Tranquil Star's form was unpredictable: in 18 of her races she was beaten favourite. Yet the public loved her.

Biography

TRAINER: Ron Cameron

OWNERS: R.Cobden and T.G.Jones

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 111 starts: 23 wins, 20 seconds, 12 thirds/£29,690

Major Wins 

• Caulfield Cup
• VRC St Leger
• W.S. Cox Plate (twice)
• L.K.S.Mackinnon Stakes (three times)
• Caulfield Stakes
• Chipping Norton Stakes

About

For seven seasons Tranquil Star was the darling of the Victorian racing public, starting in 111 races between 1939 and 1946. Despite her sometimes erratic performances, her courage and longevity won the affection of racegoers.

Bred at St Alban's Stud near Geelong, Tranquil Star had an uneventful two-year-old season, with two moderate wins from 11 starts. As a three-year-old she showed her real quality with wins in the Edward Manifold Stakes, St George Stakes and VRC St Leger. In her only visit to Sydney, she took out the Chipping Norton Stakes and the Cumberland Plate. Her four-year-old season was ordinary, with just two wins and a number of placings from 21 starts. She came back to form with a vengeance as a five-year-old with six wins, including the Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes.

At six-years-old, Tranquil Star could manage only one win, and suffered a severe injury at her 78th start when she fell and suffered a fractured jaw. Only her iron constitution and the patient attention of her trainer enabled her to survive. Trainer Ron Cameron fed the mare with glucose at short intervals, night and day, until the broken jaw mended and she could eat again.

Returning to racing in the spring of 1944, Tranquil Star won her second Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes. In her final season as an eight-year-old she won her third Mackinnon Stakes and the William Reid Stakes.

Tranquil Star was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Image Source: News Ltd/Newspix