PHAR LAP TO REST

Southland Times, Issue 21660, 23 March 1932, Page 7

PHAR LAP TO REST

A BRUISED LEG FUTURE PLANS NOT YET FORMULATED .. II — • ' MAY GO TO CHICAGO (United Press Assn.— By Telegraph—Copyright.) Vancouver, March 21. Phar Lap rests for several weeks before he moves from Agua Caliente to the Middle West to prepare for the Arlington Park races. Tommy Woodcock has revealed that Phar Lap had bruised a leg. 'The bruise is not serious,” Woodcock said, “but ,it may make the leg sore for a day or two.’ Phar Lap has been nominated by his part-owner, Mr Davis, for the 2500 dollars added Agua Caliente Consolation Cup race run over a mile and a-half, which is the feature fbr Sunday and which closes the tracks for the winter season. When the nomination was made on Sunday night Mr Davis was not- aware of the bruise. Woodcock said on Monday that it was doubtful whether his charge would start. Elliott said Phar Lap ran just the way he wanted to and exactly as had been planned. Future plans for the “Red Terror” have not been formulated. He will be taken cast, probably to Chicago, within a short time. FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS REQUEST FROM MARYLAND. (Rec. 7 p.m.) New York, March 21. It is understood that Mr Joseph McLennan, racing secretary of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association, has been in communication with Mr Davis regarding the pqssible appearance of Phar Lap on the Bowie track in Maryland early in April. He appeared to be confident that an agreement could be made. The Bowie track opens on April 1 and this is regarded as the formal opening of the Eastern spring season. Experts state that Phar Lap needs races to keep in the best form. WONDERFUL HORSE NEW YORK PRESS EULOGY. (Rec. 9.25 p.m.) New York, March 21. The New York Herald-Tribune publishes an editorial to-day headed, “Phar Lap’s Victory” It praises the victory and mentions the great distance he was transported as not the least amazing feature of it. It predicts that his presence on Eastern tracks in the spring and summer will stimulate racing during the coming season. “The victory at Agua Caliente,” it says, “proves that the stories preceding Phar Lap’s arrival were not fairy tales. This truly wonderful horse gave an exhibition which is bound to stimulate racing. There is every reason to believe his winnings will exceed those of Sun Beau. Few horses are able to win over a long distance as well as sprint races. Phar Lap is one of the exceptions. He has great speed as well as marvellous endurance.” The paper hopes Phar Lap will appear on New York tracks, and says that every one interested in sport will be anxious to see the gelding in action. ENGLISH COMMENT ANXIOUS TO SEE CHAMPION.' A NEW ZEALANDER’S PROTEST. London, March 21. Turf writers give prominence to Phar Lap coming to England where they are eager to see him in the Casarewitch competing against Brown Jack and Camaronian. The Daily Telegraph publishes a New Zealander’s letter protesting against Phar Lap, like Carbine, being incorrectly described as an Australian, when both were born and bred in New Zealand. “How such a mean looking horse as Night Raid could sire a really great horse beats me,” says a racing commentator. "It may be a case of blood going back to the sire’s own country. I hope Phar Lap will run in England, enabling us to see what sort of a horse Night Raid could get in New Zealand.” CABLE APPRECIATED REPLY FROM MR J. DAVIS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 22. The Hon. G. W. Forbes has received the following cable from Mr J. Davis in reply to his congratulations on Phar Lap’s victory. “The boys and myself greatly appreciated your cable of congratulations. Will always do our best to uphold high traditions of New Zealand sports.” THE FREAK HORSE PHAR IAP’S RECORD. Phar Lap was bred in Canterbury by the late Mr A. F. Roberts, who had his stud at Kaituna, though for several years he resided in South Canterbury, where Phar Lap was bred. He is by imported Night Raid from Entreaty, by Winkie from Prayer Wheel; by Pilgrim’s Progress from Catherine Wheel, a Maxim mare, who earned earlier fame as the dam of Treadmill, a high class racehorse and a successful sire. Phar Lap was sold as a yearling at Trentham in January, 1928, for 160 guineas, being secured by Mr Davis, a Sydney business man, but he was leased to H. R. Telford, an ex-New Zealand trainer, in whose colours he has done all his racing. He was a moderate two-year-old, being unplaced four times prior to winning in his final start for the season. He opened his three-year-old career with four unplaced appearances. Then he was second to Mollison in the Chelmsford Stakes and since then his record has been little short of an unbroken run of successes. He was third in the Melbourne Cup of 1929, beaten by Night March and Paquito, but excuses were made for him on that occasion. In the autumn he was third in the St. George Stakes at Caulfield (his first appearance after a spell) and again the following spring, when having his first race, he was beaten narrowly by Amounis in the Warwick Stakes. Those three occasions marked his only defeats since he started his winning sequence in the Rosehill Guineas in the spring of 1929 and in the interval he has won twenty races.

Many high class horses have raced in Australia, but there is a consensus of opinion that Phar Lap is the outstanding champion. He appears to be a freak galloper, who lopes along and makes the best of his opponents look moderates.