Miss Avon favoured for Ryder Stakes at Levin

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 24

Miss Avon favoured for Ryder Stakes at Levin

Special, correspondent Wellington ! Miss Avon, a visitor from i Cambridge, could give het sire, Avon Valley, his most I important success in the Ryder Stakes at Levin today She has won her last three in succession with dogged finishing runs from close to the pace and from) number three at the gate in the Ryder Stakes she seems capable of outfinishing her rivals on the short straight. Zermatt, in 1976, drew 15 at the start yet raced handy was second on the turn, and ran aw. j to win by four lengths. For this reason Amigacho Imust be respected in spite of his draw. The little colt) (was impressive ploughing) (through the Trentham mud) last Wednesday and he appeared to take no harm from! the race. He drops a half! kilogram to 56 kilogram and!

I will not find Levin any-] (where near as heavy. The (track today is not. expected (to be worse than soft. Unfortunately for Black Count the Ryder Stakes is ) only 1200 m and he might ! find the race too short after his last-start win over 1400 m at Avondale. With no \ early speed Black Count , could find the inside draw troublesome especially when (looking to improve before the turn. A distance change sees the Levin Winter Cup catering for class one, two, and three sprinter-milers. The field is not strong but it has attracted two respectable horses, which head the handicap, from outside the region. • They should dispute the i finish, with possibly the ; I Levin-owned Able Note] llsplitting them. Innes Lad has not. raced over ,1600 m in II his present campaign but the f|way he has run out his I (races recently suggests that

|the distance will not trouble him. With a bit of luck he I will have won his last three ■ in succession. The Hawrea mare Brack mixes her *'orm but there is no doubting her ability when she gets conditions to suit. A fine third at Hawera behind Tono Bungay was her last start but she runs well when kept fresh. Gracious Gift disappointed at Trentham after an eyecatching run at Hastings. The better ground today could suit him. Tono Bungay deserves respect for stepping up to 2200 m again, while Flavius won too well at Wanganui to be left out. The scratching of Get The Rent and Viggen paves the way for an upset in the first leg of the T.A.B. treble. 1 Contestant bolted in at : Wanganui and did not appear that happy in the (Trentham mud. He appeals in the first leg. | Velocity has been working I brilliantly at Awapuni this

week and it should be a grand fight in the second leg with the Trentham winner King Carl. Tanayar, not at. home at Trentham, and Silver’s Gold out in the third leg although Pago Prince could repeat his Trentham win if he reaches the front. Selections:— 10.50 a.m.—Masonic Hurdles: El Verano, Infocus, Philosopher. 11.25 a.m.—Champagne Maiden: First division: Pathway, Siobhan Marie. Second division: Gold Leaf, Papalis. 12.5 p.m.—Ling Steeples: Hadley Chase, Arceen, Tisham. 12.40 p.m.—Wines Maiden: Gold Sword, Erin Michelle, Prophet's Mark. 1.15 p.m.—Levin Handicap: Contestant, Kirmani, John Silver. 1.50 p.m.—Ryder Stakes: Miss Avon, Amigacho, Black Count. 2.30 p.m.—Levin Cup; Innes Lad, Able Note, Avenger. 3.5 p.m.—Koputaroa Handicap: Velocity, King Carl, Chief Amigo. i 3.40 p.m.—Hatuma Handicap: Brack, Tono Bungay, Gracious Gift. 4.15 p.m.— Railway Handicap: Tanayar, Silver's Gold, Pago i Prince.