Trophies could return to Chch

Press, 22 November 1989, Page 45

Trophies could return to Chch

By DAVID MCCARTHY Most of the trophies won by the outstanding galloper, Nightmarch, nearly 60 years ago could yet return to Christchurch from Australia.

The Canterbury Jockey Club sent several of the cups won by Nightmarch to Melbourne for auction last week, a move which has provoked criticism from descendants of Nightmarch’s owner, Alf Louisson, who bequeathed the trophies to the club. Nightmarch was a champion New Zealand stayer of the later 1920 s and early 19305. Among his major wins was the 1929 Melbourne Cup, in which he defeated another Riccarton-trained galloper, Paquito and the legendary Phar Lap. The cup was the only item offered at the auction that was sold on the day. It fetched sAust44,ooo from an undisclosed Australian buyer and will remain in that country. The trophy was valued at between sAust4o,ooo and sAust6o,ooo before the auction.

Six other cups failed to meet their reserve at the auction. Their collective estimated value is about sAust2B,ooo. “Negotiations on some items are still continuing. Those not sold privately will probably return here,” said David Lloyd, the chief executive secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club yesterday. “The club is happy with the result of the Melbourne Cup sale. The proceeds will be used in some way to perpetuate the memory of Nightmarch, probably in an area of the new administration stand at present under construction.”

Mr Lloyd is satisfied the club considered all aspects of the sale before proceeding. “The trophies had been in storage for many years and to put them on display was an expensive move,” he said. “Dr Jeff Louisson, a former chairman of the club, was a member of the committee when a unanimous decision was made to sell the trophies after gaining a legal opinion on any such decision being taken.”

Other members of the Louisson family have expressed indignation at the sale of the trophies, believing Alf Louisson bequeathed them to the club on the understanding they would remain the club’s property.