OFF TO AMERICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 4, 6 January 1933, Page 3

OFF TO AMERICA.

FOLLOWING PHAR LAP.

BRILLIANT THREE-YEAR-OLDS PILLOW FIGHT AND TEA TRADER. By the Monterey in a fortnight's time the New Zealand racehorses, Pillow Fight and Tea Trader, will leave for America. The pair will be raced there by Mr. D. J. Davis, who was part-owner of Phar Lap, and who took the famous chestnut to the States last year and won the Agua Caliente Handicap, the only race Phar Lap contested in America. It was after the death of Phar Lap that Mr. Davis effected the purchase of Pillow Fight from the late Mr. W. G. Stead and he had the horse transferred to Takanini to be trained by C. Morse. Pillow Fight, at the first time of asking, won the Hack Cup at the Avondale spring neeting for his new owner, and he followed up this win by carrying off the Avondale Guineas on the second day of the meeting. At the recent Auckland Cup meeting Pillow Fight contested the King's Plate, Great Northern Derby and Clifford Plate, finishing second to La Moderne in the King's Plate, but was beaten out of a place in his other engagements. Tea Trader, who was purchased yesterday by Mr. Davis for a sum approaching four figures, has done all his racing to date in the colours of the Waikato sportsman, Mr. R. T. Reid. At the January sales at Trcntham two years ago Mr. Reid purchased the then yearling son of Tea Tray and Epitaph for 275 guineas. The colt was placed in charge of E. Pope at Takanini, and as a two-year-old hia most important successes were the A.R.C. Royal. Stakes at Ellerslie and the AllAged Stakes at Avondale: In the latter race he defeated the brilliant sprinters Cadland, Lady Quex and Golden Wings. This season as a three-year-old Tea Trader has won two races —a minor sprint event at Te Rapa and the Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. Tea Trader is possessed of a torrent of speed and in him and Pillow Fight Mr. Davis has a brilliant pair to make an attack upon the American turf.

RACEHORSE KILLED. FALLS DOWN A WELL. The racehorse Sammy, who contested more than one event at the Auckland Cup meeting, fell down a well when out in a paddock at Frankton this morning and broke his neck. Sammywas a five-year-old gelding by Lackham—Ostend, owned by .Mr. M. Shaw, and trained, by C. P. Buckenkam. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. PLACE BETTING PROBABLE. (By Telegraph.—Special to ''Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The question of changing.the mode of dividend distribution at this , month's meeting is to be discussed by the Wellington Racing Club's committee on Monday. It is not unlikely that either the win and place or three dividend system will be adopted, as the stewards believe the demand of tho general public is now for more than two chances in big fields. WIN AND PLACE BETTING. FOXTON CLUB'S DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The stewards of the Foxton Racing Club were so impressed with the success of the win and place totalisator at New Plymouth and Stratford that they have decided to adopt the system for the club's meeting next week. Arrangements are at present being made to install the necessary additional apparatus. DUNEDIN CUP. STAKE INCREASED TO £550. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, this day. The decision of the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club to increase the stake for the Dunedin Cup to 550sovs is welcomed by owners. This stake will be the best between the New Zealand Cup and the Grand National meeting for racing in the South Island. REEFTON RACES. POSTPONED TILL NEXT WEEK. a (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) REEFTON, this day. The Reefton races have, been postponed to Monday and Tuesday next.