Phar Lap Page #2

Hard work never killed any horse!

If a few more trainers cottoned on

to that they might do a lot better.

Now, pack your things and get.

And all you said was

that he looked half-dead?

I reckon it's just not fair.

Keep your nose out of it, Emma,

it's none of your business.

But he is killing the horse, Missus.

Lazy horses are like lazy people -

they have to be jolted out of it.

Now take your places, please.

Don't let your food go cold.

For what we are about to receive

may the Lord make us truly thankful.

Amen.

- How's it going, boss?

- G'day, boss.

Mr. Telford!

- Boss.

- Hey, boss.

Don't go back up the bush, Tommy.

Some other trainer will give you a job.

Not when they hear I got the sack.

Yes, they will, Tommy.

They know what old Telford's like.

Enough of that.

Mr. Telford's here to see you, Tommy.

He's out on the porch.

What's going on between

you and young Tommy?

- Nothing, Mum.

- Better not be.

Boss?

What have you done to that horse?

Spoiled him rotten.

Anyone goes near him

he rips their bloody shirt off.

He won't eat, he won't...

Now, get back to the

stables. Get him fed.

Reckon I got my job back.

Gee, he's a rude old cow.

I wouldn't go back.

Better go. Bobby will fret.

Bobby?

Phar Lap.

See you later.

Those beggars who

reckon you can't run

are gonna get a shock today,

eh, old fella?

He's really starting to fill out, boss.

Hard work - puts muscle on.

Are you gonna watch the race?

I'll listen from down here.

Oh, don't give him more sugar!

He'll die of bloody diabetes

before his first race.

Harry, say hello to Mrs. Davis.

- Harry Telford.

- How do you do?

OK, let's take a look at him.

You said he was as ugly as a camel.

You should have

seen him a year ago.

So, I understand his training times

have been better recently, yeah?

When he's ridden hard.

He's still lazy.

Have you put any money on him?

- I don't bet.

- I see.

You're not exactly

oozing confidence, are ya?

I don't think I'll bet on him either.

- Oh, I'm gonna have a bet on him.

- Yeah?

- What's your name?

- Tom Woodcock, ma'am.

I'm Phar Lap's strapper.

- Do you think he'll win, Tom?

- I reckon he will.

As they pass

the 3-furlong post,

and Exact is the leader,

about a length and a half

in front of Memento.

Then Phar Lap, the newcomer,

the big red horse,

moving up on the outside.

Cabaret Girl on the inside of him,

followed then by Busham

and Rose Flight.

Coming up towards the home turn,

Phar Lap, rider having great trouble,

and Exact has kicked away -

about four to five lengths

in front of Cabaret Girl,

who's starting to make up ground,

with Memento on the inside.

And Phar Lap looks as if he is

going to hit the outside fence.

As they straighten up for

the run to the judge now

and Exact is four to five

lengths in front of Memento,

and Cabaret Girl

moving up on the outside,

and Phar Lap still racing wide.

With half a furlong

to go it's all Exact,

and Exact is going to win easily

about two lengths

in front of Cabaret Girl.

Memento third, a long distance then

to Busham from Rose Flight,

and Phar Lap ran last.

- Do you like it?

- Here, listen to this.

"The big 2-year-old Phar Lad..."

They can't even get

the horse's name right.

"...enhanced his reputation

for consistency

"by finishing last yet again."

He's a real smart guy,

this Bert Wolfe, huh?

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.

Gorgeous.

There's a boy.

Go on, let me get on

with it. Go on.

Alright, up we go.

Tommy.

You can take Phar Lap

out this morning.

I'm taking young Cappy

for a ride on Sally.

And work him hard.

- How's Lightning, Tommy?

- Good.

- Harry given up on him, has he?

- Yeah, he's still in bed.

You better hang onto him,

he might take off.

I wanna try something different

this morning, Cashy.

I'll hold Bobby back then see if

I can get him to go out after you.

- What's the sense of that?

- We'll just try it.

He's gotta learn to be a winner.

After him now!

Don't let him get away.

Yes!

You beauty.

Good on you, mate.

Alright, Cashy, let's try that again.

Off with your cap.

That's a good fella.

Yeah. Up we go.

Did he like it?

Yeah, he's a regular

little horseman here.

Did Daddy take you

on the big horsey?

- Yeah.

- I bet you're hungry.

Are you hungry?

We'll take your shoes and socks off.

What's all this?

I thought I told you

to stop all that.

We needed the money.

Well, send 'em back. We can manage

without you being a servant.

- How, Harry?

- We can manage!

Harry, I'm sick to death of

struggling for every penny.

I won't have you taking

in laundry. We'll manage.

How - Phar Lap?

He'll come good. He's got Carbine

on both sides of his bloodline.

Harry, people are laughing at you.

He's hopeless. He's a dud.

That's right - he's flying, Mr. Davis.

Yeah, I always knew he'd come good.

Just needed a lot of

hard work put into him.

I've knocked that lazy streak

out of him at last.

No, no, you wait till

you see him next time.

The first race I ever rode

was on one of Reg's horses.

"Do you reckon I got a chance?"

I said. "Yeah", he said.

"The five other jockeys have

backed you for a fortune."

Could I have a word

with you in private, Jim?

You can talk in front

of these blokes, Harry.

If they hear it direct

they can't spread any rumours.

I've got a good horse

for you, for the Derby.

- Yeah? Who?

- Phar Lap.

I reckon I'm fixed up

for the Derby, Harry.

But I'll keep it in mind.

Phar Lap - he's gotta be joking.

Harry, the best horses in the country

are entered into the Derby.

Now, I know you're convinced

the horse has improved,

but, Harry, for Christ's sake,

we're talking about the Derby.

I'll be back in a second, honey. Sorry.

I'm hoping to get Jim Pike.

Jim Pike?

Now I know you're dreaming.

Why would Jim Pike

wanna ride Phar Lap?

He said he'd keep him in mind.

Come on, he was being polite.

Look, Harry, you wanna

enter him, you enter him.

But you make sure you do it

under your name... not mine.

I'm not gonna be humiliated

in front of all the top owners

in this country, believe me.

I need 30 quid to enter him.

Oh, boy.

You wanna enter him,

you find the money.

That was part of our deal, right?

I tried.

Then I'm in very good company

when I say no, hmm?

Harry...

...alright, you can have the money.

On two conditions -

one, you don't use my name...

...and two, if that horse doesn't

race well this time we sell him.

Race well? He's gotta win.

I owe more than 300 quid

and I can't pay my rent.

Pity Pike's lost his mount.

Masterful horseman -

compulsive gambler, though.

Good luck in the Derby, Mr. McKinnon.

Oh, well, thank you.

We think we'll give you

a run for your money.

You've got a horse

in the Derby, Mrs...?

- Davis. My husband, David.

- How do you do?

Sir Samuel Hordern.

- Sir Samuel.

- Yes, we have - Phar Lap.

I don't believe I've heard of him.

You probably wouldn't. He...

he's just in for the run.

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