“Stars galore! Phar Lap, Nightmarch, Amounis and Limerick, clashing in the Warwick Stakes, and the appearance of many fancied Epsom, Metropolitan and Derby candidates - Warwick Farm has a splendid programme to offer racegoers tomorrow.” The Sun 1930
For those Sydneysiders who could afford a newspaper, read more miserable news of how, in less than a year, the Australian economy had been decimated by the global Depression. Hardly an aspect of people's lives was not touched in some way. Apart from the wealthy, where some may have seen it as a buying opportunity, most were struggling. In these dire times, sport became a welcome distraction to the general doom and gloom enveloping society. One such distraction being the upcoming appearance of the mighty Phar Lap in the 1930 Warwick Stakes. His first race as a four year old.
In this star studded field at Warwick Farm, Phar Lap would be meeting the previous year’s Melbourne Cup winner Nightmarch, AJC All Aged Stakes winner Fujisan, winner of just about everything in New South Wales including the Warwick Stakes for the past three years, Limerick, 1929 AJC Metropolitan winner Loquacious and an eight year old gelding, edging ever closer to breaking the Australian stake earning record, Amounis. Even before the season had really even started, this would remain one of the most anticipated races for the year.
Along with the majority of businesses, racing clubs around Australia were bracing themselves. Already attendances had plummetted throughout the autumn and seeing a worsening of this dire situation, all clubs knew nothing would be improving. They did, however, have one shining ace in their pack – Phar Lap. A horse captivating the racing public and now attracting people who had never ventured inside a racecourse in their life to just see him run effortlessly to victory. For some, just so they could say to their children and grandchildren, “I saw the mighty Phar Lap”. This mile weight-for-age race brought early season Sydney racegoers to Warwick Farm in droves.
Despite Phar Lap returning from a well-earned and much needed midyear break to start his four year old season, it was automatically assumed Harry Telford would have thrashed his champion into race condition just as he always had. But to the bookies, it really would be making little difference for as high credentialed as Phar Lap’s opponents may have been, each and every one of them would more than likely prove themselves no match for the champion. The races were being run in what was perfect spring weather. Even though the huge chestnut gelding gleamed in the late August sunshine, many of the pundits thought Phar Lap a little on the pudgy side. After spending six weeks standing around posing for artist Stuart Reid with his only real exercise ripping Tommy Woodcock’s shirts to pieces while they played around together and going for gentle rides, it was a miracle Phar Lap wasn’t larger. To the bookies, all this mattered naught. Phar Lap would be starting at such short odds of 10 to 9 as to be pretty much unbackable.
Lining up next to Phar Lap, last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Nightmarch, ridden by his usual pilot, Roy Reed. No sooner was Nightmarch showing 7 to 2, he began drifting out 4 to one before the rope went up. Despite continually losing to Phar Lap in the autumn, Nightmarch had returned from New Zealand after his winter freshen up and was looking in sparkling form at training. Out rode Harold Jones on Amounis looking at the crowd who were looking mainly at Phar Lap. A seasoned jockey, Jones was brought up from Melbourne especially for his ride due to Ken Bracken being made unavailable through suspension. Much was expected from him and Jones become aware of the huge amounts McGrath and particularly Maude Vandenberg were investing in this result. Quickly closing in on Gloaming’s stake earnings record, Amounis appeared to be morphing into an equine version of Benjamin Button. His seven year old season of ten wins, three seconds and two thirds from 16 starts was quite frankly a freak of nature. These included winning the Fisher Plate, Cantala, Linlithgow, St. George, Futurity and CM Lloyd Stakes all of which came in a victorious eight race streak. Most horses are a little toey in their first run back and Amounis was no exception as Jones kept tight control of his mount.
Maurice McCarten rode Limerick, returning from injury, but still a much fancied 6 to one along with Amounis. Considering Limerick had won this race for the past three years and was beginning to show something of his previous form, his strong support was justified. Also starting in this class field of ten runners, almost going unnoticed, was Windbag’s full sister and winner of the controversial 1929 AJC Metropolitan and AJC Oaks the year before, Loquacious. This mare, in amongst this company, had almost taken on a cloak of invisibility at 33 to one. Also stuck in the cracks and crevices of this amazing field, the Valais sired Fujisan. Nothing was expected from this gallant champion, having not won a Group 1 race in two years and now a nine year old. However, in the trophy cabinet were wins in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, Doncaster Handicap and AJC All Aged Stakes. Still, there he was waiting at the starting barrier with a late flurry bringing his price a little shorter at 20 to one. A couple of other talented horses who had also ceased to exist: Chide and Donald. Again, two more good horses completely overshadowed by the return of Phar Lap.
