MANON IMPRESSED IN AVONDALE SUCCESSES

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 July 1950, Page 2

MANON IMPRESSED IN AVONDALE SUCCESSES

AUCKLAND, Last Night (Special). There were several smart performances on the part of hacks at Avondale last week. Outstanding on the two days were the efforts of Manon, who won each time out and so made her score three wins on end.

There is not a great deal of this filly, but she registered a grand performance in the Plate the first day. She excelled herself on Saturday when she met the same class again, this time-carrying 9.12 instead of 9.0 as on tIW opening day. In heavy going it was thought that this would steady her. It did, but only to the extent that she got up to beat the promising maiden HikO by a mere nose after the latter had what looked like an unassailable lead.

Manon received a great reception, for it was without doubt a sterling effort and a remarkable one for a filly of her inches. Like Rolata, she is small but full of quality. Another first-class effort in the minor grade was that put up by Valeana in the final even', of the meeting. When the mile barrier lifted this daughter of Vaals immediately decided on a wait-and-see policy, so successfully that she was not only last all the way down the back but badly tailed off behind the 15 ahead of her. Valeana did not pick up her nearest opponent until mak ng for the home turn, and then she came fast in the centre of the track to oust Amiens.

Perhaps the performance may best be portrayed by stating that the judge called for a photo before giving the decision to Valeana, yet the celluloid showed a winning margin of a length and a-hnl* which will convey some idea of the rate at which she finshed.

Incidentally, Valeana was No. 5 In the book, and this saddle cloth was most successful over the two days, to the extent that Investments on this number would have seen the original stakes multiplied over ten times. Swift Beau was rather unlucky not to pay a dividend the first day at Avondale, when he was relegated by the judicial committee from th rd to fifth place. Last Saturday >e duly made amends by winning handsomely "rem the pace-m-king Beverley Hills in the hack seven furlongs.

A good type of horse, it has taken "c Pcau a long time to com- to his best. The four-year-old geldc-l Son of Beau Repalre na y be a good horse in handicap events next season, in wh ch class he will have to race in future unless he runs out his nomination at

■'leroa next week. Peer Gynt wns favourite for the .ent won by Swift Bc.au. His backers did not gel even a run for their

noncy. for the Babcrsliah colt whipnod round at barrier-rise and stayed put. He has been very “iffy" at the start in sbn- ■ of his engagements, and this ma; tell against him in fu-