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PHAR LAP IS DUE IN j SAN FRANCISCO TODAY t,. 4 AGUA CALIENTE. Jan. 14. Seventeen days out of Wellington, New Zealand, the Union Steamship Companys Monowai, bearing its precious cargo, Phar Lap, the super thoroughbred, docks at San Francisco tomorrow. Preparations were made today to unload Phar Lap upon the Monowais arrival. A special van moved into the pier shed. When customs officials and veterinarians finish their examination the big champion boards the conveyance for a trip to Heather Farm, Marchbank Haras, where he will rest from the effects of his sea voyage for ten days before shipping to Agua Caliente. Phar Laps visit to this country marks the first thoroughbred arrival from Australia in a long while. The late A. B. Spreckels at one time made a practice of importing horses from the Antipodes. In late years there is no instance of an Australian thoroughbred entering competition on the American turf. A New Zealander, belonging to a Canadian turfman, a horse called The Mask, once succeeded in winning a cheap race at Tijuana. Phar Lap brings with him a record such as few invading animals ever carried to these shores performances more impressive than the two internationalists, Papyrus and Epinard. He stands among the first ten money winners for all time. He captured practically every classic offered on the Continent "down under." Phar Lap began his trip to America shortly after the running of the Melbourne Cup by sailing from Australia to New Zealand. On the island where he was bred he took a short vacation, boarding the Monowai there on December 29. A full deck on this steamer was given to the horse and his companions. Short stops were made at Cook Islands and Tahiti. Upon how Phar Lap unloads depends the opening winter book quotation upon him, according to Zeke Caress, ringmaster. Caress proposes to release the opening Caliente future book line in a few days. Phar Lap would be a puzzler to any line maker. In a great majority of his 1931 contests in Australia, bookmakers refused to quote any price on him. Caress holds him in no such dread, he says. Indications are he may be around 4 to 1 or even better when the first figures appear. Phar Lap, from present appearances, receive an acid test in the Caliente with such noted American thoroughbreds as the Preakness winner, Dr. Free-land; the American Derby winner, Reveille Boy; the Latonia Derby winner, Spanish Play, and the Toronto Cup winner, Marine, pitted against him.
