Merrydowns sold to Australia

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 8

Merrydowns sold to Australia

Merrydowns will do his future racing in Australia. The five-year-old entire has been sold to clients of T. R. Howes Morninigton stable in Melbourne.

Merrydowns, a minor place-getter in two of his three starts at the Grand National meeting, will, subject to passing a veterinary test, be flown to Melbourne on September 4.

Although Merrydowns has not made a big impact on the racing scene yet he did make; news two years ago when, as, an un-named three-year-old i colt by the defunct Chelandryl Stud sire. Kurdistan, from the! Bellborough mare, Belinda’s: Flight, he changed hands atj the fifth South Island Blood-! stock Sale for $10,500.

At the time Merrydowns,: 'which was bred by Mr D. H. Robertson, of Gore, must! have seemed to Mr W. E. Hazlett to be worth every' -cent he paid for him for he! was by the Hazlett-owned: ! stud’s most versatile sire] and was from an impeccable family on his distaff side. The handsome grey colt’s: — — —_—.

close relations included; Castle Flight, whose 14 wins) included the Hazlett Gold Cup (twice), and the classic winners. Dixie and Winnipeg! IT. This is the family which’ traces back to the grand producer. Francolin. Although Merrydowns has; a long way to go before he can be rated in the same, class as some of his distin-i guished relatives he has cer-l tainly earned top marks fori trying. Since he won his first! race — the Glengarry Trial 1 at the Southland meeting at] Invercargill in January — he has been placed in eight of his 13 starts. The sale of Merrydowns I was negotiated by Mr P. J., Kelly, bloodstock manager of' Wrightson N.M.A., Ltd,; Palmerston North.