# La Mer (horse)

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 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.
The following are some of the major races she raced in.
| Month/Year | Placing | Race | Venue | Distance | Jockey | Winning Time | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| February 1976 | 1st | Sapling Stakes Handicap | Woodville | 1200m | Des Harris | | La Mer | | |
| March 1976 | 1st | NRM Foods Juvenile Handicap | Taranaki | 1200m | Des Harris | | La Mer | Beauty Spot | |
| March 1976 | 1st | Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes | Awapuni | 1400m | Des Harris | 1:23 | La Mer 50 | Elton | Vice Regal |
| September 1976 | 1st | Gold Trail Stakes | Hastings | 1400m | Des Harris | | La Mer | Dolly Chihuahua | |
| October 1976 | 2nd | Lowland Stakes | Masterton | 1400m | Des Harris | - | So Fox | La Mer | |
| October 1976 | 1st | Desert Gold Stakes | Trentham | 1600m | Des Harris | | La Mer | Regal Band | Rina |
| December 1976 | 1st | Eulogy Stakes | Awapuni | 1600m | Des Harris | | La Mer | Astelia | Regal Band |
| January 1977 | 1st | Royal Stakes | Ellerslie | 2000m | Des Harris | | La Mer | So Fox | Noble Mistress |
| January 1977 | 1st | New Zealand Oaks | Trentham | 2400m | Des Harris | 2:29.25 | La Mer 55 | Blintz | Star Chick |
| February 1977 | 6th | Lion Brown Sprint | Te Rapa | 1400m | Des Harris | - | Soliloquy 56 | Balmerino | Battle Eve |
| March 1977 | 1st | Manawatu Breeders Stakes | Awapuni | 2000m | Des Harris | | La Mer | Even Azure | Zamazaan Lass |
| March 1977 | 3rd | Awapuni Gold Cup | Awapuni | 2000m | Des Harris | - | Balmerino | Copper Belt | La Mer |
| April 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 Mer |
| October 1977 | 3rd | Shorts Handicap | Trentham | 1200m | Des Harris | | Empha Llan | | La Mer |
| October 1977 | 2nd | McKelvie Memorial Handicap | Rangitikei | 1400m | Des Harris | - | | La Mer | |
| November 1977 | 1st | Levin Cup Stakes | Levin | 1600m | Des Harris | 1:40.6 Soft | La Mer 54.5 | Battle Eve 55.5 | Copper Belt 58 |
| November 1977 | 3rd | Owens Stakes | Auckland | 1600m | Des Harris | - | Braless 48.5 | Shifnal's Pride 55.5 | La Mer 54.5 |
| December 1977 | 1st | Pukekohe Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes | Franklin RC | 1600m | Des Harris | 1:33.9 Firm | La Mer 54.5 | Braless 49 | Battle Eve 55.5 |
| December 1977 | 1st | Manawatu Challenge Stakes | Awapuni | 1600m | Des Harris | 1:39.2 Easy | La Mer 54.5 | Copper Belt 58 | Top Quality 52 |
| January 1978 | 12th | Auckland Cup | Ellerslie | 3200m | Des Harris | - | Stylemaster 51 | Harp 52 | Good Lord 59 |
| February 1978 | 5th | Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes | Carterton RC | 2000m | Des Harris | - | Ariana 55.5 | Exotic 56.5 | Astelia 55.5 |
| February 1978 | 1st | New Zealand International Stakes | Te Rapa | 2200m | Des Harris | 2:13.85 Firm | La Mer 55.5 | Carlaw 58 | Uncle Remus 52 |
| March 1978 | 3rd | Air New Zealand Stakes | Ellerslie | 2000m | Des Harris | - | Serendiper 57 | Good Lord 58 | La Mer 55.5 |
| March 1978 | 1st | Rotorua Travel Lodge Stakes | Rotorua | 1900m | Des Harris | 1:55.9 Firm | La Mer 55.5 | Lady Libra 55.5 | Jackwill 56.5 |
| April 1978 | 1st | Awapuni Gold Cup | Awapuni | 2000m | Des Harris | 2:03.2 Good | La Mer 56 | Even Son 57 | Seven Forty Seven 58 |
| April 1978 | 1st | Ormond Memorial Gold Cup | Hastings | 2000m | Des Harris | 2:08.4 Soft | La Mer 56 | Red Terror 57 | Clive Comet 53.5 |
| August 1978 | - | Robinson Handicap | Foxton | 1200m | Peter Graham | - | Smart Fella | | |
| September 1978 | 2nd | London Woolbrokers Handicap | Hawkes Bay | 1400m | Des Harris | - | | La Mer | |
| September 1978 | 3rd | Doncaster Handicap | Auckland | 1600m | Des Harris | - | | | La Mer |
| October 1978 | 1st | Coongy Handicap | Caulfield | 2000m | Des Harris | | La Mer 58 | Taksan | |
| October 1978 | 6th | Cox Plate | Moonie Valley | 2050m | Des Harris | - | So Called 57 | Family of Man 59 | Kara Man 48.5 |
| November 1978 | 2nd | Mackinnon Stakes | Victoria | 2000m | Des Harris | - | Family of Man | La Mer | Kankama |
| December 1978 | 1st | Topsy Stakes | Otaki | 2000m | Des 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 1979 | 1st | Wairarapa Breeders Stakes | Carterton RC | 2000m | Des Harris | | La Mer | | |
| February 1979 | 4th | 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 | - | Dulcify | Manikato | Family of Man |
| March 1979 | - | Queen Elizabeth Stakes WFA | Victoria | 2500m | Des Harris | - | Lefroy | Northfleet | Hauberk |
| 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.