TROTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 13

TROTING

(By "ABAYDOS”) OUR THORPE (2.6 1-5) A FINE RACEHORSE SOME GOOD PROGENY TAIPARE’S GREAT PROMISE Although a great performer on the race track—and holding a mile record of 2.6 1-s— Our Thorpe is not looked upon in many light harness circles as a successful projector of speed and stamina. While the speedy son of O.Y.M.— Lady Thorpe, may not possess a very illuminating record as a getter of big stake earners, he has produced a few high class performers, that have kept his name green in the public memory. Harold Thorpe, Taipare, Joy Bird, Keremai, Homer, Our Patch, Our iNancy, Succession, Thorpie and Carmel are a few that have shown some of the qualities of their sire. A Good Record During his racing career. Our Thorpe was trained and driven by that keen and expert rcinsman, “Sandy” Fleming, for whom he won a number of important races The son of O.Y.M. opened his winning account as a thr**-year-old at Blenheim, where he capture d a double. In his first essay, over twelve furlongs, Our Thorpe won easily, taking over 4 minutes for the journey, bu the young pacer attracted considerable notice two days later at the same rendezvous by registering 3.44 3-5 fur u similar journey. In 1914, as a four-year-old, Our Thorpe won several good races over two miles, recording 4.33 4-5, while before that season closed Fleming’s charge annexed a two mile and a-quarter event in 5.12. Next season the O.Y.M. horse was well in the limelight, winning the Champion Handicap, two miles, at the Canterbury Park summer, and the King George Handicap, run at th*» winter carnival of the same club. The Free for All scalp was added to I’leming’s belt. Our Thorpe putting up the fine run of 2.41 2-5 for ten furlongs. The next year at Canterbury Park he again landed the Champion Handicap, while a mile record was established by the smart pacer of 2.6 1-5 in a go against time. Smart Progeny During the last five seasons descendants of the O.Y.M. horse have won about £15,000 in stake money. Harold Thorpo and Taipare being tbe chief contributors to the total. The former is a good sort of pacer from Play Soon and has won over all distances under varying conditions. Taipare the grey son of Uniform, also has a-good record, and but for meeting with an accident just before Chrictmas would have reached the first flight of pacers before the present season ended. Trainer A. McMullan is doing his best to get the grey horse right again for racing, but is not over-confident about the task. Joy Bird is a speedy mare that can unravel a great burst over sprint

distances in either saddle or harness, while Keremai is another that bids fair to reach a high mark. Our Nancy has a lot of foot and in saddle heats takes a power of beating, while the Epsomtrained Carmel, from Abbess, dam of that Gold Bell pacer. The Abbey, wiU go a long way in the game, and help to make a name for his sire. Nathaniel attracted further attention last week to Our Thorpe by paying a sensational price at Cambridge, where his sire headed the list for the day with three winners, who all returned remunerative figures.