WHAT OF PHAR LAP?

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1931, Page 4

WHAT OF PHAR LAP?

THOSE DISQUIETING REPORTS

IS HIS BRILLIANT CAREER ENDED?

A SHORT LIFE BUT A MERRY ONE

(Special from “Paritutu.”)

Monday’s cablegram from Melbourne stating that the mighty Phar Lap is ih a bad way and may never race again is likely to cause a stir in the whole sporting World, but well-informed Turf followers knew as much (and ptbbably more) some months ago, and to them the announcement did not come as a surprise. At least five weeks ago a Sydney writer penned an article with the (then) astounding headline: “Has Phar Lap Finished? and went on to describe the champion’s pbor racing condition early in the year, and the likelihood that no more would the shouts of the race Crowd wake the welkin with the cry: “Phar Lap! Phar Lap Wins!” The fact that the son of Night Raid, after making hacks of the vOfv best horses of the Australian States and of New Zealand for two seasons, had to forego rich and important engagements at the Australian Jockey Club’s autumn meeting strengthened the. statement that all Was 7 far from well With him, and although neither Mr. Dhvis nor Mr. Telford took the Press into their confidence, the' facts are now known to the whole world. Phar Lap was probably the greatest horse which ever looked through a bridle in the Southern Hemisphere, giving Carbine, Gloaming and the rest in, but no champioh was ever asked to- do so much in such a short time, and this “going-to the well too .often” has .brought about the downfall of an equine which, better handled, might have graced the Turf and carried off the highest honotirS for many more seasons. . .. • 1 ! Gloaming may be cited as an instance of a champion -who was infinitely better .handled. The son of The Welkin raced.from three years to nine yeafs, but was never asked to contest a handicap event. Weight-for-age races saw him ever in the limelight, and after a long and honourable career on the Turf he Was mercifully pensioned off before it could be said that he had met his master. Trainer R. J. Mason, than whom there Was not a greater in Australia and New Zealand,- realised nbt only that he had a super-horse, but that Gloaming WhS not a machine. Gloaming met the best oyef distances from four to twelve furlongs, and proved his 1 superiority at weight-for-age, but Mason had. too mafiy brains to ask him to carry welter weights m big handicap fields, and so Gloaming stuck on brilliantly for seven great and notable seasons. Phar Lap, on the other hand, once he had pfOVed his greatness, Was never given a let-up. After scoring his first important win in September, 1929, he was pitted against allcomers in classic and handicap Class, conceding not Only several 1 stone at times, 1 but carrying much in excess of standard weigllt-fOr-age imposts, fintil contesting the 0. M. Loyd Stakes in March of this year, and in less than eighteen shhrt months winning the huge sum of £51,000, which runs OUt to approximately £650 a Week.

But the question arises: Has too gi’efft a strain been put on Phar Lap? Last November he Wak asked to carry what had previously been regarded as a prohibitive weight for a four-year-old in the Melbourne Cup (two miles). Then, in February, hfe Was asked to saddle up against the best sprinters ip. the laiid in the Nutufity Stakes, and carry a 201 b. penalty. He had a particularly strenuous race, and he whs right out to-beat Mystic Peak. It has been suggested that that effort was the turning point in Phar Lap’s career. In other words, that was the ‘ ‘ crusher. ’ ’ .

But after that sup er-equine performance, Phar Lap was asked to come out and run in weight-for-age races that had been “loaded” Against him. According to the man in the street, the V.R.O. altered the conditions of these races because Phar Lap Was about the place. Fortunately, the A.J.C. committee did hot run amok. It allowed its standard weight-for-age races to remain standard w.La. events.

It is remarkable that the connections of Phar Lap did not express their appreciation of the A.J.G.’s action by declining to race at the Flemington carnival, The Sydney racing body showed the Phar Lap people far more consideration than did thbSe at Flemington, but the A.J.C. was denied one of the big draw cards—Phar Lap; Mr. Colin Stephen and his henchmen Were deserving of greater consideration.

While indications are not promising, so far as Phar Lap’s future is concerned, it is to be hoped that his spell at Bacchus March will prove so beneficial that those who declare that the last has been see of Phar Lap will be proved to be wrong. The chestnut is too great an ornament of the turf to be lost before he turns five years old.

How Phar Lap stood up to the strain for so long will be marvelled at by: keen students of. racing. Admittedly great facehOfSes have taken years to amass even a trifle of the stake money won by him. And it is a thousand pities that such a wonder should go down—beaten by bad tactics, not by better horses—as a five-yCar-old. That he may race again, and reproduce his three and four-yehr-bld greatness is the wish of all true sportsmen, but “the writing is on the Wall/’ and if the worst happens, then let others take heed. A horse is not a machine, and the motal is thfere for all to digest.

The motorist tearing home from the racgg at 70 m.p.h. says he can pull up In ft car’s length, and generally does so; that is, providing that there is an ''elbbtfic pole handy. # # * * Little Doubt was pocketed in the Stratford Hack Cup and then blocked in the straight. Under the circumstances he ran a great race and should make amends soon. The Antagonist breed like heavy going.

Bright Glow’s form in the St. George’s Haiidieap cannot be right. With her pace, she should have been able to go with Seatown, and it would not be surprising to find her doing better at Hawera. • • • . • ' . J, T. Jamiesdn left Havaspdt in Sydney; where he will be under the care of George Young, who has applied for a ttainer’s liceiise. Young was very much in the limelight a few years ago, when he rode Glodming in many of his successes. • • # • The Catmint geldihg Marjoram, who raced unsuccessfully at the Avondale ahd Waikato meetings, is none the worse for his efforts. Properly placed he has time to increase his winning score before being relegated io hurdle racing. • # * « Amber Link, who races in the Silme interests as Brazanna, will most probably sport Mr. R. A. McLean’s colours at Pukekohe, and although she has been recommissioned but a short time she displayed speed earlier in the season that should stafid her in good stead. ♦ * * * Bargains. Mr. IL T. Reid must be very pleased with his purchase of High Comedy, Royal Artist and Roseric, for Whom he paid £5OO. Roseric, who is now an inmate of Al. J. Carroll’s team, showed the irfost promise early, but has failed to live up to expectations, while High Comedy (£1095) and Royal Artist(£Ss7) placed the Waikato owner well on the right side of the ledger. As the Leighton youngsters look like developing into really good three-year-olds, Mr. R. T. Reid has a couple of very cheap horses to carry hie colours next season.

The Manawatu Racing Club has applied for Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, as dates for an extra mdetiiig this season. The application had. been approved by the dates committed <>f the itfteing Conference, and all •that is nbw necessary id the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Gold Day was turned out in nice racing condition at Te Rapa by J. F. Eva, and his running was not in keeping with his sprinting ability. He did not leave the barrier as quickly as usual, and as the pace was on all the way he may hot hove had time to become properly balanced. He looks well after his recent racing, and it should not be long before he succeeds in making good again. < * » • ®

Mftshoor looks aS well in condition now as ever he did, but continued signs of soreness during the past couple of months do not make his immediate prospects appear very bright. MashoOr is a great jumper, and is a good plodder over a long journey over country, his best effort being when he beat all but Aurora Borealis in the Winter Steeples at Ellerslie last June. Unless a rapid recoverv is made, it seems hardly possible that he will be found on the list of winners this winter.