PHAR LAP IN MEXICO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 9

PHAR LAP IN MEXICO.

BIG RACE ON SUNDAY. SOME REDOUBTABLE RIVALS. (Received March 14, 8.5 p.m.) AGUA CALIENTE, March 13. It is announced that Spanish Play, winner of the New Orleans Handicap yesterday, will start in the Agua Calicnte Handicap on Sunday and is expected to prove the most dangerous opponent of I'har Lap. Ihe Australian champion is working on the track every morning, but has had no actual speed trial yet.

Phar Lap has been given the highest impost—9st. 31b. —in the £IO,OOO handicap, which will be run at Agua Caliente on Sunday next. The next highest are Plucky Play and Dr. Freeland, each with Bst. 811). Then conic Wotan Bst 71b., Reveille Boy Bst. 61b., Spanish Plav Bst. 51b., Marine Bst. 21b. There were 43 entries. Among 12 entries withdrawn were Canfli, Sure Fire, Pansy Walker, Sidney Grant, Polydorus, and Hillsborough.

Although I'har Lap heads the weights for the rich event, he seems to have been given every opportunity, for it is not customary for America's best horses to race at Agua Caliente. It is also to be remembered that Phar Lap is a five-year-old to Australian time, but that he ranks as a six-year-old in America. If he has a clear run in the race he should find 9st. 31b. something of a luxury. His superiority is shown in the fact that he has to concede 01b. to Ihe next, best horses engaged in the race. Plucky Play, a five-year-old, was a winner over a mile and a-lialf in November with Bst. lib., and ran second to the great Sun Beau m the Lincoln Handicap lat August. Dr. Freeland, a six-year-old, won tho Baltimore Handicap, nine furl&ngs, at Pimlico, Maryland, carrying Bst. 31b., in November. Plucky Play also being a runner. Wotan is a prolific winner, having succeeded iri seven races since August 6. Reveille Boy, an American Derby winner, has since carried comparatively big weights. His recent vic"iories were in a mile event at Saratoga, in August, when he carried Bst. 101b. Tho following month he won tho Lexington Handicap, nine furlongs, at Belmont Park, New \ork, with Ost. Marino is a well-bred horse bv tho celebrated Man-o'-War, who won 20 races in 21 starts. In August "Marine carried 9sl. lib. successfully in a race over a mile and 70 yards. Spanish Play won tho Latonia Derby last .June in tho exceptional time of 2m. 30s. for the mile and a-half. Up to that stage his record was 19 starts for eight wins, five seconds and two thirds. He ran in six Derbies, winning two. W. Elliott will ride Phar Lap.