Mercedes expected shortly

Press, 30 August 1979, Page 20

Mercedes expected shortly

Special correspondent Auckland Mercedes, a son of America’s leading sire, Meadow Skipper, will shortly join Berry Hanover and Perfector Hanover in service at ;the Nandina Stud at Pukekohe. . He has almost completed a period of quarantine in Britain and Mr O. E. Hooper said yesterday it was hoped to have the horse flown to New Zealand next week. Mr Hooper and his son, Richard, are co-studmasters at Nandina. Mercedes was injured as a youngster and did little racing. Even so, he went Imin 59.4 s as a two-year-old. His dam, Keystone Memento, was one of the best racemares of her time, winning $221,725 and going Imin 59.2 s as a three-year-old. Keys! me Memento, by Bye Bye Byrd, from Meadow Julia, won 27 races. A brother 1 of Mercedes is Windshield Wiper, which went Imin 53.4 s as a three-year-old. Only one other horse of this age, Falcon Almahurst (Imin 52.45) has bettered this time. The Hoopers, who were formerly at Rakaia, will have a sizable racing team as well as the stud operation.

At present they have six horses in work, most of[ [ them three-year-olds. It is unlikely, however, : that their best-performed horse. Marble Arch, will re- ■ join the active list until the end of the year. Marble Arch showed exceptional promise as a two-year-old two seasons ago when he won three races. He was shaping very well last season until in his fourth start he broke a pedal bone at Addington. The injury has responded well to treatment, but the Hoopers did not want to take any risks with him and they are in no hurry to put him back into work.

Among the horses they are working is a brother of Marble Arch (Armbro DelMorano’s Treasure). Named Royal Viking, he is a five-year-old gelding and is a qualified maiden. The others include Radical, a half-brother, by Noodluffl, to Marble Arch. He is coming along nicely and will the ready in about a month | for a run at the Sunday I workouts at Pukekohe. i