OTAKI,S IRON HORSE

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1946, Page 2

OTAKI,S IRON HORSE

FIRST ACRE RECALLED Sports of a few horse yea'rs back will remember the history of Mr. Doug. Webster's First Acre, known as the "Iron Horse," and which made many trips from Otaki t'o Sydney, racing there with great success. ' Lord Barwon, who has been racing successfully in Australia, is a grandson of First. Acre's sire. By the imported horse, Foxbridge, from Ann Acre, Lord Barwon is a grandson of First Acre's sire. If the colt wins half as many races as his far-distant relative he will pay his way. If he is as hardy he may still be racing in the late 1950's. First Acre first sported silk a's a two-year-old in April, 1925, at Manawatu, and he wound up his career as a 10-year-old winning' at his second last start at Ascot (N.S.W. Australia) on April 13. 1933. During his turf career the "Iron Horse" started in 126 events for 17 wins and numerous placings. He won races under all kinds of weights and in all sorts of wea•her. He was a plain type of gelding who always looked as though he Aould do with a good brushing ciown. He was as tough as he was :ough-looking and as honest as the >un. As a three-year-old First Arce had 13 starts for one win at Wanganui, and as a four-year-old he ■itarted in 12 races for one win/ He had his busiest season as a nve-year-old when he had 26 rims for three wins. Some horses do not have 26 runs throughout their career. It was in this season that Webster's gelding opened this winning account in Australia by taking a Flying Handicap at Rosehill. As a six-year-old the "Iron Horse" was saddled up 11 times for two wins, and as a seven-year-jld he was stepped out on 14 occa--;ions for two wins. One of these wins was in the last race at Randwick on the day hat Nightmarch won the Spring Handicap, beating another New Zealander, Paquito. This was also the day that Mollison downod Phar Lap ^ in the Chelmsfoi'd Stakes. His othcr win was in the last race on the day that Loquacious defeated Nightmarch in the Metropolitan. The old joker (he was now eight) had a busy time the following seavson goihg" to 1 the' barrier 23 times for four wins. One of these wins was in the V.R.C. Handicap at flemington, the day Phar Lap won '■he Melbourne Cup. As a nine-year-old First Acreoounced out like a youngster to .vin in great stylc at his first start. Te had 16 more outings that season for two more wins. -The followng season he was retired. Carbine as "Old Jack." Rogilla as 'Tlie Red Terror." and Ajax as 'The Mighty," were all aptly nicklamed. But the cap that seemed to fit best of all was that applied o the angular bay from the Shaky bsl^s . . . "The Iron Horse." First Acre reallv earned the namc.