RACING Nerula Probably Stems From Grudge Race

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 4

RACING Nerula Probably Stems From Grudge Race

“The TrvM" Spwtal ItaMce MATAMATA, November 14. Nerula, New Zealand’s top racehorse, almost certainly owes his existence to the grudge of a hotel-keeper against a magistrate.

Although the Rotorua-owned entire is not in the stud book, research into his pedigree has. been going on since he was two, and all the evidence points to his tracing to Sharkie. Thereby hangs a tale.

In Wellington’s early days, about 1844, the resident magistrate was Mr St. Hill, then one of th® capital’s leading racing owners. A publican named Bobby Jenkins was taken before him and Mr H. St, Hill was rather scathing in’ his comments.

Jenkins swore to be evra on the magistrate the way it would hurt most, in honourable turf combat. He sent to New South Wales for “something extra good” and a long low-set bay came over. She was given to Joe Grimaldi, son of the famous clown of that name, to train. When asked her name Grimaldi said: “What’s that to you?” When she raced “What’s That To You” beat Mr St. Hill’s Camilla and gave Jenkins his revenge. Later the mare was mated with the imported stallion Riddlesworth, and produced a mare called Sharkie. Old turf authorities say the mare had other foals which founded families that won many races but were never registered.

The Black Demon Sharkie’s story is known. Her daughter Bayleaf produced Laurel, dam of Advance, know as the Black Demon and the best horse up to that time in New Zealand. He won three races at an autumn meeting at Ellerslie, a Wellington Cup, the Wanganui Cup when it was one of the country’s main races, and the Dunedin Cup straight after it in spite of the sea journey. Nerula has been traced back to a mare called White Legs, purchased by Mr Alexander Glasgow about 1886. She was always con-

ridered thoroughbred by the family and was obtained from the breed of Mr Donald Fraser, owner and breeder of Advance. She was by Papapa from a mare by Day Dawn, from a mare by Don Juan, from a mare by Ravensworth from Laurel, pot the dam of Advance, but a stoter to Bey Leaf, Advance’s grand-dam. The older Laurel was owned by Dr. Muasen. Volume 9 of Netan’s Stud Book, the authority before the conference issued the New Zealand Stud Book, says Laurel was covered by Ravensworth in 1874, but returns for the mare are incomplete.

It seems certain Nerula would be in the stud book had returns been made for his family years ago. But in or out he can outrun and outstay most that are termed blue blooded. And all the horses mentioned stem from a mare trained by the son of

a clown for a publican whose purpose in bringing, her to this country was to work out a grudge against a magistrate.

Hunted Now At Wingatui “Ths Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, Nov. 14. Hunted has Joined J. W. Pankhurst's Wingatui stable to be prepared for a jumping career. He will do his future racing for Mr R. C. Idiens, of Christchurch. Hunted was bred by Mr J. B. Douglas-Clifford, for whom he showed fair form. He dead-heated with Mary Tee in a hack sprint at Geraldine in September, and has since recorded two seconds in open class—to Gabelle at Rangiora and Hopeful at Motukarara.