MELBOURNE CUP.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 14 November 1930, Page 19

MELBOURNE CUP.

PHAR LAP'S GREAT VICTORY.

EXCITED CROWDS. THE SHOOTING AFFRAY. (mou oca ows coaitEsrosDEST.) SYDNEY, November 6. Another Melbourne Cup having been decided, Australia is back to normal. A little more than a fortnight ago it appeared that this year's Cup would be the dullest on record. All discussions as to the prospects of the candidates had been cramped by the phenomenal form that had been shown by the New Zealand bred Phar Lap. Then when interest had flagged to the utmost came the sensational attempt last Saturday to shoot the idol of the Australian sporting fraternity. From that time the race became uppermost in daily discussions. It was a.U absorbing. New Zealanders who have never been in Australia at a Cup time cannot realise how this race catches the popular imagination, and with the favourite continuously under police guard is it-tii be wondered that this year's event aroused even greater interest than usual. Shots at Horse. Phar Lap's victory has been a tremendous blow to the bookmakers, and it was not surprising that his owner and trainer should blame the layers of odds for the dastardly attempt to uiaim what is, perhaps, the greatest horse Australia has seen. On the morning of the attempted shooting a strange car Wfts seen in the vicinity _ of the Caulfield course, but at the time the tact did not arouse undue suspicion. The story of the shooting was narrated» in detail by Trene WoodcocK, Phar Lap's attendant. He said: "We took Bobbie (Phar Lap's stable name) to the course later than usual and by a different route from that which he usualiv takes. Parker, the jockey, rode Bobbie in his track Work and* 1, then brought him hack to me. Parker usually comes back to the stables with me, but this morning he rode another horse, while I led Bobbie, who was rugged and had white stockings on his fetlocks. Attendant's Story. "I was riding a grey pony and I was th a hurry to get Bobbie back to his stable. I walked the horses along Manchester Grove. Near the Picture Theatre I saw a large car, and when I passed it I saw that the number plate was scrawled in whitewash or chalk. The man in the driver's seat bent down his head. In the back seat Was a man who had a white handkerchief tied over the lower part of his'face. He pointed a double-barrelled gun out of the back window and I dug my heels into the pony and trotted Bobbie round the firfet corner. Bobbie was not excited and I was able to keep the ijony a bit behind him and so shield him. The car followed us around the corner and then charged direct at the pony, with the horn tooting all the time. This caused Bobbie to rear up and turn round, so that his back was turned in tho direction in which the car had

been going. I dug my heals i®U» the pony again and rushedßobbi* <M to the footpath. Just as I got my pony in front of him again, "and between him- and the car, the shot was 4re<i. The car did not stop, but the pgltets from the shot gun all mi&sed. Bobbie was not disturbed and when he reached the stable he had a hearty breakfast." Police Protection. After this sensational .incident Phar Lap received special police protection; in fact, his whereadouts oecame a complete mysteou -tie disappeared in smoke as it were, aud was impersonated on the tracks by another horse elaborately disguised. It was not until tho day of the race that it transpired that .Phar Lap had been taken to Geelong, many miles away from tho city, and had done his final preparation for the ; , great race on an old private track at a stud farm. On the. morning' of the Melbourne Cup few people knew where Phar Lap was to be found, and thousands of visitors who were early on. the scene were disappointed when he was not in his bos. Then there was great excitement about two hours before the race, when he arrived »n » horse float, which was guarded bv four members of the police motor patrol, each riding motor-bicycles. It was indeed a roval entry Here indeed were all the thrills one could wish for. was it any wonder that public interest throughout 'the Commonwealth was intense ? An Easy Victory. Now that the race is over there"ia little to be said about it, for Phar Lap won with ridiculous ea>e, carrying more weight 011 the same seal© than did the famous Carbine, when he failed to win the Melbourne Cup as a four-year-old. It will also &> down in the records as the shortest priced favourites ever to win .a, Cup. By his victory he has_ passed Gloaming's stake winning record, being the second horse to do so this season. In the matter of stakes he is still. £3OOO behind Amounis, but Phar Lap ! has reached his great total of £44,707 , (in much, shorter time than either I Gloaming or Amounis, for lie ts but ! a four-year-old. It makes it all tne more remarkable to recall that Pnar Lap was purchased in New. "Zealand as a two-year-old for £168," and that the purchaser had the utmost difficulty in inducing an Australian .owner *o take over the liability; finally, M succeeded in inducing Mr H. js. Jj>aTis» t of Sydney, to do sq, and Mr Dav*s immediately gave the trainer, H. -*rTelford, a three years',lease, Up to that time Telford had had little success, but as the terms of thailease provide that he takes two-thirds -or the winnings he must be a wealttry man now. ' , Bookmakers Hud Bit. ■So heavilv was ■ Phar ■. Irftp backed that it has "been suggested tb&tmany bookmakers will not~be. able to .roe©" their liabilities. Since Australia drifted, or rushed headlong,; into a depression, the bookmakers;have been heavilv hit, first because there, .not been the same big volume of business, and secondly, because of the . success of so many favourites in tne .b»B events. It is known that close of the A.J.C. Meeting in Sydney J number of bookmakers had tcr for time to pay, and lfthey depended upon an outsider winning the: Melbourne Cup they will be in a worse position to-day than . they were* has been estimated that the ring: win be hit to the extent of £IOO.OOO Melbourne alone. Phar Lap had _ been. taken with Amounis (winner, of tue Caulfield Cup) in doubles for enormous amounts, and one Sydney woman. stood, to win £20,000. Phar Lap has certainly won his plaee as' an idol.;