GREAT JEWEL TOP

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 5, 5 July 1940, Page 11

GREAT JEWEL TOP

LIST OF WINNING HORSES

(By "Ariki Toa.")

For the second year in succession an Auckland-owned pacer has headed the list of winning horses in the X)o----minion, the honour on this occasion going to Great Jewel with £3000. He is raced in the colours of Mr. D. Brideson, but is now trained in Canterbury by R. B. Berry. Last season King's Play topped the list witb £2780.

Great Jewel won his first race in Auckland as a' three-year-old in the 1936-37 season, after having previously finished third behind Valdor and Ken worthy in the Great Northern Derby. At this stage he was trained by J. T. Paul, who, after winning two further races with the gelding, returned him to his owner. Later he was taken over by W. Dyer, for whom he showed distinct signs of latent staying ability by winning the Thames Trotting- Cup. Three years ago he was sent south to R. B. Berry, but at this time Great Jewel was an unsound horse, and it was not for some considerable time that he could be raced. However, it was not long before he commenced to prove his true worth, and this term he had a meteoric rise to the best clesses. He opened the season by annexing the Wilford Memorial at Hutt Park last September, and at Oamaru on Labour Day he scored in the Electric Handicap, 1£ miles, registering 2min 41sec. It was at the New Zealand Cup Meeting last year that he rose to great heights, winning the Hagley Handicap, 1£ miles, in 2min 41 l'-ssec, and the Lelievre Handicap, 2 miles, in 4min 17 l-ssec. On the final day he lost a lot of ground at the start of the Louisson Handicap and then finished a close third to run the mile and a half in 3min 13 l-ssec. Other meritorious efforts were in winning the Mace Memorial at New Brighton, the Mason Stakes at Addington, the Dunedin Trotting Cup at Forbury, and the Centennial Handicap at ■ Hutt ■ Park. In all, his, last 19 starts have yielded eight firsts, three seconds, and three thirds. Great Jewel was bred by his owner, Mr. D. Brideson, who purchased his, sire, Jewel Pointer, for stud purposes, but won several races with him before retirement. Jewel Pointer, is one of the few sons of Logan Pointer at the stud, but he has proved his worth by siring many winners, among whom are Sandusky, Our Jewel, Isabella Pointer, Musketeer, Forest Jewel, Kewpie's Jewel, Young Parry, Petite Jewel, Sweet Aloes, and Diamond Trust, the last-named annexing the Great Northern Trotting Stakes at his only appearance.

Mr. Brideson raced Great Jewel's dam Harvest Home, but* she only won one race. She is an Australian-bred mare by an Abdallah colt from a Huon Cleve mare. Although not a success as a racing proposition She has proved an excellent brood mare, and of her progeny only Real Jewel has yet to win a race. Her other gets are Guid Hairst, Great Chum, Great Jewel, and Musketeer. • « The performances of Great Jewel have placed him in the first flight of New Zealand pacers,' and he is expected to play a prominent part in the decision of the New Zealand Trotting Cup in TMbvember.

V Defoe, who was transferred from Ohau to Trentham this week, is now. at the Brentwood Farm establishment owned by T. R. George. As Croupier is also there, Defoe may be sent to George's other property at Masterton in the spring to do his next season at the stud in the Wairarapa. He has never looked better than he does this winter, which is a tribute to the care bestowed on him during his five seasons at Ohau.