La Mer (horse)

La Mer was a thoroughbred racehorse, who raced from 1976 to 1979.

La Mer
SireCopenhagen II
GrandsireRoyal Charger
DamLa Balsa
DamsireWorden
SexMare
Foaled1973
CountryNew Zealand
ColourChestnut
TrainerMalcolm Smith
Record34:24-2-2
EarningsNZ$223,304
Major wins
Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1976)
New Zealand Oaks (1977)
Great Northern Oaks (1977)
Trentham Stakes (1977)
Awapuni Gold Cup (1978)
Desert Gold Stakes (1978)
Ormond Memorial Stakes (1978,1979)
Air New Zealand Stakes (1979)
Honours
New Zealand horse of the year 1975, 1977.
Last updated on April 3, 2009

La Mer was sired by Copenhagen II from La Balsa (New Zealand). She was bred by Jack Alexander at Cranleigh Stud in Wanganui and born on Melbourne Cup day in 1973. Later she was sold to Mr L (Allen) Alexander of Wynthorpe Stud, Tikorangi.

She was trained by Malcolm Smith at Bell Block, New Plymouth.[1]

She raced and won 24 times out of 43 starts, as well as second 5 times and third 6 times in 1200m to 2400m, winning NZ$225,925 and AUS$19,500 in stake money.[1]

La Mer was the 1979 Horse of the Year and 1977 Filly of the Year in New Zealand.

Racing career

La Mer won numerous Weight for Age races in New Zealand. She also won the Coongy Handicap and placed second in the Mackinnon Stakes in Australia.[2]

The following are some of the major races she raced in.

Month/Year
 Placing
 Race
 Venue
 Distance
 Jockey
 Winning Time
 1st
 2nd
 3rd
February 19761stSapling Stakes HandicapWoodville1200mDes HarrisLa Mer
March 19761stNRM Foods Juvenile HandicapTaranaki1200mDes HarrisLa MerBeauty Spot
March 19761stManawatu Sires Produce StakesAwapuni1400mDes Harris1:23La Mer 50EltonVice Regal
September 19761stGold Trail StakesHastings1400mDes HarrisLa MerDolly Chihuahua
October 19762ndLowland StakesMasterton1400mDes Harris-So FoxLa Mer
October 19761stDesert Gold StakesTrentham1600mDes HarrisLa MerRegal BandRina
December 19761stEulogy StakesAwapuni1600mDes HarrisLa MerAsteliaRegal Band
January 19771stRoyal StakesEllerslie2000mDes HarrisLa MerSo FoxNoble Mistress
January 19771stNew Zealand OaksTrentham2400mDes Harris2:29.25La Mer 55BlintzStar Chick
February 19776thLion Brown SprintTe Rapa1400mDes Harris-Soliloquy 56 BalmerinoBattle Eve
March 19771stManawatu Breeders StakesAwapuni2000mDes HarrisLa MerEven AzureZamazaan Lass
March 19773rdAwapuni Gold CupAwapuni2000mDes Harris- BalmerinoCopper BeltLa Mer
April 19771stGreat Northern OaksEllerslie2400mDes HarrisLa MerMother's Pearl
April 19773rdChampionship StakesAvondale2000mDes Harris-Vice RegalSonic LightLa Mer
October 19773rdShorts HandicapTrentham1200mDes HarrisEmpha LlanLa Mer
October 19772ndMcKelvie Memorial HandicapRangitikei1400mDes Harris-La Mer
November 19771stLevin Cup StakesLevin1600mDes Harris1:40.6 SoftLa Mer 54.5Battle Eve 55.5Copper Belt 58
November 19773rdOwens StakesAuckland1600mDes Harris-Braless 48.5Shifnal's Pride 55.5La Mer 54.5
December 19771stPukekohe Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders StakesFranklin RC1600mDes Harris1:33.9 FirmLa Mer 54.5Braless 49Battle Eve 55.5
December 19771stManawatu Challenge StakesAwapuni1600mDes Harris1:39.2 EasyLa Mer 54.5Copper Belt 58Top Quality 52
January 197812thAuckland CupEllerslie3200mDes Harris-Stylemaster 51Harp 52Good Lord 59
February 19785thWairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders StakesCarterton RC2000mDes Harris-Ariana 55.5Exotic 56.5Astelia 55.5
February 19781stNew Zealand International StakesTe Rapa2200mDes Harris2:13.85 FirmLa Mer 55.5Carlaw 58Uncle Remus 52
March 19783rdAir New Zealand StakesEllerslie2000mDes Harris-Serendiper 57Good Lord 58La Mer 55.5
March 19781stRotorua Travel Lodge StakesRotorua1900mDes Harris1:55.9 FirmLa Mer 55.5Lady Libra 55.5Jackwill 56.5
April 19781stAwapuni Gold CupAwapuni2000mDes Harris2:03.2 GoodLa Mer 56Even Son 57Seven Forty Seven 58
April 19781stOrmond Memorial Gold CupHastings2000mDes Harris2:08.4 SoftLa Mer 56Red Terror 57Clive Comet 53.5
August 1978-Robinson HandicapFoxton1200mPeter Graham-Smart Fella
September 19782ndLondon Woolbrokers HandicapHawkes Bay1400mDes Harris-La Mer
September 19783rdDoncaster HandicapAuckland1600mDes Harris-La Mer
October 19781stCoongy HandicapCaulfield2000mDes HarrisLa Mer 58Taksan
October 19786thCox PlateMoonie Valley2050mDes Harris-So Called 57Family of Man 59Kara Man 48.5
November 19782ndMackinnon StakesVictoria2000mDes Harris-Family of ManLa MerKankama
December 19781stTopsy StakesOtaki2000mDes HarrisLa MerRegal Band
December 19781stManawatu Challenge StakesAwapuni1600mDes Harris1:37.6 GoodLa Mer 55.5Kanga's Lad 58Varnamo 58
January 19791stPahiatua WFA StakesPahiatua2000mDes Harris2:05 FirmLa Mer 57Kindled 55.5Chinkara 56.5
February 19791stWairarapa Breeders StakesCarterton RC2000mDes HarrisLa Mer
February 19794thNew Zealand International StakesWaikato RC2000mDes Harris-Shivaree 57Regal Band 56.5Oakvale 58
March 19791stNew Zealand StakesEllerslie2000mDes Harris2:03.49 FirmLa Mer 56.5Shivaree 57March Legend 58
March 19796thAustralian CupVictoria2000mDes Harris-DulcifyManikatoFamily of Man
March 1979-Queen Elizabeth Stakes WFAVictoria2500mDes Harris-LefroyNorthfleetHauberk
April 19792ndHawkes Bay Challenge StakesHastings1400mDes Harris-Vice Regal 57.5La Mer 56.5Fraxy 57.5
April 19791stOrmond Memorial Gold CupHastings2000mDes Harris2:03 FirmLa Mer 57Mun Lee 56Vice Regal 58

Progeny

After finishing her racing, La Mer was purchased by Irish owner Captain Tim Rogers and exported to Ireland for her breeding career.

La Mer's first foal, Loughmore (Ire), by Artaius, winner of the Sandown Eclipse Stakes, was brought to New Zealand where she won once from ten starts and produced the Group One Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes winner Little Jamie.

La Mer left seven winners, although none had the quality of herself.

See also

References
  1. "New Zealand Racing Legends and Memories". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  2. "Sales & Results". New Zealand Bloodstocks. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (8th edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1978 (7th edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.
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