LOOKING BACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 43, 13 November 1937, Page 15

LOOKING BACK

"Hermit.")

HORSES OF NOTE Performances That Linger jn the Memory DOUGLAS AND PEARL

(By

Occasionaliy .a really first-class raceiiorse flashes acrdss the turf horizon and sets racing folk asking : Who is his sire, who is his dara, and what have his relations done on the turf to gain distinction, because we have never heard of them? Of such a horse was Douglas, whidh was bred at Maraekakaho by. the late Sir Doug-las Me-, Jjean,and named after that fine settler and sportsman. As a matter o£ fact, Douglas had a particularly good pedigree, for his sire, Crawford Priory, was by Gang For ward (imp.), from Peradventure, by Adventurer. He was a very fine stamp of horse, and was imported hy the late Sir • Douglas McLean from South Australia, for -the puprpose of tbreeding hacks and hunters of a good stamp, whioh he certainly did. Few of his stock Wero ever raced, as only two or three well-bred mares owned by Sir Douglas were ever mated with him. Good Fruit, dain of Douglas, was one of three mares imported by Sir Douglas McLean, from Ireland, another one being The Tilt, dam of a good hurdler, Frince Gharlie. When Douglas was a four-year-old he eaught ihe eye of the late Mr. G. P. DonneIly3and also of the late Mr. G. E. G. Richardson, and as neither gentleman wanted to beat the other for possession, thoy purchased the horse jointly, on the understanding that he was to go into Mr. Donnelly's stud When his racing days were over. Douglas made a very auspicious debut in big races by annexing the Hawke's Bay ( Jup, 1898, with 7st. 121b. on his back, Later in the . same year he Won the U.J.C. Metropolitan Handieap, carrying 7st, 131b. In • the autumn of the 'sanio racing season he was successful in the Wanganui Cup, with 8st. 41b., won his second Hawke's Bay Cup, under 8st. 131b., and' then put up a penalty and. wdft. • the . Napier Cup, under 9st, 121b. Dougi.as was not represented by «nany on the turf, for he died early, but on looks and breeding he should have got gdod h'orses. Peatl, also, in time found her way into Mt, Q. P. Donnelly's Crissoge stud. One of the handpomest mares to race in New Zealand, and R good one, though not a chaippion was Pearl, who was trained by the. late Mr. Percy Martin, and raced by him, and by another gentleman. Pearl wrs an Australian-bred raare by Bolton Green (son of Bethnal Gi'een — Realisation), and imported to New Zealand along with*her dam Pearl Ash, by Lord Clifden. Among others of Pearl Ash's progeny was Pearl Powder, by Captivator (imp.), who later came to Hawke's Bay, and was, with her half sister, Pearl, in the late Mr. G. PDonnelly's stud. Pearl Shell, hy Musket — Pearly Ash, was taken to Aiistralia as a two-year-old and won the rich •Maribyrnong Plate for Mr. John Marshall. Another daugliter of Musket— Pearl Ash was Industry, who became f amous as the dam of three Melbourne Cup winners, Gaulus, The Grafter and Acrnsia. The Grafter was taken to England and tiiere won the City and Suburban Handieap, one of the big spring handieap • events of the Old Country.