Is Phar Lap Strephon’s Equal ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 12

Is Phar Lap Strephon’s Equal ?

IMPROVED HORSE NOW COMPARISON OF TIMES s ' dnp -v racin s ’" en wh ° saw p har L;ip "in the AR C. St. Le scr on u lB frst .lay of the autumn meeting at Klemington were of the opinion' that the crack tliree-year-old could not have gone any faster. That opinion was expressed by one man whose judgment can be respected. But jest how greatly the outing improved the Night RaJjj gelding was indicated by his run _ away victory in the Governor’s Plate of two miles on the concluding day of the meeting. Phar Lap has considerably improved in appearance since he raced in Sydney last spring (says ’ Vedette” in the Sydney “Referee”). Trainer L) Lewis who was in Melbourne for the fir** three days of the Flemington meeting mentioned that Sydney racegoers will see a vast difference in him this autumn. •He has grown into a very fi ne horse,” declared Lewis, ’and although lio was not at his top at the com. mencement of the meting, he looks like being a particularly hard one for the cracks to beat here, over a disllecause of the similarity of their racing m many ways, comparison of Phar Laps performances with too of Strephon are of interest. Time is not everything:, but in the times registered by the two horses in winning their various races it is possible to get some idea of their relative merit. Times Comparison Kollowing arc the- Melbourne races \\ hich both won, and their respective Phar Victoria Derby (P. miles) . 2.3*3 ° n 2 314 V.H.C. St. Leger (IS miles) 2.59 J 3 1’ Governor’s Plate (1 >- miles) 2.401 2.‘s<>i King’s Plate (2 miles) .. 3.25 i 3.25 From the above it will be seen that in only one race, the St. Leger, did Strephon make faster time than Phar Lap. There was nothing wrong with the track when Strephon won the Governor’s Plate, but the muddling pace caused the slow time. Each had to make his own running in the King’s Plate, and Strephon was only a quarter of a second slower thaw Phar Lap, both times being race records. But. whereas Strephon won by live lengths from a non-stayer in Black Duchess, Phar Lap won by 20 lengths •pulling; up.' As the two are never likely to meet, the question of which is the better colt is not likely to be settled convincingly, but their Melbourne performances indicate that there would have been comparatively little between the two had they been out in the one season. Won ’Nearly £20,000 * As a result o::' his Melbourne victories, Phar Lap’s earnings are getting close to the £20,000 mark. He should materially increase that in Sydney, as last yea • the St. Leger alone carried £2,572 in prize-money to the winner. More than likely Phar Lap's first meeting with the other champions at present in Sydney will be in the Chip- . ping Norton Stakes (one milfe and a-quarter), at Warwick Farm. Strephon easily won that race 12 months ago, beating Limerick, Winalot and others. Amounis is bound to be a runner tills time and if there is a firm track the meeting of Phar Lap and Mr. W. Pearson’s gelding will be a draw-card by i*self. But. in addition to Amounis, Xightmarch will join in to try cocci usons with the pair, who have been doing so well in Melbourne. Chide is another possible runner and Loquacious, Paddi Eve* and High Syce are ♦rood-class horses who may make up the field. After that. Phar Lap's programme will probably rake in the A.«k.C. Ft. Leger. Cumber'and Stakes (one mile and three-quarters), and A.J.C. P’laie (two miles anc. a-quarter).