ZIMMERMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 53

ZIMMERMAN.

Zimnverman's successes at the" Auckland Cup meeting remove • from the Birkenhead' tribe the stigma of softness which was gathering round them. When they first, made their- appearance on -the turf theyr were lauded for their conformation, anfc later for their brilliancy. Later on , came V Zimmerman's successes in. the Auckland andt Canterbury classics, and they "were Followed! by a' failure in the Canterbury Cup. * .Al few stones of hostile criticism grew into ,a" fusilade, and few were inclined to regard* ■ them as journey horses. Now^ the cold air J of the adverse critics will cnange ,tt> the,! hot air of the .flatterer, ".but neither will! effect change in the merit of, Birkenhead! as a sire. The son of Orme has made, his , mark, dospite the fact that he, has been; almost ontirely restricted to mares belonging to Karamu stud, and in this respect resembles Clanranald. who has served very, few public mares during a fairly lengthy, etud career. Multiform proved he can sire the best, but he is -another of restricted? opportunity. If «the trio 'of horses mentioned had more public mares of 'approved and suitable breeding the result would be that each of them would, no doubt, stand much' higher in the estimation of breeders than they do at present. It is, pleasing to s'eo' that a.n old Danedinite xn Stewart Wad<iell stuck 'to his guns, and ongaged_ Zimmerman in -journey races whilst public opinion' was dead against such a procedure. Since Waddell left Dunedin to oily his fortunes with the Hon. J. D. Ormond r s cerise jacket? he has achieved considerable success with' the horses he has had under his charge, and ho has given ample proof that when, the quality of the horses i 3 right he lands them at the post fit to play their partf either across the flat or over the obstacles. If Zimmerman were- in England it would be held by the majority of the crilios -tha( the strength of his pedigree lav in th< fact that it carries the Flying Dutchman strain, on both sides of the house, whilst further than, that it contains the Stockwelj strain through its most successful line 0,l Bend Or— Ormonde — Orme. And then by way of further strength comes infusions ol Galopin. Isonomy, Musket, and Fisherman,; It would appear that when his owner i^ content to retire Zimm'eftnan from thaturf ,he should do well at the stud, as Jn" addition to a fine rsedigree he possessed a commanding individuality that makes him fill the eye as a racehorse.