La Mer was a thoroughbred racehorse, who raced from 1976 to 1979.
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.
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.
La Mer was the 1979 New Zealand Horse of the Year and 1977 Filly of the Year.
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.
The following are some of her race results.The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1978 (7th edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (8th edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
Month/Year Placing Race Venue Distance Jockey Winning Time 1st 2nd 3rdFebruary 19761stSapling Stakes HandicapWoodville1200mDes Harris La Mer March 19761st NRM Foods Juvenile HandicapTaranaki1200mDes Harris La Mer Beauty Spot March 19761stManawatu Sires Produce StakesAwapuni1400mDes Harris 1:23La Mer 50Elton Vice Regal September 19761st Gold Trail Stakes Hastings 1400m Des Harris La Mer Dolly Chihuahua October 19762nd Lowland Stakes Masterton 1400m Des Harris -So Fox La Mer October 19761st Desert Gold Stakes Trentham 1600m Des Harris La Mer Regal Band Rina December 1976 1stEulogy Stakes Awapuni 1600m Des Harris La MerAstelia Regal BandJanuary 1977 1st Royal Stakes Ellerslie 2000m Des Harris La MerSo Fox Noble MistressJanuary 1977 1st New Zealand Oaks Trentham 2400m Des Harris 2:29.25 La Mer 55 Blintz Star ChickFebruary 1977 6th Lion Brown Sprint Te Rapa 1400mDes Harris - Soliloquy 56 Balmerino Battle EveMarch 1977 1st Manawatu Breeders Stakes Awapuni 2000m Des Harris La Mer Even Azure Zamazaan Lass March 19773rd Awapuni Gold Cup Awapuni 2000m Des Harris - Balmerino Copper BeltLa MerApril 1977 1st Great Northern Oaks Ellerslie 2400m Des Harris La Mer Mother's Pearl April 1977 3rd Championship Stakes Avondale 2000m Des Harris - Vice Regal Sonic Light La MerOctober 19773rdShorts Handicap Trentham 1200mDes Harris Empha Llan La MerOctober 19772ndMcKelvie Memorial Handicap Rangitikei 1400mDes Harris- La Mer November 1977 1st Levin Cup Stakes Levin 1600m Des Harris 1:40.6 Soft La Mer 54.5Battle Eve 55.5 Copper Belt 58November 19773rdOwens Stakes Auckland 1600mDes Harris- Braless 48.5 Shifnal's Pride 55.5La Mer 54.5December 19771stPukekohe Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes Franklin RC 1600mDes Harris 1:33.9 FirmLa Mer 54.5 Braless 49Battle Eve 55.5December 1977 1st Manawatu Challenge Stakes Awapuni 1600m Des Harris 1:39.2 Easy La Mer 54.5 Copper Belt 58 Top Quality 52January 197812th Auckland Cup Ellerslie 3200mDes Harris - Stylemaster 51 Harp 52Good Lord 59February 19785th Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes Carterton RC 2000mDes Harris - Ariana 55.5Exotic 56.5Astelia 55.5 February 19781st New Zealand International Stakes Te Rapa 2200m Des Harris 2:13.85 Firm La Mer 55.5 Carlaw 58Uncle Remus 52 March 1978 3rdAir New Zealand Stakes Ellerslie 2000m Des Harris - Serendiper 57 Good Lord 58 La Mer 55.5 March 19781st Rotorua Travel Lodge Stakes Rotorua 1900m Des Harris 1:55.9 Firm La Mer 55.5 Lady Libra 55.5 Jackwill 56.5 April 19781st Awapuni Gold Cup Awapuni 2000m Des Harris 2:03.2 Good La Mer 56 Even Son 57Seven Forty Seven 58 April 19781st Ormond Memorial Gold Cup Hastings 2000m Des Harris 2:08.4 Soft La Mer 56Red Terror 57 Clive Comet 53.5August 1978-Robinson Handicap Foxton 1200mPeter Graham- Smart Fella September 19782nd London Woolbrokers Handicap Hawkes Bay 1400mDes Harris- La Mer September 19783rdDoncaster Handicap Auckland 1600mDes Harris - La Mer October 19781st Coongy Handicap Caulfield 2000m Des Harris 2:01.5 La Mer 58Taksan 53.5Hearts Are Trumps 51.5 October 1978 6th Cox Plate Moonie Valley 2050m Des Harris 2:08.7 So Called 57 Family of Man 59 Kara Man 48.5 November 19782nd Mackinnon Stakes Victoria 2000m Des Harris 2:04.0 Family of Man 58.5La Mer 56Kankama 49.5December 19781st Topsy Stakes Otaki 2000mDes Harris La Mer Regal Band December 1978 1st Manawatu Challenge Stakes Awapuni 1600m Des Harris 1:37.6 Good La Mer 55.5 Kanga's Lad 58 Varnamo 58 January 1979 1st Pahiatua WFA Stakes Pahiatua 2000m Des Harris 2:05 Firm La Mer 57 Kindled 55.5 Chinkara 56.5 February 19791st Wairarapa Breeders Stakes Carterton RC 2000m Des Harris La Mer February 19794th New Zealand International Stakes Waikato RC 2000m Des Harris - Shivaree 57 Regal Band 56.5 Oakvale 58 March 1979 1st New Zealand Stakes Ellerslie 2000m Des Harris 2:03.49 Firm La Mer 56.5 Shivaree 57 March Legend 58 March 1979 6th Australian Cup Victoria 2000m Des Harris 2:01.1 Dulcify 52.5Manikato 52.5 Family of Man 58 March 1979 - Queen Elizabeth Stakes WFA Victoria 2500m Des Harris 2:40.3 Lefroy 57 Northfleet 57Hauberk 52 April 1979 2nd Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes Hastings 1400m Des Harris - Vice Regal 57.5 La Mer 56.5 Fraxy 57.5 April 1979 1st Ormond Memorial Gold Cup Hastings 2000m Des Harris 2:03 Firm La Mer 57 Mun Lee 56 Vice 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. However, she is: the great grand-dam of Nahrain, winner of the 2011 Coral Distaff and Prix de l'Opéra and the 2012 Flower Bowl Stakes. the great great grand-dam of Benbatl, the son of Hahrain and winner of the 2018 Caulfield Stakes along with a number of other Group races in Europe and Dubhai. Benbatl became a stud stallion.
See also
Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References