Nightmarch and Phar Lap Double

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 809, 1 November 1929, Page 12

Nightmarch and Phar Lap Double

STAKES AND DERBY MELBOURNE CUP MEETING OPENS The V ictorian Racing Club's | spring meeting, which has the Mel- ] bourne Cup as its attraction, | opens tomorrow at the famous j Flemington racecourse. The principal event on the first day’scard is the Derby’, with its £5.000 stake. Phar Lap. of course, dominates the position in that three-year- ol<| classic, and that is why there are only seven left in the race. In the A.J.C. Derby Phar Lap left the field standing two furlongs and won in a common canter: he almost repeated the performance when, on a. heavy track, he downed Mollison in the Craven Plate. That was the rea* son why the Night Raid gelding has been referred to as the ‘ best ever.” 1 A Hot Favourite It was only in the early part of last week that Melbourne bookmakers commenced betting operations on the V. Derby, and even then backers had to lay odds on. There is nothing more certain than that backers of the gelding will be forced to lay even greater odds on_the day. Should Phar Dap repeat his Handwick performance tomorrow, he will be at even shorter odds against for the Melbourne Cup (fun next Tuesday) than at present. A week ago he was nearly four points shorter than Nightmarch, the second Cup favourite. It is in the three-year-old's favour that he can handle any sort of going. Nightmarch is to be given a race tomorrow also, the mile and a-qunrter weight-for-age race, the Melbourne Stakes, being his mission. He will probably be up against the better of the stable pair, Highland or High Syce, both of whom would appear to be worthy opponents for the New Zeai lander. This should furnish an excellent wind-up to Nightmarch’s preparation for the Melbourne Cup. Tomorrow’s Programme The following is the complete programme to be staged at Flemington tomorrow afternoon: Maiden Plate, a sweepstake of £6 each, with £6OO added; 1 mile. Maribyrnong Plate, of £2,000: 5 furlongs.—This is the two-year-old classic event. Kaftan 101 b. tTomi* Song 71b and Cisterian Maid 71b. will carry these penalties in this race, being the only winners engaged. Melbourne Stakes, a sweepstake of £lO each, with £1.500 added; 1\ miles.l at standard weight-for-age. Night-' march is to run in this event. Victoria Derby, a sweepstake of £3O each, with £5,000 4 added: 1£ miles.— Final acceptors: Carradale. Limber Up, Taisho. Third King. Temoin, Pentheus and Phar Lap. J. Munro is to ride Taisho. Cantala Stakes, of £2,000, 1 mile.— W. Duncan is to ride Ruanui, the ex* New Zealander, in this event. Hotham Handicap, of £6OO, II miles. —Melbourne Cup candidates in Winalot, Prince Viol and Kidaidcs arQ among the acceptors.