BRILLIANT EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27058, 18 April 1949, Page 3

BRILLIANT EFFORT

BERNBROOK’S SUCCESS IN DONCASTER ST. LEGER TO CARBON COPY Rec. 7.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Apl. 17. Bernbrook, a lull-brother to Shannon and favourite since the weights were issued, established himself as the outstanding Australian sprinter by winning the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick. Ho ran the mile in lmin 36Jsec, which is ljsec slower than Shannon’s record. Bernbrook will go to America in August for racing and stud duties. The first five furlongs were the fastest of any mile race run at Randwick. This made the race for Bernbrook and counted against slow beginners like Vagabond, Beau Robert and Columnist. Bernbrook was seventh at the half mile and broke clear entering the straight. He followed Mentmore through and miraculously pulled clear when that horse pulled up with a broken leg. Vagabond had a hard fight to get through, but produced an amazing burst to come within one and a-qunrter lengths of the winner. The veteran Russia staged a remarkable performance by leading all the way in spite of his topweight in the Autumn Stakes. Dark Marne was the challenger all the way, but had nothing at the finish. The New Zealander Bruce just managed to peg Transaction back for third place The St. Leger went easily to Carbon Copy after Comic Court joined him in the straight, but could not stay the distance. The 23-year-old hoodoo on fillies in the Sires’ Produce Stakes held good when Field Boy defeated Lady Pirouette by a half neck. Russia’s winnings of £38,923 now place him fifth on the list of Australian stake winners. Mentmore, who broke both a shinbone and fetlock in the Doncaster, was destroyed. Results• Princess Handicap.—Persist, 9.0 (Sellwood), 1; Grey Nurse, 9.5 (Breasley), 2: Gift, 7.2 (Hughes), 3. Twelve started. Half a length, three lengths. Time, Jmin 24Jsec. Vaucluse Handicap.—Rio Fe, 10.5 (Skeasley), 1; Holland, 8.12 (Thompson), 2; Exalted, 9.11 (Fellows), 3. Twenty started. Half a neck, half a. head. Time, lmin 243 sec. Sires’ Produce Slakes.—Field Boy, 8.10 (Briscoe), 1; Lady Piroutte, 8.8 (Thompson). 2; Crag Son, 8.10 (Ward), 3. Thirteen started. Long neck, two lengths and a-half. Time, lmin 25jsec. Autumn Stakes.—Russia, 9.3 (Thompson) 1; Dark Marne, 9.0 (Ward), 2; Bruce, 9.0 (Breasley), 3. Six started. Two lengths and a-half, three-quarters of a length. Time, 2min 33,1 sec. Doncaster Handicap.—Bernbrook, 8.4 (Sellwood).-\l. Vagabond, 8.4 (Ward), 2; Mortar, 7.2 (Hutchinson),' 3. Nineteen started. .Bright Fox was scratched. One length and a-quarter. two lengths. Time I lmin 36jsec. St. Leger.—Carbon Copy, 8.10 (Breasley), 1; Comic Court. 8.10 (Purtell), 2; Bubble, 8.10 (Ward), 3. Four started. Four lengths, five lengths. Time, 3min 2sec. Tocal Handicap.—Firearm. 7.4 (McGrowdie) 1; Sir Raven, 7.11 (Briscoe), 2; Co Re, 7.4 (Mullane), 3. Thirteen started. Half a neck, three-quarters of a length. Time, 2min sisec.