FINEST LAP OF HONOUR

Graham Buddry tells the dramatic tale of Australia's brilliant Southern star

- Graham Buddry

The greatest horse from the T southern hemisphere is undoubtedly Phar Lap, except that his story is far more intriguing, a true rags-toriches tale and finally so tragic.

His Dam, Entreaty, had twelve offspring, six of them by the same stallion, Night Raid, a former Melbourne Cup winner, yet 11 of them barely won anything and even then the few victories between them were in low grade races.

The twelfth horse was bought by Sydney trainer, Harry Telford in January 1928 from the Trentham Thoroughbred Yearling Sales. Telford, who longed to win a Melbourne Cup, paid just 160gns, due to the horse having a lopsided walk and warts all over his face. He would eventually grow to be an exceptionally handsome individual.

The rich chestnut youngster was to be named after the Thai and a Chinese dialect word for lightning, Farlap, but Telford insisted that his name should consist of two words totalling seven letters after a glut of Melbourne Cup winners with the same pattern. Thus the spelling was changed to Phar Lap.

David Davis, an American businessman, had contracted Telford to but a horse for him but when he finally saw the new purchase he was livid and flatly refused to pay any training fees for him. Telford eventually took out a lease on Phar Lap and trained him for nothing in exchange for a percentage of any winnings.

Phar Lap was gelded before his first race on 23 February, 1929, and toiled in a long way last of the 13 runners. His next three races were barely any better but his last race as a 2yo saw Phar Lap win a juvenile handicap on April 7. Strongly fancied by Telford this day, Phar Lap was backed in to 7/1 from as long as 20/1. It was far from a formality though as the bookies had been knocked over when Pure Tea opened at 3/1 before starting at 2s with Voleuse plunged on too.