Phar Lap Page #5

I've been trying to telephone you,

Harry, but you're always engaged.

I leave the phone off the hook and

you still try to drive me barmy.

Why did you scratch Phar Lap

from the Caulfield Cup, Harry?

He's run-down, needs a rest.

You told me a few days ago

he was at his peak.

Why don't you just clear off?

Harry... someone's put 50,000

on Amounis to win the Caulfield

and Phar Lap to win the Melbourne.

And they've got odds of 30 to 1.

- Nothing to do with me.

- I'd be a bit worried if I were you.

Why?

Mrs. Telford.

If Amounis wins the Caulfield...

...the only way some

bookies can save their necks

is to stop Phar Lap

winning the Melbourne Cup.

No-one would hurt a

champion like Phar Lap.

You'd be surprised

what people will do

if they stand to lose

a million pounds, Harry.

Look after yourself.

And your horse.

They're rounding the home turn

and Muratti is the leader

from Lampra, Shadow King,

Second Wind is joining in.

As they straighten up and Amounis

is coming with a big turn of speed.

Coming to the furlong pole,

Muratti still in front.

Amounis is starting to peg

him back under his big weight.

Amounis has ranged up on the outside

with a half-furlong to go.

Soulton coming home well, with Alcman

and Cragford, Second Wind.

But Amounis is going on to score

a great win in the Caulfield Cup.

And Amounis has won by a half-length

to Soulton, third Alcman.

Hello?

I'm telling you again -

take your horse out of the cup

or it's going to

end up as dog's meat.

Bobby!

Come on, Bobby!

There's a boy.

Yeah, g'day.

Come on, then!

It's all a lot of hot air.

Nobody would dare

hurt you or the horse.

It's alright for you.

I'm the one who's in the firing line.

Vi's even too scared

to leave the house.

I started getting these letters

as soon as Amounis

won the Caulfield Cup.

Now, they say the big fella's

gonna be poisoned,

run down by a truck,

shot at by a poison dart,

have acid thrown in his eyes.

Well, how would you like that

sort of thing in the mail?

- I'm gonna call the police.

- No!

I don't want you to do that.

There's no reason Woodcock is

with the horse all the time.

Well, his life's at stake too.

If you don't call the police, I will.

Harry, if you call the police

they're only gonna ask why the

horse is getting all these threats.

Do you understand?

Alright, I'll hire a guard,

if it'll make you happy.

I've been over him, boss -

he hasn't been touched.

What happened? Did you just stand

there and let him get shot at?

Fair go, Harry. The lad put himself

between the horse and the gun.

In my opinion, he

deserves a bloody medal.

Sorry, son.

Come on, Bobby boy.

Harry.

- Is he alright?

- No thanks to you.

What happened to that guard

that you were going to arrange?

We don't have time to argue now, we

gotta get this horse somewhere safe.

- Fast, before they try again.

- Is he alright?

You better get him

somewhere safe too.

If they can't shoot the horse,

they might try to shoot you.

Don't worry. I'll take care of him,

you watch out for the horse.

- Have you got someplace safe?

- I'll take him...

I don't want to know.

Get him there and keep

him there until cup day.

Now, can you get some guns?

Guns? Alright, good.

Don't be afraid to use them.

You come with me. Let's go.

Like this? I've just come

from the steam bath.

Like that. Let's go!

Will the shooting

make any difference

to the race plans, Mr. Davis?

Gentlemen, do Mr. Telford or I look

like men who are easily frightened?

Thank you!

We are a pioneering nation,

forged out of the wilderness

by men who knew the value of

their horses and their dogs.

For an Australian to

shoot at a thoroughbred

is almost unthinkable.

In my books, this is a day

of profound national shame.

Alright. I don't want you

leaving this room for anything.

There'll be a guard outside

the door to get you your food.

Food? You must be joking.

I've got another 4 lb. to lose

and no bloody steam bath!

- Don't eat.

- Hey, I've gotta lay me bets!

No bets.

Mr. Raymond?

- Whereabouts are your stables?

- Right through here.

Right.

Try now.

Give a man a go.

Well done, Sergeant.

I had to - got a couple

of quid on Phar Lap.

Davis.

- Yes?

- Where's that horse of yours?

I wish I knew.

If he's not here an hour before

the race he'll be disqualified.

You try that and you'll

have a riot on your hands.

Half this country's

backing him today.

We'll put the race back 15 minutes.

15 minutes.

Harry... where the hell is he?

What?

They should have

been here an hour ago.

There's a fortune at stake

and you lose the goddamn horse.

- Don't blame me.

- What do you mean, don't blame you?

The horse was your responsibility.

Come on, find him. Fast.

- Let's go!

- Alright.

The chargers for the Melbourne Cup

of 1930

are now parading in...

If he's here I'll ride him, if

he's not, I won't. Fair enough?

Didn't even get a chance

to back myself in any case.

Here are the starters and riders

in the 1930 Melbourne Cup.

I just sent Telford out

to look for him.

There's really nothing

more I can do, is there?

We can't wait any longer.

We've got rules.

Phar Lap! Phar Lap!

Phar Lap! Phar Lap!

Well, I suggest you get

your committee together

and change the rules.

Where the hell are they?

Keep going!

- About bloody time!

- We broke down, boss.

It won't be long now, Bobby boy.

Can't let you miss this one, eh?

As the horses file out

onto the track,

the mystery still remains,

where is Phar Lap?

- Go round to the Members.

- I can't go in there.

Do as you're bloody well told.

Soulton, followed by Nadean

and Some Quality.

Shadow King, just going down the

track, is a picture of fitness.

And there's Soulton, the great

runner-up in the Caulfield Cup,

ridden by Frank Dempsey.

Carradale, ridden by Harold Jones.

And here comes Phar Lap!

The mighty champion has arrived.

They can't stop us now,

Bobby boy. Show 'em, Pikey.

If anything catches us today,

mate, it'll have to have wings.

Phar Lap is just moving

into place now

and we're ready for the start

of the 1930 Melbourne Cup,

the richest and most illustrious event

on the Australian racing calendar

and one of the great

racing events of the world.

We're running late.

And they're getting

some sort of a line.

Shadow King standing well.

Phar Lap with the red colours -

the white sleeves, black

armbands, that red cap -

looking a picture of fitness

as they move up for a start

in the 1930 Melbourne Cup.

The starter looks to

be happy with them.

They're coming in very well.

Steady. Steady. Go!

And they're off!

And on the inside,

first out was Second Wind

from Tregilla, who began well.

Temptation is prominent.

And Carradale is up there.

As they come onto the course

proper the first time,

where the leader here is Temptation,

showing out from Carradale.

They're going forward on the outside,

followed by Second Wind.

And a bit further back

is Shadow King,

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