 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1954
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1954 NZ OAKS
The Hawera filly, Earl Marie, confirmed her favouritism in the New Zealand Oaks when she responded gamely to vigourous driving in the straight to win by a length.
Lady Val and Phil's Jewel were slow to move, and Dresden Lady was first to show out, closely followed by Earl Marie and Malabella. At the end of three furlongs Light Nurse joined Dresden Lady in the lead, and this pair led Earl Marie, Mara Maru, Malabella and White Empress out of the straight for the first time. Racing down the back straight, Earl Marie moved out one sulky, and Malabella improved her position on the rails to be close in behind Dresden Lady.
At the straight entrance Dresden Lady and Light Nurse were still showing the way, with Earl Marie and Malabella in close attendance. Then came White Empress and Mara Maru, in front of Sierra Madre and Lady Val, who has shown speed to make up her lost ground. Inside the last furlong M Holmes pulled Earl Marie out, and she quickly took over and held off the strong late challenge of Malabella by a length. Sierra Madre finished fast for third place, but Light Nurse weakened slightly over the last furlong, being fourth to finish. Next to finish were Lady Val, White Empress and Dresden Lady at intervals.
The success of Earl Marie was a smart effort and her time of 3:16 4-5 is only 2-5sec slower than Perpetua's record for the race. Malabella may have made it more difficult for the winner had she been able to work clear sooner in the run home. She received a good run all the way. Sierra Madre was not well placed early and finished very fast to cut Light Nurse out of third money. Light Nurse had a good passage all the way but had had enough at the finish. Lady Val lost a big stretch of ground at the start and her effort to finish fifth was a smart one. She would only need to overcome her nervousness at the barrier to develop good winning form. After being resonsible for most of the pace, Dresden Lady tired badly after turning for home and was one of the last to finish.
Earl Marie is a chestnut filly by Robert Earl, a son of Wrack (imp), leading sire of the Dominion in the 1932-33, 1933-34 and 1934-35 seasons, and who left champions in both gaits, including the winners of five NZ Cups - Wrackler (1930), Indianapolis (1934, 35 & 36), and Bronze Eagle (1944). Robert Earl's dam, Ivy Pointer, was got by Logan Pointer (imp), fron Ivy Dean, by Wildwood (imp) from Wild Rose, by Childe Harold (imp). Logan Pointer, Wildwood and Childe Harold (Australia) were all leading sires in their day. Robert Earl sired a good winner of a few years ago in Stuart Earl, 2:37 1-5, who won 10 races. Among Robert Earl's other winners have been Robie, Direct Earl, Patrick Earl, Earl Pine, Baby Earl and Nero.
Nancy Potts, dam of Earl Marie, was a useful winner. She is by imported Jack Potts (leading sire for nine consecutive seasons up till 1945-46), from Tamahine, a good trotting winner by Nelson Bingen (imp), leading sire in the 1928-29 and 1929-30 seasons. Tamahine's dam Heketara, was a daughter of Perereta (imp), a leading sire of trotters over a long period up till the late 1920's, and Heketara was out of Muricata, a great trotter by Mauritius (imp) from Ocean Wave, another high-class trotter, and a daughter of Rothschild, leading sire of the Dominion for many seasons up till 1915-16. Ocean Wave was out of Ripple, by Fleur de Lis, a thoroughbred horse by Operator from Flora McIvor, ancestress of many famous gallopers - Trenton, Nightmarch, High Caste, Silver Ring, Silver Scorn, Chide and Beauford, to mention a few. Muricata became a great matron, her progeny including Ahuriri (twice winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup), and Taraire, a Cup horse in New Zealand and later a champion in West Australia, where he won an Australasian championship.
Earl Marie was bred by her owner, Mr A J Corrigan, a member of the Executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 8Dec54