Another guineas for Avon’s Lord

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 36

Another guineas for Avon’s Lord

Special correspondent Auckland The Guineas at Ellerslie had often been won by more, but very seldom as decisively as when Avon’s Lord was successful on Saturday. Avon’s Lord took a grip on the Auckland Racing Club’s Winstone Guineas in moments from the start. After shrugging off Honour Bright early in the home straight he was run close again by Bonecrusher for a bit.

An interesting finish was in prospect, but only briefly. When urged again by rider Brian York, Avon’s Lord somehow put on a further spurt that took it home to the finish with two lengths to spare. He recorded 1:34.38 for the 1600 m, clearly the best in the Guineas since the introduction of the metric distance, in 1973. He was timed for the last 800 in 47.24. The previous fastest time for the Guineas at Ellerslie was County Cork’s 1:35.35 in 1980. Last year Red Henry won in 1:35.64 and did the last 800 in 47.89. The other guineas winnes since 1983 with their times, were Oopik (1973) 1:36; Boulder Block 1:37; Purple Pearl 1:38.4; Vice Regal 1:36.71; Crest Star 1:43.65; Springtide 1:39.94; El Dufus 1:39.90; Altitude 1:36.57; Red Tempo 1:39.54; I’m Henry 1:42.16. From the outside of the

15 runners — Optimistic was a late scratching when found to be troubled by an infected wither — Avon’s Lord showed remarkable quickness to lead by a clear length when they had covered barely 100 m.

After some 300 m the rider, Brian York, took a hold on him, allowing Honour Bright alongside. It was clear once around the home turn that Honour Bright would not keep up much longer. He was soon being pressed by Bonecrusher and Dollar Sterling while Avon’s Lord surged away to have the finish to himself. In the end Bonecrusher edged out Dollar Sterling and Honour Bright, which had their placings by the judge, third and fourth respectively, reversed following an inquiry. The inquiry by the judicial committee found that Dollar Sterling had moved out to hamper Honour Bright beginning the last 200 m. Dollar Sterling’s jockey, Warwick Robinson, was charged with careless riding but the committee, after finding that Dollar Sterling had been galloped on, took no action against him. The committee was called to consider two other charges arising from the Guineas,' one against York, another against the rider of Sky Walker, Heather Mackinnon.

The charge against York, of easing Avon’s Lord too

suddenly after getting to his clear lead, was dismissed on the grounds that the evidence was not conclusive.

Mackinnon, however, was suspended up to and including October 21 after being found guilty of allowing her mount to cause interference to Mystic Monarch. A further, sadder consequence of the crowding, which occurred in the run along the back straight, was Perseverance suffering such injuries to his hind legs that he had to be destroyed. He had been pulled up with about 800 m to go. Avon’s Lord spread the plate on his near front feet during the race, which could have caused him trouble had it not been removed smartly after his return to scale. He lost a bit of hoof in the process but was reported yesterday by his trainer and co-owner, Mr Hec Tapper, of Matamata, as being in good shape and quite recovered from the effort. Avon’s Lord has now won five races in a row and six of the seven he has had this season. On Wednesday or Thursday of this week he will be taken to Trentham to try for another, the Innsbrook Wellington Guineas. The stake at Trentham is $37,500, but Avon’s Lord will earn a $lOO,OOO bonus if he wins, the result of his taking the Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington guineas treble.