SENSATION CUP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 13

SENSATION CUP

PHAR LAP'S GREAT

VICTORY

EXCITED CROWDS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 6th November. 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 Few Zealand-bred Pliar Lap. Then when interest had flagged to the utmost came the sensational attempt last Saturday to shoot the idol of the Australian sporting fraternity. Prom that time the race became uppermost in daily discussions. It was all absorbing. , New Zealanders who have never been in Australia at a Cup time cannot realise how this race catches tho popular imagination, and with the favourite continuously under police guard, is it to be wondered that this year's event aroused even greater interest than usual. BLOW TO BOOKMAKERS. 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 tho dastardly attempt to maim what is, perhaps, the greatest horse Australia has seen. On the.morning of the attempted shooting astrange car was seen i n tho vicinity of the Caulfield course, but at the time the fact did not arouse undue suspicion. . . The story of the shooting was narrated . in; detail by Trenc 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 ho usually takes.---Parker,'- the jockey, rode Bobbie in his track work and then brought him back 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. ' : . THE SHOOTING AFFRAY. <(I was riding a grey pony and I was in a hurry to-get Bobbie back to: his stable. *I walked the horses along Manchester Grove. .Near the picture theatre .I say 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 tho 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 first corner. Bobbie was not excited, and I was able to keep the pony 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 causedBobbie to rear upland turn round, so that his back was*turned in the direction in which the car had been going. I dug my heels into the pony again and rushed Bobbie on to the footpath. Just as I got my pony in front of him again, and between him and the car, the shot was fired. The car did not stop, faiit the pellets from.'the shot gun all'missed. Bobbie was not disturbed, and when he reached the stable.ho had a hearty breakfast.'' . ; SPECIAL POLICE PROTECTION. After this sensational incident Phar Lap received special police protection; in fact, his whereabouts became a complete mystery. -.He disappeared in smoke as it were, and was impersonated on. the tracks by 'another horse rately disguised. -It.was.not until the day of the race that it transpired that Phar Lap had been taken to Geelong, many miles away from, the 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'bo found, aad.th.ou-1 sands of visitors who: were early on the scene were disappointed when he was not in his box. Then' there was great excitement about two hours before the race when ho arrived in a horse float which was guarded by four members of the police motor patrol, each riding.motor bicycles. It was indeed a royal entry. Here indeed, were all the thrills one could wish TSr. AVas it any wonder that public. interest throughout the Commonwealth was intense? SHORTEST-PRICED FAVOURITE. Now that the race-is-over there is .little to be said about it, for Phar Lap won with ridiculous case, carrying more I weight on the same scale than did : the famous Carbine when ho failed to win the Melbourne Cup as a four-year-old. It will also go down in the records as the shortest-priced favourite 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 £3000 behind Amounis, but Phar Lap has reached his great total of £44,----707 in much shorter time than either Gloaming or Amounis, for he is but a four-year-old. It makes it all the more remarkable to recall that Phar 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 to take over the liability. Finally, he succeeded in inducing Mr. H. B. Davis, of Sydney, to do so, and Mr. Davis immediately gave the trainer, H. E. Telford, a three years' lease. Up to that time Telford had had little success, but. as the terms of tho lease provide that he takes two-thirds of. the winnings he must be a wealthy man now. ' So heavily was Phar Lap backed that it has been suggested that many bookmakers will not. be able to meet their liabilities. Since Australia drifted, or rushed headlong, into a depression the bookmakers have been heavily hit, first because there has not been the same big volume, of business, and second, because of the success of so many favourites in the big' events; It is known that at the close of the A.J.C. Meeting in Sydney a number of bookmakers had to plead for time to. pay, and if they depended upon an outsider winning the Melbourne Cup they .wi.ll be in a worse position, to-day than they wore. It has been estimated, that the. ring will be hit to the extent of £100,000, in Melbourne alone. Phar Lap had been taken with Amounis (winner of the Caulfield Cup) in doubles for enormous, amounts, and one Sydney woman stood'to win. £20,----000. ■ .. ' Phar Lap has certainly won his place as an idol.