NIGHTMARCH

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1930, Page 8

NIGHTMARCH

MELBOURNE TRIP UNLIKELY

SYDNEY, September 17. Nightmarch’.s trainer, A. McAulay said on Saturday that the horse is not nearly so good as he was at the corresponding period of last year, and that, as Phar Lap outclassed him in the Chelmsford Stakes, there there is now a doubt about Nightmarch going to Melbourne. McAulay stated that Nightmarch’s form at the A.J.C. Meeting will determine whether the trip to Victoria will be i undertaken. Nothing definite, however will be decided until the arrival of the horse’s owner, Mr Alf Louisson. There is a feeling in Sydney, that plans will be changed, and that'Nightmarch will go back .for the New Zealand Cup, in which he cannot be saddled with more than 9-6. Under such condtions, the race would be next door to a certainty, whereas Nightmarch, if he went on to Melbourne, would find things very difficult in the weight-for-age events, and he has little chance against Phar Lap in the Melbourne Cup at a difference of only lib. in the Warwick Stakes, in which he was unexpectedly beaten by Amounis, Phar Lap’s real brilliance was conspicuous by its absence; but in the weight-for-age Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday Australia’s incomparable four-year-old displayed all his former dash. Taking the lead at the home bend he cantered over the last furlong to a decisive victory, making a common hack'Off Nightmarch, hero of last year’s spring campaign.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Chelmsford Stakes was the ease with which Phar Lap moved. Pike hopped the odds-on-favourite away more smartly than at Warwick Farm; but, instead of careering to the front, as he invariably did in the autumn, Pliar Lap was restrained, and quietly settled down behind the pacemaker, liurracootaboo. Approaching the straight, Pike gave Phariap his head momentarily, and the favourite quickly set up a two length’s lead when he turned for home. Pike was merely sitting on him passing the Ledger, and home came Phar Lap with his ears, pricked.. Obviously, he was merely cantering throughout the last furlong, yet he registered 1.51 J for the nine furlongs. It would be rather difficult to compute by how much lie could have beaten those' figures had he been pushed at all in the run home. With something in the race to make Phar Lap gallop, Heroic’s race record of 1.50 J undoubtedly would have been excelled. Apart from weiglit-for-age engagements in Sydney, what will be Phar Lap’s spring mission is not definitely: known. His connections have not yet announced their intentions, but it is inly logical to assume that the Melbourne Cup will be his objective. Should he come through his Randwick tasks successfully, which seems assured, Phar Lap will be in solid condition for the Melbourne Cup, and in view of the dearth of good stayers, his chance will be second to none.