AVONDALE FORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 12

AVONDALE FORM.

I — BEAU LEON IMPRESSES. SIR CAMERON UNLUCKY. FAILURE OF MARSHALL HALL I Hie race for the Avondale Guineas last' .Monday quickened interest in the forthcoming classics, particularly the Great | Northern Guineas, which will be decided . at Elleitflie on Saturday, October 12, and tlie Great Northern Derby, a feature of Auckland racing on New Year's Day. 'L he Avondale event indicated that in Beau Leon, Lou Rosa and Sir Cameron the province possesses three horses of great promise, while it also tended to show that Marshall Hall and Phaleron may be best suited over short distances. Beau Leon, by Beau Pere from Lady Bede, won the Guineas in exceptionally good style, and it was evident that the race in the Champion Hack Plate on the opening day had improved him. He is susceptible to further improvement. In the Champion Plate he was a long way behind the leaders over the first five furlongs and after hitting the front at the distance he was all out to defeat Greek Queen. In the Guineas, however, he was handily placed to the straight, where he came away from the field to win decisively. Well-based excuses were made afterwards for Lou Rosa (second) and Sir Cameron (third), but their failure does not detract from the merit of Beau Leon's performance. Lou Ros;j, winner of the Great Northern Foal Stakes and the Royal Stakes last Christmas, is not as forward as Beau Leon, and hie running in the Guineas confirmed the impression he made in his Stakes' victories that he is above the ordinary. By Foxbridge from Lucy Rose, he shaped -

like a true stayer and therefore he must be held in high regard for the Great Northern Guineas. . The Pity of It. Now, about Sir Cameron. It is true that this resolute galloper was distinctly unfortunate during the running and there is no doubt about the fact that if he had not received a severe check at the five-furlongs post we would have got a much better Kne on Beaii Leon. Mr. R. W. J. Cuthbert's bay son of Posterity and Mirabelle 11. was going nicely in fifthyposition when the incident occurred and he then went back to the rear of the field. He was still a long way behind at the turn for home, but he finished very strongly and just failed to get second place. Although he won only one event last season, the Calliope Handicap at Ellerslie on January 27, Sir Cameron was invariably running on at the end of his races, and on Monday he came home like a true stayer. His half-brother, Theo, by Limond, ' won the A J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies in 1934.

The Australian-bred Marshall Hall, by Hall Mark—Legality, was made the win favourite on the strength of his stylish win in the Flying Handicap on the first day of the meeting. In that race he was giving the leaders a good start at the turn for home, but, revealing a fine turn of speed and splendid courage, he wore them down to win in the last stride. Just the opposite happened in the Guineas, in which he took the lead before the straight was reached, only to weaken badly over the final furlong. Lou Rosa and Sir Cameron passing him in the last thirty yards to secure the minor positions. An aristocrat in appearance, Marshall Hall left the impression that he will take high honours as a sprinter.

Phaleron, who was beaten only half a 'head and a head by Marshall Hall and Grandora in the. Flying Handicap, was fourth into the straight, but weakened shortly afterwards and was seventh at the judge's box. None of the others impressed.

I The Wanganui-trained Sir Beau, one of the. best two-year-olds last season, and Cheddington, by Phaleron Bay—Silver Rule, were not in at Avondale, but they are both in the Great Northern Guineas. Cheddington, who has been gelded since he i last raced, when he was beaten by a head by Lou Rosa in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, as a result of which he was paid a profound compliment by the handicapper, is reported to have done well on the Matamata tracks during recent weeks, while Sir Beau demonstrated at Palmerston North that he is all right by winning the Wanganui Guineas. Verily, the Great Northern Guineas hold* great promise. ,