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FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSES |
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PHAR LAP (continued) The big chestnut was put in the care of strapper, Tommy Woodcock at Telford's Randwick stables, and thus developed a bond
of affection between man and beast. After being broken in, Phar Lap was gelded. He had his first race start in February, 1929 at Rosehill, in which he was unplaced. At his next three starts
he was again beaten. Finally at his fifth start he won a 6 furlong Maiden at Rosehill and was sent for a spell. Brought back as a three year old, he was unplaced at his first four starts although
running fourth to Limerick, a good weight-for-age performer. Next start he came second in the Chelmsford Stakes and was elevated to favouritism for the Rosehill Guineas and the AJC Derby. He
easily won the Guineas and was ridden in the Derby for the first time by Jim Pike (who rode Phar Lap 30 times for 27 wins and 2 seconds). |
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He won the AJC Derby by 3.1/2 lengths in new race record time. Four days later he won the wfa Craven Plate by 4 lengths. "The Red Terror" had arrived. He had grown into a magnificient
chestnut of 17.1 hands. Telford moved his training establishment to Melbourne taking with him, Tommy Woodcock. At his first start in Melbourne he won the VRC Derby by 2 lengths again in race record
time. He started as a short-priced favourite in the 1929 Melbourne Cup. Ridden by Bobby Lewis, Phar Lap took charge and although leading into the straight by 3 lengths he tired to be beaten into third place
by Nightmarch (another son of Night Raid). He was then spelled. |
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He returned in February, 1930 (still a 3 year old) to run third behind Amounis in the St George Stakes at Caulfield. 1930 proved to be a great year for Phar Lap - from 21 starts he was
beaten only twice. Back in Sydney he turned the tables on Amounis and Nightmarch in the Chipping Norton Stakes, won the AJC St Leger, the Cumberland Stakes and the AJC Plate. In May he won the
Elder Stakes and King's Cup in Adelaide and was sent for a spell. |
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