“CHAMPION OF ALL”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17408, 5 November 1930, Page 7

“CHAMPION OF ALL”

WONDERFUL PHAR LAP MELBOURNE CUP VICTORY A PERFECT EXHIBITION. (Elec. Tal. Copyright—United Preßs Assn.) (Received Nov. 5, noon.) SYDNEY, Nov. 5. The Herald says Phar Lap definitely proved himself champion of all the many thoroughbreds that have raced on the Australian turf, and is worthy of inclusion in the select list of outstanding gallopers of the world. Making light of his tremendous weight, the greatest allotted a four-year-old in the history of the Melbourne Cup, he came through the lenders at the turn like a flash of lightning, and taking full control at two furlongs treated the spectators to one of the most perfect exhibitions' of machine-like galloping ever witnessed. The ease with which he accomplished the task made the rest of the field appear very moderate horses. It was one of the easiest wins in the cup. Tregilla’s dash was short-lived, and Balloon King’s effort was disappointing. Second Wind continued on much better than was anticipated, while Shadow King had to exert himself to the utmost to take third money from old Donald. 1 liar Lap liad a remarkable reception after the race, wliiali he won a long way. from home and was not extended at the finish. He' has now .won £44,635', and is second on the list to Amounis. The stakes in the cup are worth £9290. He cost 160 .guineas as a • New Zealand yearling.;-’.' ,• : This is the rider,. Pike’s, first cup win in 14 mounts.' He is a iuti\e of Newcastle, New South Wales.

Phar Lap travelled nicely all the way, was galloped on slightly near the halfmile, and responded gamely when asked to make his final effort. His sectional times were : First four furlongs 51sec., next four 51 i-sec., succeeding,four 52j.sec,, last four 49see., final six 1.16, last mile 1.41 b

Phar Lap’s training quarters during the week-end wui the St. Albans Stud Farm near Geetong. Ho arrived on the coarse to-day an hour prior to the race.

BETTER THAN CARBINE? PHAR LAP AND THE CUP There has not been a season for. some years- that has failed to produce a great figure on the Australian turf to which the appellation of “wonder-horse” seemed applicable. Heroic. Gloaming, Limerick, Windbag, Strephon, Trivalve, Amounis, Mollison, Valktare, and other names occur to followers of the turf as the wonder-horses of their respective peak years, but Phar Lap has by his performances up to four years eclipsed them all, and now ranks equal with, if not superior to, the storied champion of the ’nineties, the great and illustrious Carbine.

To every horse of his year due obeisance has been made by the sporting writers of Australia and New Zealand; comparisons between one and another, in the light of their respective achievements, have been frequent within recent rears, and .no horse has been denied’ the credit due to his performances. But the rank of Carbine, as the wonderiiorse of all time so far as the Australian turf is concerned, has remained unchallenged until the present day, when Phar Lap by his astounding victory under 9.12 in the greatest race of the Southern Hemisphere- steps from the ranks of the equine princes to Hie full state of sovereignty. There has been no shorter-priced winner in the history of the Cup; there has been no more convincing win than Pliar Lap's; there lias been no winner to which the adulation of the sporting public of the Australian States has been poured out in greater measure. Last year Pliar Lap finished in a minor place in the race for the Melbourne Cup, but it has been "onceded that had he been allowed to have his head and force the pace a little for the first mile and a-lialf he would have outshone Nightmarch and' Paquito, who beat liini home on that occasion.

U N DOU BTED S UPERIORITY The year that has passed since the Melbourne Cup race of 1929 has demonstrated beyond any doubt the superiority of Pilar Lap, 'who has been beaten only once this year, and has beaten m turn all the best horses of Australia and New Zealand, with an ease that- led him to a dominating position in the betting for the Fleinington classic of 1930. \s compared with the “wonder-horses of 'other years, lie is described as a freak horse. His career has been phenomenal, and if he were never to win another race, his name would stand as an example of greathearted -.horseflesh as long as the annals of the Australian turf are preserved. In the psychology of a great horse uieh as Phar Lap, there is a fascinating subject for study. Together with the great racing heart that carries such a horse to the top, there seems to be, in the majority of instances, a peculiar equability of temperament that makes such a horse easy to prepare and almost certain to be held in the; highest esteem iv his connections. Temperament is a dominating trait in the make-up of every great''performer, and the ability to take c bin its as they coino, without fretting md "demonstrations of ill-temper, is one of the qualities that contribute, doubtess, to their success. Gloaming had that quality ill an outstanding degree, and Limerick, too, gave little trouble to his trainer and handlers. Thar 1-up s equable temper has become as famous, almost, as his winning way on the tracks. Stories that reveal an almost human intelligence are told of the champion. and his popularity with stablehands and exercise hoys surpasses that of any other well-known horse now m ,lk BOOKMAKERS HARD HIT

Perhaps the only class of turf follower that does not appreciate in full measure the winning qualities of Phar Lap is the bookmaking section, which adds so much color to the- Australian ••nurses. This section has been hard hit by gthe consistent performances of the "iiampion, and yesterday’s exploit must have emptied the bags, of many of the brotherhood. Phar Lap dominated the .jotting, according to recent mailed and cabled reports, to an extent that pro misM ruin for many layers, especially since he was withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup, tho bookmakers have been bn sieged with money for Phar Lap. Strong business was done about the AntoninsPhar Lap double for the two cup races, and one of those who benefited substantially by tho success of tho double is a Sydney lady, Mrs. Yandenberg. who had supported * Antonins regularly, and ’..ad won handsomely by the record stake-earner’s repeated successes, prior io the Caulfield Cup event. Mrs. Vandenhefg was reported to have coupled Amounis and Phar Lap in a wager on the two cups, and stood to win some thousands of pounds. This lady backer was only one of many who had the two winners coupled, and according to the reports available, many layers were faced with embarrassment in the event, which materialised, of I’har Lap carrying off the Melbourne Cup.