Phar Lap Page #3

And we think he'll win.

- And where did you get him?

- New Zealand.

For 168, quite a bargain.

Isn't your horse a New Zealander?

Carradale. Yes, he is.

Who in the blazes were they?

Pushy little Jew. Sells dinnerware.

Door to door.

- Knows nothing about horses.

- He's not a member, is he?

Hard to keep them out these days.

Handsome woman, though.

- Did you have to do that?

- What?

McKinnon practically runs

racing in this country.

Did you have to tell him

what Phar Lap cost?

He paid 10 times that much

for Carradale.

Mrs. Davis.

What do you think, Tommy?

There's some good horses

out there today, Mrs. Davis.

My husband will tell me I'm a fool

but I'm gonna back him anyway.

Does Mr. Telford always

get that nervous?

If Bobby doesn't win today,

he's finished.

Suppose I am too.

I've been looking for you, Harry.

My horse for the Derby's

been scratched.

Flies when he's fit,

but if there's a germ between

here and Perth he'll pick it up.

Would you like me to ride Phar Lap?

20?

You bet 20...?

Bea, you're crazy, you know that?

Why? Why did you do that?

I just felt lucky.

Ladies and gentlemen,

there has been a

late change of rider.

Number two, Phar Lap, will

now be ridden by J. Pike.

Go!

They're off

in the AJC Derby,

and Carradale was one

of the best to begin

and is being ridden hard

to the lead in the early stages,

while Phar Lap has

missed the start badly,

he's last as they settle down.

20.

Carradale crossed over the rails

to lead about a length and a half

to Honour and Toper.

They were followed by Cathmar,

Comanche, Lorason, Pentheus,

Nedda, Queen Nassau and Phar Lap.

As they race down to the straight

and the leader is Carradale,

a length and a half

to the good of Toper.

Honour is next, over on the rails.

They were followed further back

by Sir Ribble and Lorason,

then Pentheus and Nedda, Queen

Nassau, and Phar Lap is still last.

They race towards the back

and Carradale kicked away.

It's Carradale...

Sir Ribble next, on the

outside of Comanche.

And Phar Lap is still

on the tail of the field.

Lorason ahead of him, with

Pentheus, Nedda and Queen Nassau.

- But Carradale shows the way in front.

- Go!

Here's Phar Lap going

around them quickly now

about three or four deep.

Go, Bobby!

But here's Phar Lap

coming quickly now.

Comanche's back in midfield.

Carradale in front, but here's

Phar Lap going up very quickly now.

Go, Bobby! Go!

Carradale and Phar Lap,

they're locked together

head and head as they

race towards the turn.

Carradale on the inside

and Phar Lap on the outside.

And they've moved away

about three lengths further,

followed by Toper and Cathmar.

Phar Lap on the outside of Carradale.

Pike says, "Go now," and Phar Lap

races to the lead in the Derby.

About two or three lengths

to the good of Cathmar.

But the big red horse, Phar Lap,

he's racing away with the AJC Derby.

It's Phar Lap's Derby.

But it's Phar Lap's Derby,

he's won the Derby very easily.

You'll find that the winner will

be Phar Lap, ridden by Jim Pike,

second will be Carradale,

and third will be Honour.

After the 1929 AJC Derby...

Come on, boss, you've

gotta get the sash!

I can't, Tommy.

I can't.

Number two, Phar Lap,

J. Pike, the winner.

Second was number nine, Carradale...

Don't say I didn't

warn you, Mr. McKinnon.

- Congratulations, Mrs...

- Davis.

...Davis.

Promising horse.

It will be interesting

to see how he performs

when he gets a decent

weight on his back.

- Davis?

- Yes?

Ah... gentlemen.

Is it true you've always thought

the horse wasn't any good?

No.

Who told you that?

- It's a story going around.

- Well, there's no truth to it.

I've had utter faith in this

horse from the very beginning.

Then why did you lease him

to Harry Telford?

Oh, because Mr. Telford

found the horse

and I thought it was only fair.

Now, I want to make it clear that

I've had absolute faith in this horse

from the very first moment

I laid eyes upon him.

I suppose you had a

lot of money on him, then.

- Well...

- We did quite well.

Thank you.

7,135.

Well, a third of it

has to go to Davis.

Oh, Harry, let's put it

into something safe.

Your brother reckons

we should buy a property.

I can't raise sheep.

You said it yourself a dozen times -

that training's a rotten life.

Oh, yeah, well, it is.

When you've just got a few

hacks stuck in rented stables.

I'm gonna have my own place now,

love, and run things my way.

And Cappy and I will see even

less of you than we do now.

Well, what do you think

it's like for us, Harry?

You're up at 3:
30 every morning

and by the afternoon

you're dead on your feet.

What do you expect me to do, woman?

Slink back to the bush just

when I finally get my chance?

Sorry, love.

Look... Phar Lap wasn't

a fluke, you know.

I picked him from the bloodlines

and I persevered with him

while every other trainer

was laughing at me.

No one's laughing now.

You've proved your point.

I haven't even begun.

I know more about

bloodlines and training

than any other bastard

in this country.

And by the time I've finished...

...they'll all know it.

And the big red,

Phar Lap, has burst away.

But now here comes the big red

down the centre of the track -

Phar Lap, he's starting

to storm home out wide.

Phar Lap races up

and goes to the lead,

and it's another effortless

victory for Phar Lap.

The Wall Street

stock market crash

has caused a crisis

in the American economy.

The 3-year-old racehorse Phar Lap

continues his run of good luck.

The best I ever rode.

In fact, I don't think

there ever was his equal.

Certainly not during my time.

Phar Lap is dashing

well clear of the opposition.

He's racing away,

nothing can catch him.

And don't the Victorian

crowd love it?

I've got nothing against

Telford or even Davis.

But let's face it - they're not

going to put any time and effort

back into the sport

like we're doing.

Exactly.

They've just happened on a horse

with very indifferent breeding

and a freakish turn of speed.

And they're entering him

in everything for the money.

Phar Lap, most sensational

Australian galloper of all time.

Record-breaking streak -

four wins and 4,000 in a fortnight.

This has been an amazing week

for Phar Lap.

He's been entered in three

major VRC races and won the lot.

What a horse!

Pike says it's

Phar Lap's phenomenal speed

that makes him so superior

to all other horses.

They just happen to

be killing horseracing.

A lot of my friends are saying

it's not worth putting

their horses against Phar Lap.

And the bookmakers won't take bets.

Well, the way Telford's

overracing and overtraining him...

...he can't have too many

more wins left in him.

It's Phar Lap. Pike's letting

the champion have his head.

He's racing away. Nothing

can stop the 'Red Terror'.

Kick him along! Come on!

He's surely a horse and a half.

The Red Terror - here

he is in action again,

only cantering this time.

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