RACING.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18167, 4 November 1930, Page 11

RACING.

PHAR LAP ! CAUFIELD CUP INCIDENT. MUCH COMMENT CAUSED. EXPLANATION BY TRAINER. When Phan Lap was scratched for the Caulfield Cup, following upon apparently genuine information from the stable that he would run in both cups, a sensation was caused in racing circles In Australia. The latest mall to hand throws additional light on the Incident and, to some extent, alters the complexion of the affair. Immediately following the scratching, which was reported as due to the gelding being delayed at Albury, .the Sydney Morning Herald said: — "Telford has always been very reticent regarding Phar Lap’s engagements, and while he is quite within his rights in leaving Phar Lap in the Caulfield Cup' as long as he wished, even if it was not his intention of starting him, «.»- earlier withdrawal would have been appreciated by the many admirers of the champion, as most of them are only tod ready to support him when no great outlay :s necessary, for a small win. "Although Phar Lap won the three weight-for-age races at the A.J.C. spring meeting, it was necessary for him to stretch out at different stages of the Spring Stakes and Craven Plate. "Telford is evidently keen on Phar Lap carrying the greatest weight for a four-year-old gelding to victory in the Melbourne Cup, and apparently does not wish to increase the champion’s task by incurring a penalty or risk his speed and stamina being affected by too strenuous a campaign.

A Denial Issued.

A denial that Hie, department was responsible for the delay of Phar Lap at Albury was made by the RailwayCommissioners in reply to H. R. Telford's statement that this delay caused him to scratch the gelding for the Caulfield Cup. . The Commissioners said that full arrangements had been made by the Victorian railways to tranship all racehorses from Sydney to Melbourne at Albury, and immediately convey them to Melbourne. The stationmaster at Albury said that lie was informed on the Sunday that it had been decided to spell tne horses at Albury, and that the horse trucks would not be in use the following day. A number of trainers in Melbourne are reported to have been annoyed with Telford for delaying the scratching of Phar Lap. They say that’ if the withdrawal had been made sooner there would have been more than fourteen horses in the race. A later Melbourne / message says that because J. Pike, the jockey, had reported, that Phar Lap was not moving as well as usual, and because the champion was travelling badly from Sydney, and there was danger of overworking the gelding, are the reasons given by H. B. Telford, lessee.rainer, for scratching Phar Lap from ihe Caulfield Cup.

Telford’s Statement. 11, ii. Telford, the trainer of Phar Lap. when interviewed, said that he would like to remove the impression that Phar Lap was scratched because of any delay at Albury. When Pike reported that the gelding was not running well on the tan at Sydney, Telford said that his foreman deemed to rest him a day at the border, ui du.ng that he was acting in the best interests, and he upheld him. ' ‘ Both Mr Davis and I considered it was too much to ask Phar Lap to win the Caulfield and the Melbourne Cups,” said Telford. Phar Lap was quite well to-day, and the trainer added that he had not backed the geldm* for a penny. He denied a rumour that he and Mr Davis were on bad .uiaiis over Phar Lap, and that he was overworking the gelding. There was not a word of truth in any of the staiements, although he admitted that he was influenced by the rumours in scratching Phar Lap for the Caulfield Cup.

Expert’s Views. The well-known equine authority, Dr. Stewart McKay, adds an interesting sidelight to 1 the discussion in a letter to the Sydney Morning Her---.jri'e says: ‘‘l think I can throw some light on the delay of Phar Lap at Albury. On the Tuesday before, the Craven Plate I was discussing with Telford some points about Phar Lap, and I asked him if it was his intention to' run Phar Lap in the Caulfield Cup. He said that he intended to do so. I remarked that I did not think it was a wise thing to-do. Nothing more was said about the matter. On the Thursday I was at the stable at Telford’s request regarding a portrait of Phar Lap to he painted, and the man in charge, in whom Telford has the most absolute confidence, told me that he was very upset as the railwav people had refused to permit Phar Lap to travel by the express on Sunday night, and so lie would have to go by a later and a slow train, and that the horse would not reach Melbourne until late on Monday. I suggested that such a long journey should he broken at Albury, as Phar Lap was too 1 valuable an animal to take anv risks with. The groom, a most intelligent man, said that he thought that would be a better plan. Telford, owing to important business matters, was unable to return to’ see his horse run in the race on Saturday, and the horse departed on Sunday night, was rested on Monday. “It is all very fine for a few disgruntled backers to howl because they have lost their money. We oil lost, because it was obvious that the Caulfield Cup was a comparatively easy task for this, the greatest horse that Australia has ever seen, and probably the greatest horse that the world has ever seen. Has the horse no I rights? is it to be rushed from one colony to another because the public have backed him? Doeo ; the public forget that taking Phar j Lap out cf the race meant a loss of at least £SOOO to Telford? Has ’ any one of the public lost that amount by the scratching of Phar Lap? I think Telford has shown that ho is not a ..mere moneygrubber, but one who puts the welfare of his beloved animal before anv monetary consideration.”

