ROMANCE OF THE SEASON

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 11

ROMANCE OF THE SEASON

IMPERIAL FAME’S QUICK CHANGE.

MAIDEN AT EIGHT YEARS OLD.

One of the romances of the present season in this part of the North Island, writes Rangitira in the Wellington Post, is the astonishing burst into the limelight made by an eight-year-old maiden performer, Imperial Fame, whose victory at Hastings on April 2 (worth £B5 to the winner) even removed him from hack ranks also. Competing at meetings where stakes have been the lowest for perhaps 20 years he has won £6Bo in firsts and minor placings, and of this sum £5BO has been earned in his nine successes. The present season has not been the first in which Imperial Fame has raced. A a a five-year-old in the 1928-29 season he was produced on 20 occasions, being once second and three times third, and earning £55 in stakes. He then carried the colours of the Hawke’s Bay sportsman, Mr. F. Armstrong. The 1928-29 season was the only term that he appeared prior to the present season. He is a brown gelding by Crown Imperial IL, an imported horse by Martagon (sire also of Martian), from Miss Renown, a mare by Renown (son of Dreadnought) bred by Sir George Hunter, but never raced. Other progeny of Miss Renown have been Mystico (1917, by Mystification), Imperial Coin (1924, by Crown Imperial II.) and Waiata (aged when registered, also by Crown Imperial'll.). Imperial Fame has had many changes of owners. R. Gooseman originally obtained him from his breeder, and registered his name. Gooseman sold him to Mr. Armstrong, who, after racing him for a season, handed him back to Gooseman. The latter resold him to Mrs. P. Holman, who in turn passed him on to her husband. Air. Holman sent him to F. J. Corlett at the end of last season to prepare for racing again. His first appearance this term was at Napier Park in the spring, when he was unplaced in a hack seven. A fortnight later at Waipawa he was third to Monarchy and Psychologist in a novice race, then ran unplaced in a mile highweight at Hastings, the winner being. Nea Lap. After this Mr. Holman sold him to Mr. A. Legge, but he was left in Collett’s stable. At Woodville in December lie showed his first flash of true promise, forcing Beacon Fire to do his best to win the Trial Plate on the first day, then easily winning the Novice Handicap on the sec-; end day. Unplaced performances at Dannevirke and Waipukurau, then a third and another unplaced effort at Hastings at the New Year, followed. Mr. Legge then sold him to Mr. H. Corlett, and he still remained in F. J. Corlett’s stable. In Mr. Corlett’s colours he has achieved his greatest success. Taken to Wairoa at the end of January he was beaten by a neck by Stitch and ran unplaced respectively in two starts on the first day, and won twice over six furlongs on the second day, each time beating Stitch. On the second occasion he carried 9.5. Going on to Gisborne he was second (beaten by Tai Ao) and third over six and seven furlongs respectively on the first day, and won the open sprint on the second day. At the Poverty Bay meeting a week later he was unplaced in a hack six (won by Tai Ao), and was second in the open six (won by Sunny Sky) on the first day, and won the mile open Sunderland Stakes on the second day, beating Little Wonder, Earthquake, Malahat, Bob In, Valsier and White Wings. Subsequently he won hack sprints on both days of the Napier Park meeting, and was also third to Great Charter and Chief Cook in the open seven on the final day. He followed these efforts up by winning the open sprint on the first day at Dannevirke, then running unplaced in the mile Hartgill Memorial on the second day (won by Habit). At Easter ho was third to Paganelli and Equitant in the open sprint on the first day at Tauherenikau, and was a close second to Eminent in the open seven on the second day. At one start since he won the open sprint at Hastings from Soipchong and Teller. In his latest efforts he had had changes of trainers. At Tauherenikau J. Griffiths had charge of him, but at Hastings last week his trainer was given in the official card as his owner, Mr. H. Corlett.

Imperial Fame’s record this season show's how a horse may come into great form with age. He has had 27 starts, several of them in open company, and has won nine times, been second five times,' third five times, and unplaced eight times. Weight does not seem to bother him unduly, as he has succeeded with up to 9.8, and although he is now getting on in years it may be much too early yet to w'rite off his career as near its close.