mile and a-halt.— Beau Gem, 8.10 (D. Munro), 1; Chanak, 8.10 (H. Badger), 2; Conductor, 8.10 (W. Cook), 3. All started. Valiant Crown attempted to lead all the way, but/ was headed in the straight by Beau Gem and Chanak. In a desperate finish, Beau Gem won by half a head, with Conductor, rive lengths away, third. Time, 2min 30Jsec, a race record.

Cantala Stakes. One mile.—-Money Moon, 8.10 (W. Briscoe), 1; Star of India, 7.9 (J, Purtell), 2; Tamerlane, 69 (D. Cameron), 3. Fourteen started. Four lengths, two lengths. Time, lmin 37sec. Hotham Handicap. One mile and five furlongs.—Dark Marne, 7.13 (J. Thompson), 1; Hiraji, 8.6 (J. Purtell), 2; Stenelaus, 7.11 (J. Raffaele), 3. Sixteen started. Length, two lengths. Time, 2min 433 sec, a course record.

Juvenile Stakes (filles). —Grey Nurse, 8.12 (Mul)ane), 1; Sheba, 8.5 (Ward), 2; Alabama Queen, 8.5 (Kerrigan). 3. Eleven started. Half a length, five lengths. Time, lmin 41sec. Flying Handicap.—Deep Sea, 8.4 (Williams), 1; Tynedale, 6.7 (Waterhouse), 2; Yankee Lad, 8.2 (Mulley), 3. Seven started. Long head, half a length. Time, lmin 32sec.