THE TRUE PHAR LAP

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1930, Page 7

THE TRUE PHAR LAP

IN CRAVEN PLATE. champion Phar Lap was. put on Lis mettle in the Craven Plate. It is doubtful if he could have given a better exhibition of the wonderful way in which he can leave each furlong behind when the necessity arises. He practically ran Nightmarch to a stand «till, coming home in what appeared to be an effortless, style j>ix lengths', in trout of the Epsom Handicap and Melbourne' 'Cup winner of 1929, with lhmald another ten lengths further Limerick and Donald were in A hopeless positions when Nightmarch and Phar Lap began to stretch out along the back. Phar Lap ran the mile and a quarter in the Australiasian record time of 2.3 which is a quarter of a second faster than the previous best, held conjointly by Deauford. Paree, and Roley, and one-fifth of a second better than that registered by Winning Hit in New Zealand in 1921. J3aw n-na-Glas was credited with equaling Winning Hit’s time in this year’s Wagga Cup, but it was not recognised officially.

In the Spring Stakes the previous Saturday, Nightmarch made a desperate effort to gain, the upper hand of Phar Lap. and. momentarily in the straight seemed likely to ‘ extend the champion. Pike, however, shook up Phar Lap, and the gelding responded so Wfell that nearing the post he was again well in hand, ,;•• The betting on" the race for the' Craven Plate opened at very cramped odds as far as Phar Lap was concerned. The discussions had almost ended when a prominent Victoria ownertrainer made inquiries (for Nightmarch This had rather a startling effect with the bookmakers. "iytTheyj',•suddenly; revealed a disposition to lay Phar Lap, and in the absence of takes extended their prices. A statement that J. Pike, rider of Phar Lap, had said after the Spring Stakes that he was a litt : £e disappointed with the diampion’s gallop, and that Nightmarch had really extended him, soon permeated the ring

The rapid alterations in the prices \ pointed to an unusual race. Immediapj/tely the barrier was released it was evident that' Nightifiarcli’s rider, was determined 'to make Phar Lap show his superiority. Nightmarch moved off smartly, and setting a fast pace from the outset, was in front to the mile past. The early run enabled him to take the position near the rails,'.but going along the back Phar Lap ranged alongside him. They raced stride for stride to the three-furlong post, where Phar . Lap had his head slightly in front. The champion gained sufficient ground coming round the turn to taKfe up the inner position. NightT , inarch strove hard for about half a furipng but his rider soon realised that Phar Lap was the master. The first three furlongs wore run in 38af¥our furlongs in 49$ 8 five furlongs in 1.1 Js. six furlongs in 1.13, seven furlongs in 1.25, and the first mile in 1.37. Phar Lap seemed as if he could have continued for several more furlongs at the same rate.