The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-02-02

And now Phar Lap, ruler of Aus
traiia and New Zealand, is in Cali
fornia, preparing to do battle
against American thoroughbreds.
Phar Lap will get a chance to
show his wares in an international
match race February ri at Aqua
Ca1iente, against DIR Freeland, Ma
l4ne and perhaps one or two others,
and In March when nc races In the
Aqua Caliente Handicap. A legion
OF horse lovers IL already begin
ming to wonder IL he will fare any
better than did Papyrus. Epinard,
and Challenger II. But Californ-
Jams, before they draw any conclu-
sions, will remember the stunning
victory of English bred Carlaris In
the 1925 Coffroth Handicap, prede-
cessor to the Aqua Caliente Handi-
cap.
No Doubt
While IL Is hard to make an ac-
curate comparison between horses
of the Antipodes and those of these
United States, there isn't the slight
est doubt of Phar Laps ability.
With money winnings OF nearly
100000, he has won SO races.
Though his record, aside from
money winnings. IS not quite as
good as that of Australians horse
Of all time, Carbine, he has bet
ter average than has Sun Beau or
Exterminator.
Phar Lap has beaten all corners
In Australia. including Amounts
and Night March. though Amounts
holds two victories over him and
he has proved the greatest weight
carrier since Carbine ran 40 years
ago.
Az four-year-oid. Phar Lap
performed feat never before ac-
complished on the Australian turf.
He carried 1873 pounds---l5 over
scale weight for age--to victory in
the Melbourne Cup. And not only
did he win, but he won in the
proverbial walk. Last ycar--1o31
he tried to duplicate Archers
unique feat of winning the Mel
bourne Cup twice. When Archer
won his second victory in this event
he carried 142 pounds. When Phar
Lap made his second attempt, SO
years later, he had to carry $50.
He Did Though!
For number Of reasons IL SEEM
ed as though Phar Lap could not
possibly win the cup a second time.
For one thing, only Archer, Car
bine and Poitrel had been able to
carry 40 pounds to victory over
the two-mile course. Carbine had
carried 145. Archer 142, and Poi
troll 40. Moreover, only six top
Weights had been able to win in
tho entire 70 years.
phar Lap was the favorite. This
seemed further to his disadvantage
az only IL favorites had won the
event, and when he won in 1890 he
became the shortest price favorite
ever to win. Lastly he was I'M
outside position.
tralian experts believe that, had
Phar Lap been in good condition.
he would have won. There Is
practically no doubt that he wa3
unfit to run, but when 80, 900 peo-
pie have paid to see a. champion
run, one hesitates to disappoint
Thorn.
That one race will give q fair
indication of the esteem in which
Phar Lap Is held by Australians.
Despite the prohibitive weight he
was forced to carry, the poor post
position, and the rumors Of his i'll
ness, he was still the faVorite.
No One Knows
No one can say how the son of
Night Raid and Entreaty will fare
in America. but he ought to win
the Aqua Caliente handicap with
ease, provided, Of course, that h"
gets fully acclimated. There won't
be any Twenty Grand, or Mate or
Sun Beau; not even n Mike Hall.
Phar Lap will have to shoulder
129 pounds-it ought to b" child's
play for him-and DR. t'reeland
gets in at 800. The former Freak
ness winner rs II horse of merit,
certainly, but he has always been
partial to Maryland courses, and
Saratoga. How he will perform at
Aqua Calicnte remains to be seen.
Somehow one just cannot see
such hOrses az Or Frecland, Fir
vast, Balko and their Ike beating
Phar Lap. Vanderpool remains; an
unknown quantity and. judging
from his present condition. he
won't be ready for the race. But
even IL he goes to the post, It, II
hard to imagine the Campfire colt
finishing in front Of the Australian
geldlng.
On Phar Laps record alone, the
horses he will meet at Aqua Call
ente appear to be a. setup for tho