PHAR LAP'S COLOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 10

PHAR LAP'S COLOURS

SUCCESS AT AVONDALE VICTORY OF PILLOW FIGHT FIRST RACE FOR NEW OWNER Memories of the great racehorse Phar Pap were revived at Avondale on Saturday when Pillow Fight carried to victory the same set of colours worn by the champion's jockey in his historic triumph in tho Agua Calionte Handicap in Mexico last March. Pillow Fight is owned by Mr. D. J. Davis, who is now living in America, and tho colours were brought to Now Zealand by Mr. M. Gearin, of Sydney. The cap and jacket were handed to Mr. R. A. McLean, of Auckland, who effected the purchase of the three-year-old for Mr. Davis three months ago. The price paid for Pillow Fight was 2500 guineas, which was ten times the amount for which ho was originally bought as a yearling by the late Mr. W. G. Stead at tho Trcntham sales in January, 1931. Mr. Davis' primary object in buying him was to secure a worthy successor to Phar Lap, particularly one by the same sire, the English-bred Night Raid. Pillow Fight performed promisingly last season, scoring two wins and three seconds in seven starts. He is a gelding of commanding physique, endowed with brilli nt speed, and his prospects of making a first-class racehorse are bright. If all goes well with Pillow Fight his owner intends to race him in America. Everything will depend upon his progress in the next few months, and seeing that he performed so well on Saturday after nino months' absence from racing and an interrupted preparation there is every likelihood that ho will improve rapidly. As there had been a doubt whether Pillow Fight would compete on Saturday owing to a leg injury ho received some weeks ago, when he became frightened at a road-grader, no rider had been engaged for him in the Champion Hack Plate and the Ilawke's Bay horseman, P. Atkins, secured a chance mount at practically the last moment. Atkins had the advantage of being familiar with the horse, as he had ridden him frequently in work for Mr. Stead. Tho race was worth £3OO to the winner.