WILL THEY MEET ?

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1931, Page 5

WILL THEY MEET ?

AMMON RA AND PHAR LAP. PUBLIC’S INTEREST. All Australia is looking forward to a meeting between Pliar Lap and the crack three-year-old Ammon Ra (says an Australian writer). The last-named has carried all before film so far this spring in Sydney. Is he the horse to check the triumphant run of Phar Lap? . ) y Some day, before his star begins U> wane, perhaps, Phar Lap is going to meet his Waterloo, and Ammon Ra is. being hailed as the moat likely to achieve the distinction of downing him.

The only opportunity that will present itself for a meeting between the two will be in the Craven Plate on the third day of the A.J.C. meeting. Ammon Ra has had a fairly busy time in the last few weeks and it mpj be decided not to overtax him with a hard -race against phnj Lap over a mile at Rosehill. , . Y

On the opening day of the A. J.C. meeting the three-year-old wil] compete in the Derby and Phar Lap in the Spring Stakes. Ammon Ra was not entered for the Randwick Plate, of two miles, on the last dnv of the meeting At present, J. T. Jamieson, trainer of Ammon Ra, doubts whether his oo’t will meet Phar Lap. He hag the idea that such a race might be too much for his colt, but he may change his mind. Jamieson says he has the greatest admiration for Phar Lap, whom he considers “a horse and a- half.” He has no desire to pit Ammon Ra against the champion, as lie does not consider the colt up to weight-for-age standard against such a horse.

STAR ATTRACTION. Should Ammon Ra win the A.J.C. Derby, a race between the colt and Phar Lap over a mile and a quarter in the Craven Plate would be one of the star race attractions of recent years. The colt would receive a hig advanU ge in weight under the scale, carrying 7.11 to Phar Lap’s 9.1. This would tend to bring them together especially if Ammon Ra proves himself to be the champion three-year-old of the season. Phar Lap is by no means deficient in speed, but in recent races it lias taken him a furlong or more to gather up his pace. On the other hand, Ammon Ra even though he came from behind in the Chelmsford Stakes, is noted for his speed. Would the three-year-old’s early pace overcome the class of Phar Lap over a mile and a quarter P

The question opens up great posibilitios, but it is almost sure flint if thev uo, meet in the Plate, Phar Lap providing he has done well up to that -time will have the greatest army of admir-

Ammon Ra has proved that he is possessed of some stamina by his win over (the nine furlongs in the Chelmsford. He still has to go the Derby distance. Up to that date he has done everything -required of him, but even his connections cannot say definitely that he is a stayer.