Merman performed well in Australia, until the "Jersey Lily" shipped him to England where he shone bright

Merman (foaled in Australia) (1892–1914) was one of the finest racehorses in Colonial Australian racing history that raced successfully in Europe. He won at distances from 5 furlongs (1000m) to 2 1⁄2 miles (4000m). Merman was a chestnut colt foaled in 1892 at Hobartville Stud, in Richmond New South Wales. Early in his career he was owned by W. R. Wilson and trained by Charles MacDonald at St Albans. MacDonald owned and trained the great Wakeful, Revenue and Night Watch. Merman's sire was 1880 Melbourne Cup winner Grand Flaneur (Yattendon) who was leading sire in Australia in 1895 and unbeaten in nine career starts. His dam was Seaweed (By Coltness).

Merman began his career in February 1895 in a six furlong race at Geelong. He then won the VRC Unplaced Two Year Old Stakes over a distance of 6 furlongs at the long odds of 10/1. In his following start two weeks later in the VRC Hope Stakes, Mermen finished third, beaten by a length by The Parisienne. After a six-week break, Merman was taken to South Australia and in May 1895 at the Autumn meeting at Morphettville and won a juvenile Handicap. Two weeks later Merman ran at the Old Course (renamed to Victoria Park Racecourse in 1897) in the Adelaide Stakes over 6 furlongs but was soundly defeated finishing fifth as topweight. In his last race of the season Merman challenged older horses in the 5 furlongs Adelaide Racing Club Rose Park Handicap at the Old Course and was beaten by the lightweight First Bolt by three lengths into second place.

In the spring of 1895 Merman had 4 starts and performed poorly as a three-year-old. In the autumn after a fifth placing in the VRC Brunswick Stakes at Flemington the horse was taken to New South Wales and was once again unplaced at Randwick. Considered as somewhat of a failure, the horse surprised when winning the VRC July Handicap at Flemington on Grand National Steeplechase Day. At his last start as a three-year-old, Merman finished fourth.

Merman continued improving with a third-place finish in the VRC August Handicap in September 1896, then as favourite won the VATC Armadale Handicap at Caulfield comfortably by a couple of lengths. Three races later at the same meeting Merman backed up and ran in the sprint Rosstown Handicap and won with a furious finish by a length. Owner W. R. Wilson then entered Merman as part of a three horse entry with Nada and Resolute for the prestigious Caulfield Cup. Merman ran well for his first time at the distance of 2400m, finishing fourth to the aged winner Cremorne. On Victoria Derby Day, Merman ran in the VRC Coburg Stakes and finished fourth, beaten by his nemesis at the time, Ayrshire. Three days later Merman was victorious in the VRC Yan Yean Stakes over one mile. In November 1895 Merman defeated his stablemate Trentham in the Williamstown Cup over a distance of 2200m. This would be Merman's last appearance in Australia.

From the mid-1890s until 1919, famous socialite and actress Lily Langtry lived at Regal Lodge at Newmarket in Suffolk, England. There she maintained a successful horse racing stable. Langtry found mentors in Captain James Octavius Machell and Joe Thompson, who provided guidance on all matters related to the turf. Previously Langtry had shipped Maluma from Australia who who would go on to be one of the best sprinters in Britain. The best, however, was yet to come for Lilly Langtry. In 1897 her friend and racing agent, William Allinson, received a telegram from Australia which read:

"MERMAN WON WILLIAMSTOWN CUP. BEST HORSE IN AUSTRALIA TO WIN LONG-DISTANCE HANDICAP IN ENGLAND. LEGS LIKE STEEL. 1600 GUINEAS."

The deal was clinched, Merman left Australia on the steamer, Aberdeen on 3 December 1896 from Melbourne. Merman arrived in England in February 1897, and after a brief spell he was delivered to trainer Fred Webb in Newmarket. Women were excluded from registering horses at this time so the horse was registered under the pseudonym "Mr Jersey". The son of unbeaten Grand Flaneur had never been tried beyond a mile and a half in Australia, however Merman was to prove himself the premier stayer in England, and arguably the most successful Australian thoroughbred ever to compete abroad.

Merman was an immediate success in England, winning three races in the 1897 season including the Cesarewitch Stakes, the famous distance race at Newmarket. In 1899 Merman won the Goodwood Cup and the Goodwood Plate, and ran second in the Grand Prix de Deauville. He was then set for the 1900 Ascot Gold Cup, which he won at the handsome odds of 25/1. Over his three years racing in England Merman had eight victories, which reputedly won for Lilly Langtry, and her racing partner, the former leviathan bookmaker of Australia, Joe Thompson, the sum of more than £100,000 in wagers. The death of Merman was reported from Hanover, Germany in June 1914.

RACE RECORD - 45: 15-3-4

Yan Yean Stakes (1896)

Williamstown Cup (1896)

Lewes Handicap (1897)

Cesarewitch Handicap (1897)

Goodwood Plate (1899)

Goodwood Cup (1899)

Ascot Gold Cup (1900)