A champion of the 1920s, Limerick captured many great Sydney wins, and beat Phar Lap late in his career

Limerick was a deep dark brown to black, quality New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding who raced in dominant style in both Australia and NZ. He raced from a two-year-old to a seven-year-old, recording 29 wins from 6 furlongs to 2¼ miles, with regular jockey Maurice McCarten winning 22 races on the classy gelding. McCarten migrated from New Zealand in 1923, a renowned master of race tactics, and won many major races. Limerick was by Limond (NZ), sire of the winners of nine Derbys in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the winners of 25 Southern Hemisphere classics and leading sire in New Zealand 1930-31. His dam, Medley (NZ), also produced the Fred Jones trained, classic winner Ballymena, who had tragically lost his life in Australia a few years earlier.

The imported broodmare of Medley, Mermaid experienced a tough journey from England to New Zealand on the steamliner Kensington. It proved to be such a long and arduous voyage, during which the horses became so enfeebled that it was contemplated even casting them overboard. Certainly, the proprietor relinquished hope of ever securing their safe passage and subsequently transferred ownership to a fellow passenger from Canterbury, namely Mr. Innes of Harris and Innes. After six months at sea the mare finally arrived in the Dominion to produce many fine racehorses. Medley's fifth foal after Ballymena, Limerick would prove to be her best.

Ballymena’s full racing statistics were 26 starts for 11 wins, three 2nds, and five 3rds, including the AJC Derby and around £12,310 in stakes. Owner Harry Knight was originally a large wheat grower owning one of the largest farming properties in Canterbury, New Zealand, before turning his attention to thoroughbreds. Knight had great hope for bright new youngster and decided to register the colt, Ballymena's little brown half-brother as Limerick. The gallant son of Limond would be awaiting both Fred Jones and Maurice McCarten to revive their dented reputations after the two men had served out their full AJC disqualifications for improper practises with the under performance of the Kinght's horse, Royal Despatch. The stewards’ decision triggered a huge controversy on both sides of the Tasman, particularly given that Jones was training for some of the most distinguished sportsmen in New Zealand. Knight was prepared to ship his horse's back to New Zealand after the drama, but Jones and Maurice McCarten convinced him to let Ballymena continue racing in Sydney. A week later Ballymena equalled the course record to beat Gloaming and The Hawk and win the Hill Stakes. In doing so, Ballymena was one of only two horses to beat fellow Kiwi Gloaming in his last, and arguably, greatest season on the Turf. Sadly, Ballymena was euthanised after suffering a terrible injury in the AJC Randwick Plate.

Limerick raced between 1925–1931. A slim, leggy customer, Limerick hardly looked the three-year-old classic type. Limerick had initially gained racing prominence by securing victory in the Champagne Stakes held in Dunedin. However, it was his subsequent triumph over Commendation in the Challenge Stakes at his home course in Riccarton, followed by his success in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes that garnered significant recognition. In Australia the colt won the Carlington Mile at Rosehill, but went under to the powerful Rampion in his second run in the Hobartville Stakes. However, all was forgiven by his connections when he upset the odds-on favourite Windbag in the Chelmsford Stakes at his final run before Derby Day. Despite some suggestion of lameness, Limerick put up a bold fight to run 2nd to Rampion in the AJC Derby of 1926. Rampion, like Limerick and Ballymena, was the great-grandson of the wonder stallion St Simon, the last direct descendant of the male line to win the English Derby.

Like many of the Limond stock, Limerick suffered from shelly hoofs and often bled from bruised heels which hindered his time in Australia, but it failed to halt his racing prospects in Melbourne. He won the Chelmsford, then was defeated in the Melbourne Cup alongside Rampion, but bounced back to run 2nd to Windbag in the Craven Plate. Sadly, Rampion and Limerick never matched strides again after the 1926 Melbourne Cup - Rampion only appeared twice more on a racecourse - however, Limerick dominated the 1927 A.J.C. Autumn Meeting, scoring easy wins in the St. Leger, Cumberland Stakes and AJC Plate besides running a very good 2nd in the Sydney Cup when carrying 5lb more than weight-for-age. That was to be the beginning of a wonderful dominance of the Australian and NZ Turf by Limerick.

As a four-year-old, he was to be beaten only twice in sixteen starts winning the richest WFA races in the land over distances ranging from 1600m to 3600m. Limerick possessed more pace than most good stayers, an attribute that enabled him to occupy a good position in any race. In all, Limerick won 22 races on Sydney tracks, more than any horse up to that time and a record that would stand until the coming of the mighty Kingston Town. Limerick’s last win in Sydney, and the last win of his career, came as an early six-year-old in the 1929 Warwick Stakes. This was the race in which Phar Lap finished a close fourth, and for the first time hinted at the greatness to come. It was in the Hill Stakes at his next appearance that Limericks suspensory ligament led to serious lameness after the race. He returned as a seven-year-old but in all eight races that season he failed to gain a placing with his body pushed to the limit in previous racing seasons.

An unsound horse throughout his career, he raced for six seasons winning 13 major races in succession between 1927–1928, including rare triple wins in the Chelmsford Stakes and Warwick Stakes and also won the coveted 1928 AJC Kings Cup at Randwick, defeating Valparaiso and Winalot. Limerick throughout his career defeated rival champions Windbag, Amounis, Mollison, Phar Lap, Rampion and Gothic. Trainer Fred Jones made his mark in the Sydney racing scene with Ballymena and Limerick, as did jockey Maurice McCarten, who would go on to be somewhat of a legendary rider in Australia.

RACE RECORD - 59: 29-12-2
EARNINGS - £38,729

Chelmsford Stakes (1926, 1927, 1928)
Warwick Stakes (1927,1928,1929)
Rawson Stakes (1927,1928)
AJC Spring Stakes (1927, 1928)
Craven Plate (1927)
AJC St Leger (1927)
AJC Cumberland Stakes (1927)
Hill Stakes (1927,1928)
AJC Plate (1927)
AJC Kings Cup (1928)
Chipping Norton Stakes (1928)
All Aged Stakes (1928)
AJC Autumn Stakes (1928,1929)