| HORSES |
YEAR: 1951
 |
Pearldchild was one of the greatest producers in the stud book. 10 of her 12 foals being winners, viz, Childe Pointer, Verey Light, Sea Pearl, Nantwich, Cornelian, First Wrack, Flying Cloud, Ciro, Vanity Fair and Casanova.
Pearlchild, foaled in 1908, was by Rothschild from the Vancleve mare Verity, who came from New South Wales. Pearlchild was a high-class pacer in the colours of Mr H F Nicoll, for whom she was trained by A Pringle. She won her only two starts as a 3-year-old, and in later seasons won the Metropolitan August Handicap and National Cup.
At the stud she was an immediate success. Her first foal, Childe Pointer, by Logan Pointer, won the NZ Sapling Stakes and NZ Derby Stakes and trained on to win important handicap races. Pearlchild's fourth foal Sea Pearl (by Nelson Bingen)also went through to good handicap class. Nantwich, full-sister to Sea Pearl, won the NZ Sapling Stakes, Great Northern Derby and other races.
Pearlchild's eighth foal was First Wrack, a champion 2-year-old trotting filly. She finished third in a maiden race at Ashburton at that tender age and although beaten by Koro Peter, another great 2-year-old trotter, in a special match race at Auckland, she acquitted herself well. J S Shaw, who drove Koro Peter in that match race, which created Dominion-wide interest, held a very high opinion of First Wrack. In speaking of the match race between these good youngsters he said: "These 2-year-olds were the only troters of their age to have shown any form for many years. In fact, it is the exception rather than the rule, even up to the present day, for a 2-year-old trotter to race, let alone perform with any degree of success."
The match race, run over a mile and a quarter, took place in June, 1928. Shaw relates: "It was a terrible day. The going was fetlock deep in slush, and the two horses had to frighten thousands of seagulls off the track as they went along. These birds frightened First Wrack more than they did Koro Peter, and Koro Peter managed to win after a great struggle all the way up the straight. After the match Koro Peter was sold to Mr G McMillan for £1000 and entered R B Berry's stable, from which he had a lot of success. First Wrack also reached the top flight of trotters."
Ciro, a full-brother to First Wrack, was a NZ Derby winner, and Casanova, a brilliant though erratic pacer, ranking as a full-brother to First Wrack, has sired a number of winners, including the top-class trotter in Casabianca.
Nicoya, a son of Wrack and the unraced Pearl Pointer (Logan Pointer-Pearlchild), was one of the greatest bargains in the history of the sport. An un-gainly youngster, he was described by a trainer at the ringside as a big, soft-legged, carty type who "might be useful in the harrows." The great majority who saw him sold evidently subscribed to this opinion, because Nicoya was knocked down to a West Coast sportsman at 4½gns. When he eventually came into the ownership of Mr J Manera, and was handed over to L F Berkett to train, Nocoya became a star among our best handicap trotters, and finished up by beating Huon Voyage in the Champion Handicap, one mile and a half. The 4½ quinea cast-off was one of the greatest trotters produced in this country. It is certain that the best of him was never seen.
Kempton, who was by Nelson Bingen from Pearl Pointer, was one of the best trotters of his day. Owned by Mrs E A Berryman and trained by C S Donald, he won in the best trotting company, his successes include the Rowe Cup and Metropolitan Stewards' Handicap.
White Satin, a full-sister to Nicoya, was trained by the late R B Berry to become the champion 3-year-old trotting filly of her day, and her mile and a half record stood for some years. She also reached the top flight of trotters, in the comparatively short span of two seasons, as she was retired as a 5-year-old, being a winner at her last start. She went to Australia where she has been a big success at the stud.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar16May51