MERRY MINT’S OWNER OPTIMISTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 6

MERRY MINT’S OWNER OPTIMISTIC

RECKONS CATMINT GELDING WILL STAY THE DERBY COURSE

TO RUN GREAT NORTHERN DERBY TOO

Mr. L. G. Clare, who owns Merry Mint, can be reckoned a lucky man. Albeit a plucky one, as he gave a good price for Merry Mint. Many a man has spent thousands in yearlings trying to buy a Derby winner, happy if he is fortunate enough now and then to get hold of a first-class colt that is able to make a hold bid for a blue riband, even if it cannot quite win.

The owner of Merry Mint is lucky enough to hav? got hold of a Derby proposition at his first real try for one, comments a writer in the Sydney "Sun.”

So suddenly did Merry Mint come to the front that Australians know much less about him than of their own three-year-olds, and it was. therefore, interesting to chat immediately on arrival with his owner about the gelding’s earlier days. HOPES FOR DERBY

No one admits more readily than Mr. Clare his luck in having no Royal Feast to face. He realises that Winalot and others have to be reckoned with, but is quietly confident that his gelding will do the trick. Mr. Clare, who reached Sydney this week, is a shipowner and coal merchant, who has raced a few horses without much luck. Chatting one day over a cheering glass with his friend, Mr. F. Hall, who breeds a few horses. Mr. Clare remarked, “You have sold me some that have not won many races. What about letting me have one that will win?”

“Very well.” rejoined Mr. Hall. “What are you after? ’ AT A THOUSAND

“I was thinking of that Catmint colt, out of Merry Roe that you have up at Auckland,” said Mr. Clare, and with little chaffing the youngster became his for 1,000 guineas. That was in October, 1925, when the colt had only just turned 12 months old. His new owner had not seen him, and did not even have him inspected. Mr. Hall’s word that he was thoroughly sound was enough for him.

“Why I bought him,” said Mr. Clare, “was because the dam won 12 or 15 races over distances from the five furlongs of the Avondale Stakes as a two-year-old to the Trentham Gold Cup of two miles. I wanted a stayer, and I reckoned that a well-grown colt by Catmint, a. grandson of Carbine, from a mare by Soult, with Merry Roe’s performances, should fill the bill. “I left Merry Mint at Auckland, 400 miles away from my home in the south, until March, when I gave him to H. Hickey to train with a couple of other horses of mine at Hastings. IN OPEN COMPANY

. “The youngster’s first race was in the Maiden Stakes at Dannevirke in September, and he was the only two-year-old in a field of older horses — you know we start our two-year-olds in open company earlier than you do in Australia. When he won pulling up in mud that was nearly fetlock deep, I was convinced that I had a good one, even though he did not have anything of much account behind him. That was the first day I had any Derby ideas about him. “His next race was in the Avondale Stakes (which his mother had won), but he had a very, rough 400-mile boat trip, caught a cold, then drew 18 marble, and did well to finish fifth At his next start he was fourth, and in the following one second in the five furlong Roseneath Stakes at Wellington. At first the judge placed him fourth, but the crowd made such a noise that he altered him to second. SEEDY TOE

“Then Merry Mint went sore, and after he had had an unplaced run we found that he had a seedy toe (rotting hoof), and half the hoof had to be cut away. “That was really a blessing in disguise, as it meant a nine months’ spell, during which he filled out and grew splendidly. As you know we gave him a race before he left for Sydney, and in an open company Trial Plate at Wellington he was beaten a neck in a field of 23. SPLENDID DISPOSITION “It is only fair to trainer Hickey to say that Cameron had nothing to do with him until a few days before he started his journey to Australia. He has, however, done splendidly with him since, and I was the most delighted man in New Zealand the night I heard ‘The Sun’s* s.pprting expert tell us on the wireless that he was such a good thing for Moorefield.” The three-year-old does so well in his box that when he lies down contentedly after his meal, his attendants may safely walk all round and practically all over him. Naturally, Mr. Clare is pleased that the gelding is a wonderful doer at his manger, and of a most contented disposition. “IE he were not,” says his owner, “he would not, after the terribly rough :rip across, have been able to win at Moorefield a fortnight after he had landed.” HE WILL STAY Like so many stayers, Merry Mint is a lazy customer. That he will stay, Mr. Clare hasn’t a shadow of doubt, in fact he thinks “the farther the race the better l:e will like it.” By the way, although not quite so gigantic as Royal Feast, the New Zealander is a big chap, as he stands over 16 hands high. Merry Mint’s programme is to run in the A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies and the Melbourne Cup. E. Bartle will ride him in the classics, and probably in the Cup, too, if the gelding is able to win one of the blue ribands so that he will have to carry 7.6 instead of the 6.12 the handicapper gave him. Afterwards, he will be returned to New' Zealand to run in the Northern Derby at Auckland, then given a brief spell before he is sent to Australia again for ::he autumn races. MEETINGS TO COME October l.—Hawke's Bay J.C. October s.— Manawatu Hunt Club October 6.—Kurow J.C. October 7-B.—Otakl-Maorl R.C. October 8-10.—Oaraaru J.C. October 8-10.—Auckland R.C. October 13-15.—Dunedin J.C. October 15.—Carterton R.C. October t 9-20 —Cromwell J.C. October 22 2« Wellington R.C. October 21, 22.—Waikato R.C.

October 24.—Waikato Hunt October 24.—Waverles B.C. October 24-26 —Gore RCOctober 24. —Waipama R-L. g.c. October 24.—North Canterbury *- October 27-29. poverty Bay taOctober 29 —Maaterton ILL- _ c October 29 —Bank• Peninsula October 23-31—Thanes J CNovember 2. — Birchwrood Hu- j.c. November 5-7-9-12 -—Canterb November 10-12. Whangarel *• November 16-17. —* November 19.—Levir B.C. November 23. — November 26-28.—Ts:kaP** n * phjjiag November 30, Decenit-er December 2-3.—South Cant«*'x® ry December 7-B.—WoodviU* December 10-12 —Ts.umarunui xv December 17.— Waipa EU~ c December 26-27 Dued December 26.—Waipukura® v, December 26-27.—Westland December 26-27 —Taranaki rC . December 26-27-29.—Majawatu jj nd yC. December 26-28, Jar. 2-3 —Auc j.cDecember 30-31, Jar. JU' December 31. Jan. 2. —WairaraP* January 2.—Waikouaiti HtC. January 2.—Wyndhfjn KtJanuary 2-S —Hawke’s Bay January 2-3 —Stratford R.L. January 2-3 Marten J.c. _