Greek Meer proving cheap buy

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 28

Greek Meer proving cheap buy

special correspondent Auckland An early owner of Greek Meer was given further cause at Avondale on Saturday to bemoan his having had second thoughts about retaining him. The first owner, whoever he was, had Greek Meer bought on his behalf at the Trentham Yearling Sale for $7250. But evidently unhappy with his purchase, and not even having raced the horse, he virtually gave him away. All that a Stratford owner Mr Jim Young, had to outlay to get him, as a two-year-old at a Waikato Sale, was $4OO.

Meanwhile, Greek Meer has proved one of the hardiest winter gallopers of the North Island’s Central Districts. The win in the New Zealand Handicap at Avondale was his eighth, all told, and doubled his stake earnings to a bit more than $40,000. Though now rising seven years old, Greek Meer had only once before this, tried a distance further than 1600 m, when back midfield of 14 in the 2000 m Woodville Cup in November. In fairness, though, that was on much firmer ground than he prefers. There is sufficient in his pedigree to suggest he might eventually stay pretty well as he did to take Saturday’s 2200 m in the most testing conditions from Deb’s Mate, Campaigner and the others. A chestnut, he was bred by Adios II from Rose Meer, an unraced sister to Quite Able, which ran the longer distances so well, and the dam of Summerosa, which included a Waikato Cup in her successes. Going freely through the very heavy ground, which bogged so many of his opponents, Greek Meer led all way in the New Zealand Handicap, shadowed first by Campaigner from the 1600 m, then joined as well by Deb’s Mate and run close by Little Vic as they came into the last 300 m. For a time Greek Meer seemed about to give way to Deb’s Mate, which came up so determinedly on his outside. But near the finish Deb’s Mate found the task of giving Greek Meer 9kg just beyond him, the other horse kicking on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Campaigner and Little Vic fell away and were all but joined at the post by Another Phenomenon (fifth). Bridge Player came next, after a gap, with Grey Wings, and there was a further length or two to Cullimore. Cullimore, which has often proved so adept in such going, was never close enough to be a threat. Tredici, an Awapuni gelding with a big reputation, failed to manage the conditions and came in with the tailenders.

Greek Meer gave Jack Taylor, of Stratford, a notable double. The same trainer won last year’s race with Spring Moss. It was a real regret of Greek Meer’s 78-year-old owner that his trainer could not be with him at Avondale. Taylor had to attend Hastings with others from his stable.

Nobody could begrudge Mr Taylor his success with Greek Meer, even if the horse was at odds of nearly 40 to one. The Stratford owner has been in racing for 50 years, training his own to start with, and he has given long service, also, as a committeeman of the Stratford Racing Club.

Greek Meer’s rider on this occasion was 19-year-old David Johnson, an apprentice in Brian Deacon’s stable at Takanini. It was Johnson’s biggest win and his nineteenth altogether. David Peake, by way of contrast, notched his 113 th win for this season when he brought Sparkling . Time, a warm favourite, home in front of nine opponents in the second leg, the Sprint Handicap. Peake went throught the Rotorua meeting on Friday unsuccessful, but had three firsts at Avondale, on El Doon and Troussina as well as on Sparkling Time. A model of consistency and only twice unplaced in his last 10 starts, Sparkling Time looked under some pressure to reach the pacemaker, Tamatoa, around the home turn in the Avondale race. But he mastered the other horse halfway down the home straight and kept on to score by two lengths from Deino’s Ruler, which put in a battling late run. From 16 starts, Sparkling Time has now had six wins and seven minor placings.