V.R.C. MEETING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 3

V.R.C. MEETING

READING WINS ST. LEGER HIGH CASTE BEATEN. NEW RACE RECORD SET. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 5. , Reading definitely proved High Caste's master as a stayer when he won the St Leger Stakes at the Victoria Racing Club’s meeting at Flemington today. Setting a solid pace. Reading led always. High Caste made an effort two furlongs from home, but weakened. Mac Rob was outclassed. The time knocked 2.1 seconds off the race record and for the third time in the history of the race three minutes was bettered. The Northcote Handicap provided an exciting finish. Riviera was ninth early but finished well to win by a head. Girela and Night Train ran good races. Lady Tinkle (N.Z.) was third at the turn but weakened at the finish. Session compensated her owner, Mr Percy Miller, for Broadcaster’s failure by winning the March Nursery, in which the placed horses flashed over the'line together. Damocles was unlucky, as Neutron caused interference over the last furlong. Amiable outclassed the field in the final stages of the Bourke Handicap. She is raced by the former New Zealander, Mr W. R. Kemball. Pure Gold made a good effort, and Operatic surprised by fighting on after making the pace. Hilton (Beau Pore—Awaken) was never dangerous. Earl.y Bird just held off the fast-fin-ishing Alarm in the Autumn Handicap. Only a neck separated the first four horses. Cooranga finished well and enhanced her Cup chance. The slow pace early did not suit Cooranga.

Aided by a run on the rails over the last furlong. Captain Drake finished strongly to beat Kaolin in the first division of the Apprentices’ Handicap. Swettcnham was a moderate third. Manurere (Foxbridge—Green Linnet.) ran a poor race. Last at the turn. Lanarus finished with a phenomenal run to win the second division of the Apprentices' Handicap. Lalmoni also came home well to beat the pacemaker. Wanderer, for place honours. Lanarus is trained by the former New Zealander, J. McLaughlin. and raced by The Trump's owner, Mr E. Eccles. The weather was fine and there was a good attendance. Results: —

Northcote Handicap. Im: Riviera 8.12 (A. Dewhurst) 1: Girella 7.12 <ll Mornement) 2; Night Train. 7.4 I.W. Beresford) 3. Fourteen started, Head:

half a head. Triode was fourth and Lady Tinkle twelfth. Time. 1.38.',. March Nursery Handicap, 6f: Session. 8.0 (E. Bartie) 1: Damocles, 8.1 (J. Purt.ell) 2; Neutron, 7.12 (A. Breaslcy) 3. Seventeen started. Half a head each way. Fearless Fox was fourth. Time, 1.131. St Leger Stakes, Ijm: Reading, 8.10 (D. Munro) 1: High Caste. 8.10 (E. Bartie) 2; Mae Rob. 8.10 (J. Ralph) 3. The only starters. Two and a half lengths: eight lengths. Time. 2.56.7. Bourke Handicap. 71': Amiable, 8.13 (N. Creighton) 1: Pure Gold, 8.5 (J. Purtell) 2; Operatic. 8.4 (S. Martin) 3. Fourteen started. One length and half; one length and a quarter. Judean was fourth. Time, 1.231. which equals the course record. Autumn Handicap, IJm: Early Bird. 8.3 (F. Shean) 1; Alarm. 7.2 (J. Purtell) 2; Morvren, 7.3 (J. Gilmore) 3. Eleven started. Head: half a head. Cooranga was fourth. Time. 2.321. Apprentices’ Handicap. Im; First Division: Captain Drake. 7.9 (J. Purtell) 1; Kaolin, 8.3 (E. Merrick) 2; Swcttenham. 7.8 (H. McDonald) 3. Eleven started. Half a length: one length and a quarter. Glenfino was fourth and Manurer last. Time, 1.38. Second Division: Lanarus. 9.2 (S. Ralph) 1; Lalmoni, 8.5 <R. Hall) 2: Wanderer. 7.0 (T. Griffiths) 3. Eleven started. Head; half a head. Kingswear was fourth. Time. 1.39.