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HANDICAPS FOR PHAR LAP English Writers Comment on Australians Visit to U. S. ! Victory in Agua Calientc Handicap Expected to Set Seal of Greatness on Antipodean Star. Roughly about forty years ago the names of Trenton, Garnage and Carbine were household words in Australia and New Zealand turf circles, and old-time racegoers "down under" still cling to the notion that these mighty performers were the greatest that ever lived, writes Walter Meeds in a recent issue of "The Sporting Life," a London publication. AH three duly arrived in England and did famously at the stud, the two first named at Cobham, while Carbine, at a cost of 5,000, joined St. Simon at the famous Welbeck Stud. These remarkable animals had brilliant careers on the turf. Carbine ran in forty- three races and won no fewer than thirty-three, the total amount in stakes aggregating 47,380. Evidence that Trenton was a great horse is forthcoming from the knowledge that the slashing son of Musket- Frailty won over all distances from six furlongs to three miles. The greatest performance of Carnage was to win the Victoria Derby in the then record time of 2:39. Two days later he was caught on the post for the Melbourne Cup when giving away chunks of weight in a field of thirty-one. With modern New Zealand racing enthusiasts the deeds of these three equine heroes sink into insignificance when the feats of the present-day wonder, Phar Lap, are mentioned. Indeed, in their minds, there never has been, or ever will be again, one so phenomenal on a race course as Phar Lap, which shortly essays the greatest adventure of his career in opposing the crack American thoroughbreds on the peculiar dirt tracks which proved the undoing of those remarkably great performers, Epinard and Papyrus. OTHER FUTILE INVASIONS. So enormous are the disadvantages of a strange climate, food and going, that shrewd American critics ridicule the idea that Phar Lap will prove supreme in the 0,000 handicap at Agua Caliente March 20. In endeavoring to vindicate the opinions expressed, the critics quote freely the failures of Papyrus and Epinard, and, in addition, point to the entire loss of form by Reigh Count and Strephon II. when shipped to these shores. Nevertheless, market quotations on the race indicate that the American leviathans betting ante-post do not intend to stake their dollars at outside odds against the New Zealand idol. Daily comparisons are made between the recently retired American celebrity, Man o War, and Phar Lap, and interest is gradually attaining the fever pitch typical of the United States. Racing the world over is full of romantic stories, and by no means the least interesting is the acquisition of Phar Lap by H. R. Telford, brother to the famous New Zealand trainer, Hughie Telford, on behalf of D. J. Davis, who leases the gelding to Telford. Night Raid, the sire of Phar Lap, just over a decade ago, could not win a race in England could not even gain a place under ninety-six pounds in a selling nursery of eight runners at Warwick! SPEED AND ENDURANCE. Yet the blue blood of Radium and Spearmint is transmitted to his progeny, and produces this equine racing machine which possesses the devastating speed of The Tetrarch and is capable of traveling any distance. Harking back to the New Zealand yearling sales of 1928, when a chestnut colt by Night Raid Entreaty was cataloged as lot 41, the story of Phar Lap, a chance purchase, resembles Nat Gould fiction. H. Telford graduated from a stable lad to be a jockey, and he retained a lively recollection of a particularly fine stayer named Prime Warden, one of the best horses he threw a leg across. When studying the yearling catalog in 1928 Telfords eye caught the reference to lot 41 tracing back to Miss Kate, dam of Prime Warden. He decided to acquire the colt. Telford in those days was battling hard to get a living from the turf. Money was more than tight it was almost non-existent. Someone had to be urged to purchase, and the blind goddess pushed the prize at 00 he was almost knocked down for 00 into the hands of D. J. Davis. So far from appreciating the gift, Davis insisted that Telford should bear the cost of training. To this end and other conditions Telford agreed. POOR rROSPECT AS YEARLING. During Phar. Laps later yearling days Telford was not impressed with his bargain. Phar Lap looked as poor as a kangaroo dog and eventually the trainer deemed it the best policy to geld the colt and turn him out. Luxury played no part in his early life. Phar Lap was brought up in a hard school. It often happened that money was not available for grass gallops, so Phar Lap was indulged in plenty of exercise on the Maron-bra sand hills. This, and long, strong work at Kensington, suited his giant frame and as a juvenile he began to look as furnished as a three-year-old and thenceforward continued to thrive. Remarkably sensible and friendly, Phar Lap, like Pretty Polly and Epinard, had a great affection for a traveling companion. In Phar Laps case it was a mare named Eillon. The pair always worked and went about together. Even at that time Telfords colleagues agreed that Phar Lap was a real good-looker and mover, but that the trainer was entertaining an equine angel unawares is revealed by Telford expressing doubts of beating several others in the A. J. C. Derby. The champions possession of wonderful speed, combined with natural stamina, was soon to be discovered, and, as experts state, Phar L.ips breeding vindicates the quality of the three leading Bruce Lowe lines. It is a fact, however, that, like Night Raid, the racing merit of Phar Laps dam, Entreaty, was Jf extremely moderate class, and Night Raid has been described by judges of bloodstock as the ugliest sire in New Zealand. Nowadays the main topic of conversation in American and Australasian racing circles is whether this record stake winner, now getting into fast work, will prevail against conditions which Papyrus and Epinard could 1 not combat.
