PHAR LAP PRAISED

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 379, 22 March 1932, Page 1

PHAR LAP PRAISED

Sensational Race has No Parallel in U.S. AMERICAN PRESS COMMENT. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copj right. AGUA CALIENTE, March 21. Further vindication of Woodcocks training methods were noted when Phar Lap finished scarcely blowing while some of the close finishers were lathered. Elliott’s riding is praised on all sides. Many critics state that he could have won much more easily. The racing expert of the “ New York Herald-Tribune ” comments : “ The sensational race of Phar Lap has no parallel in the history of the American turf. It has been the lot of most foreign invaders to taste defeat, Papyrus and Epinard being examples. Always excuses of lack of form through climatic changes have been forthcoming. Phar Lap not only seemed thoroughly acclimatised, but was as fit as any horse that has gone to the post in America. His record-breaking effort at a mile and a quarter, under 9st 31b is all the more remarkable from the fact that there was a delay of ten minutes at the post, but then Phar Lap is a horse without nerves. Nothing worries or frets him.” Sporting pages of the newspapers give prominent displays of the race, with full details, pictures and extensive accounts of Phar Lap's record in Australia. They tabulate his gross winnings in comparison with Sun Beau, Gallant Fox and others, and see the possibility of his superseding Sun Beau when he comes east. MR FORBES’S MESSAGE. Congratulations Cabled to Mr Davis. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 21. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon George Forbes, sent the following cable to-day to Mr D. J. Davis, owner of Phar Lap, at Agua Caliente: “ New Zealand heartily congratulates you, the trainer and the rider on Phar Lap’s outstanding victory. The fact that your champion was bred and born in New Zealand naturally enhances the keen pleasure shared by all Dominion sportsmen.” SYDNEY CHEERS RESULT. SYDNEY, March 21. Racing men in Sydney never doubted that Phar Lap would win. Mr Harry Marsden said it was only a matter of Phar Lap being fit. Mr George Price was very delighted. He expressed the opinion that Phar Lap would now go after greater successes in America. Leading bookmakers here say- that there was no business on the race, and the result was as expected. The whole racing fraternity was agog when they heard the result by radio. The news spread through the city like wildfire, and there were cheers at the different clubs. Phar Lap’s fastest tinje for the mile and a quarter was at Randwick, October, 1931, in the Craven Plate, 2min 2isec. A table which was compiled at the end of last year gave the following as the record of the world’s great stake winners:— . America—Sun Beau. £71,080: Gallant Fox, £68.273: Zev, £65,000. England—lsinglass, £57,455: Dono van, £55,154: Coronach, £48,224. France—Ksar, £67.068: Massine, £48,311: Sardanaple, £42,301. Australia-—Phar Lap, £56.440; Amounis, £48,250; Gloaming, £43,100.