FAMOUS NEARCO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 11

FAMOUS NEARCO

TOP,CHASED FOE .£60,000 WINNER OF FOURTEEN RACES A SPLENDID INDIVIDUAL - The Australian sporting journalist Mr. H. A. Wolfe ("Cardigan"), who recently visited England in company with Mr. Sol Green, has some interesting comments to make regarding the horses, studs and sales he saw during his trip. Concerning his visit to the Eeecli House Stud, "Cardigan" wrote in the Melbourne Herald as follows:

"At the Beech House Stud, near the tiny village of Cheveley, about three miles from Newmarket, I visited 1 royalty'—equine royalty. Nearco has two claims to fame—the first because in his 14 starts in Italy and France he was unbeaten, and secondly, because ho cost his present owner, Mr. Martin Benson, £60,000, which is a record price "paid for any thoroughbred. "Mr. Benson is a millionaire, and a business man, and he states frankly that he will be disappointed if his purchase, in addition to giving him unbounded pleasure, does not prove profitable. Nearco's stud fee in SOOgns., and for the next three years his list is full at that figure. This coming season he .will be mated with 14 mares—his owner does not believe in overtaxing a young horse at his first season—the 'following year he will have 25 mates, and probably a few more in 1941. "It is estimated that at the close of the 1941 breeding season Mr. Benson will have received more than £30,000 in stud fees, and if Nearco's first crop of two-year-olds shows promise, then by the time he is eight, even at £60,000, he should be a profitable purchase. Never Extended "The nominations taken for Nearco for the next three years are from the leading breeders of England, France and Italy. They believe that Nearco will be a success at the stud, and after inspecting him one can understand their enthusiasm for this magnificent horse, who, according to his record and from eye-witnesses, was never extended to win his 14 races.

"He is four years old, stands 18 hands high, and has the frame of an older horse. His immense power is manifest, immediately his groom leads him away, so that one can see the swing of liis splendid quarters arid the power of his thighs and hocks. In colour Nearco is a rich brown, that beautiful nut brown with the dapples showing through a slightly darker colour.

''Nearco's box is magnificent— cosy for the bitter winter weather, yet it would be cool in the summer. Handy there is a special paddock for him with a specially built high fence evened off so that he cannot hurt himself when he gallops and plays. And in the paddock is lush grass with English clover peeping through and every day the paddock is cledned and treated to keep it sweet and pleasant.' J" \j "Before one reaches Nearco's box at Beech House, _ there is a row of boxes for the visiting mares—boxes which must have cost a fortune and make every breeder and horseman envious. The visiting mares and the lavish appointments for them are separate from Mr. Benson's own stud, which is on the other side of the manor house. Never has so much money been lavished on any stud'anywhere. Windsor Lad Tragedy "B ; uti in spite of the joy of seeing Nearco, there is a hint of. tragedy .about the place because Windsor Lad, who won the Derby in 1936, and the St. Leger and other races for Mr. Martin Benson after he had purchased him from the Rajah of ltajpipla for £50,000, is go ill that little hope is held out for his recovery. It is a tragedy, for Windsor Lad is generally regarded in England as the best horse of the century. Windsor Lad won many races for Mr. Benson, and for the Leger he took the huge bet of £20,000 to £IO,OOO in one hand about his winning. "Mr. Benson told me the day I visited Beech House that when Windsor ■ Lad walked on to his property to go •to the stud, his cost had been reduced to about £16,000 because of prize-money and bets won. Martin Benson is a remarkable man. He founded the firm of Douglas Stuart, perhaps the bestknown bookmaking business in the world. By clever advertising and use of the slogan "Duggie Never Owes," he quickly made a fortune. He has now retired from active participation with the' firm.

"The story of Nearco's purchase from Captain Fcderico Tesio, the Italian racing man and studmaster, is almost comic if it did not have its semi-tragic side. After Nearco had won the Gran Premio di Milano of 15 furlongs by many lengths, and added 350,000 lire to ■ his winnings, making his Italian winnings mora than one million lire, he was sent to Paris to run in the Grand Prix. Now, the journey from Milan to Paris for a passenger is not at all distressing', but it is different for a horso. and Nearco took nearly three days for the trip. ; ■

Nearco Cantered In "Far from being knocked out, Nearco cantered m with his Italian ,jockey riding him liko a cavalry trooped. He . won 1,152,800 francs for his win in Paris, and with Bois Roussell (English Derby), Feerie (French Gno Thousand' Guineas and Oak's),Cillas (French Derby), Castel Fusano (Priy Macham and Prix Lupin), and Legend of France (hitherto unbeaten.) behind him, it will bo seen that his victory was not an empty one. "Immediately after his Grand Prix win, negotiations began for his sale. The British Bloodstock Agency were the agents, and to Mr. E. E. Coussell must be given the credit of making the deal. Captain Tesio was willing to soil at a price, and he quoted £60,000, and Mr. Coussell asked for a week's option. Tn the meantime, Captain Tesio had returned to Italy to obtain permission to sell from Mussolini, who seemingly takes an interest in the money 1 which Italians happen to win outside of Italy as Well as in that country., •> .'k V"- , "In the meantime, Miss Dorothy . Paget entered the contest for Nearco, and through her trainer, Frank Butters, made an-'offer —it is said to have been £60,000 —to the Marches© Incisa, who is Captain Tesio's partner in breeding and racing, and owned a share of Nearco. The, Marches© Incisa, not knowing that his partner had given Coussell an option, practically closedthe deal, but, when hurried telephone calls were put through to Tesio at Milan, he simply said to Coussell, 'You have a week's option on the horse, and tho week is not yet up, so l am -not interested in any offers from other people.'" " ' ; 1

G. CAMERON RIDES WELL FOUR WINS IN FIVE MOUNTS - '■• '• ! - - ! The Auckland jockey G. Cameron rode Well at the Rotorua Racing Club's meeting, where in five -mounts \he steered four winners and a second. Owing to increasing weight Cameron has not received the opportunities his ability deserves in the past 12 months, but he is riding well and, as nothing succeeds like success, his services are likely to bo more sought after at the coming meetings.