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

11. Goldfinch is spoken of as the likely rider of Silvermine in the Stewards’ Handicap. Holly Holm, the Acre— Gre’at Effort three-year-old in M. J. Carrolls stables, is not to keep his engagements at Whangarei. * Cashier looked burly when he was paraded for the Waverley Cup, but he ran quite a fair race and soon may be found in winning form again, sajs a Taranaki writer. The Awapuni-trained La Poupee, who has proved the best of the season’s two-year-olds so far with a third and two wins in three starts, has returned £l2lO in stakes as against her price of lOOgus. as a yearling. The hack hurdlers at Waverley never stood a chance of beating Boy al Damon and the Polydamon gelding will win more of these events, r. McKay, the owner-trainer of Royal Damon understands jumpers. Gay Cockade is to contest the Whangarei Cup in which has 7.idThe Depredation —Lethargic gelding is likely to be in some demand for the ten furlong race on Thursday, His victory in the Members’ Memorial Handicap at Cambridge was impressive. Gay Cockade is in excellent condition at present. Sasanof won the Melbourne Cup in 1916 for Messrs W. G. Stead and L. S. Luttren, and the Martian thiee-year-old carrying the light impost of 6.12. Two years later he scored in the New Zealand Gup with 8.9. lhe Night Raid horse Nightmarch scored in the big race at Flemington last year with 9.2, beating Paquito and Phar Lap and, on his recent form in Sydney looks to stand a great chance ol repeating Sasanof’s performance. Ho has the maximum (9.6), but is a great weight-carrier. During the compilation of his record stake winnings seven _ riders have been successful on Amounts, lhe first jockey to score on him was A. Hunter. Then lv. Bracken was associated with him in many successes in the colours of Mr A..P. Wade, and it is a coincidence that Bracken renewed acquaintance with the Magpie gelding recently, after a lapse of several seasons. F. McGrath, the trainer of Amounis, was desirous of securing Bracken for the Caulfield Cup, but \\- Cook had been engaged for several weeks. Prior to the Cup, Cook had only once ridden Amounis, that beinjr in track work on Uic oi the race. J. Toohey, .T. Munro, H. Jones, and the laic 11. Cairns, aic other jockeys- who have won on Amounis. Tradesman claims a double engagement at the Whangarei meeting, lhe locally owned three-year-old gelding by Raceful —Lady Birdwood is in the Kensington Hack Handicap (six furlongs), with 9.0 and the Hikuiangi Handicap (seven furlongs), with 8.1», top weight in each Instance. Tradesman's victory at six and a-half furlongs at Cambridge was an impressive effort and he should go well in whatever he is ■ started on Thursday. J. McLaughlin, the apprentice attached to A Tinker’s stable, who has been very successful with Tradesman, will again be his pilot.

With the first “leg” Amounis, now “in ” Phar Lap has only to win the Melbourne Cup this afternoon to make the layers feel sorry, for themselves. Some wonderful wagers are reported about the combination, one pertinent Sydney lady alone standing to win some' tens of thousands. Amo’unis has been fa great winner for Mrs “Van” and it is stated that she "played up” a cool £2OOO on the CaulfleldMelbourne double. Phar. Lap has simply paralysed the betting on the Melbourne Cup, and good judges reckon that the son of Night Raid could carry the grandstand, and still win. Possibly many punters are now in a position to “lay off,” and so have “something-to-nothing," or even a little in hand.

APPEAL BY MORRIS. WELLINGTON, Monday. The Wellington District Committee to-day considered the application of B. H. Morris with regard to taking off a sufficient number of days from his month’s suspension to enable him to ride at the opening of the N.ew Zealand Cup' meeting on Saturday. At present his month does not expire until, Tuesday of next week. The matter was referred back to the Judicial Committee of the Otaki Racing Club, which imposed the suspension.

WAIKATO RE-HANDIOAP. WELLINGTON, Monday. Valsler has 'been re-handicapped at 7.6 for the Waikato Cup.