Owned and trained by Canterbury based G. Murray Aynsley, Chide won the 1929 Canterbury, New Zealand and G.G. Stead Gold Cups on the way to nine successive wins before showing up on this afternoon at 25 to one. Looked upon as a good horse in New Zealand, Chide was being all but dismissed in this company before even stepping foot on to the beautiful Warwick Farm track. Donald fares even worse.* As a nine year, bookies were offering 100 to one odds of beating Phar Lap to the line in this field. Quite frankly you could have got 1000 to one as most bookies thought Donald’s chances were more realistically pitched between Buckley’s and zero having already chased Nightmarch, Amounis, Chide and Phar Lap home in many of the autumn races earlier in the year. Rounding out the field, were the Buchan sired stallion, John Buchan and mare Western Lass, sired by 1917 Melbourne Cup winner Westcourt. Starting at 33 to one and John Buchan at 100 to one, neither horse was going to trouble the bookies.
* Sired by Don Reynaldo, a 1912 Andrew Robertson import for the Tye brothers at Allendale Stock Farm, Donald had twice won the AJC Summer Cup and a Newcastle Cup.
Horses pranced and walked around from the mounting yard to the start, breaking every now and then into a short gallop. As they lined up, Jim Pike sat patiently waiting for the starter. Phar Lap appeared to be saying hello to old friends rather than being fully ready. Nightmarch stood equally still for Roy Reed. On the other hand, Amounis, Fujisan and Limerick were all on high alert waiting for the starter. They all flew away from the big chestnut when the rope sprung up as Pike took a moment to have Phar Lap fully in his stride. Heading around the first turn were early pace setters Amounis, Nightmarch, Chide and Fujisan. Despite others tearing to the lead, it was difficult taking your eyes off Phar Lap. A thing of beauty, watching how easily he found his rhythm and came gliding through the field. By the half mile, Fujisan passed Nightmarch on the outside leading Amounis, ridden hard by Jones ahead of Phar Lap and Chide.
Entering the straight Phar Lap was checked by Amounis, throwing his rhythm slightly off for a few steps before Pike started making up ground on the leaders again. Amounis grabbed a short break on Phar Lap and Fujisan when "Big Red" was again bumped causing a slight break in stride. Pike settled him down again. Some punters and trainers glanced at their stopwatch, this was a blistering pace for a first up race to the season. For a hands and heels rider, Roy Reed surprisingly started using his whip on Nightmarch, moving him up behind the leaders. Harold Jones did the same on Amounis. All the while Pike remained content loping along on Phar Lap without a whip to be seen. Still making up ground from his interference Jim Pike began easing his champion first past Fujisan, then Nightmarch and looked to be gliding past Amounis when the old gelding kicked back in front. With the Warwick Farm post fast approaching, Jones went into overdrive with his whip and nudged half a body length ahead. Just when he thought he had the race, Pike again pulled Phar Lap effortlessly up next to him on the outside, still riding hands and heels.
The bulk of the crowd having backed Phar Lap, even at such short odds, there began an increasing concern with how Pike was riding. Some started shouting for the whip as Amounis was flying. But as fast as he appeared to be going, Phar Lap gave the appearance of being able to take this race at any moment. Yet it was not happening as many started screaming for Jim Pike to use his whip. The mood quickly descended from anxious to ugly as punters could not understand what Pike was doing. Jones kept Amounis just in front when they hit the finish almost together. Then came the uproar when it was realised Phar Lap had lost. On the other hand, Amounis had just set a new Australian mile record. Nightmarch came in after them, three lengths behind.
Today would not only be the first race for Amounis as an eight year old along with the return of Phar Lap, Warwick Farm saw the return of Sydney's most daring punter, Maude Vandenberg. Or, as she was being described in the press by her sobriquets “Madame X” or “Queen of the Ring”. Today if you saw those two nicknames together you’re possibly lost on a lonely night in a dubious section of the internet. Amounis may have enjoyed his last eight wins in a row but not nearly as much as Vandenberg who managed to rake in a veritable fortune over his performances. True to form, Maude Vandenberg was in boots and all with the bookies for Amounis to continue his winning streak. Due to the amount being wagered on Phar Lap, it hardly mattered how much money she threw at the bookies, the odds remained attractive. The trio of Billy Pearson, Frank McGrath and Maude Vandenberg all had their commissioned agents swarm around Warwick Farm’s crowded betting ring scoring as many 10 to one bets as possible until Amounis’ starting price finally settled at 6 to one.
Since her incredibly successful autumn carnival, where she slaughtered the bookies on a weekly basis by her and the Amounis stable, through the winter the Queen of the Ring vanished. Probably for a well-deserved break and spend some her plunder. Most of the Sydney bookies half expected Vandenberg to make a reappearance but as the Truth described, “Like the flowers of Spring, Mrs Vandenberg blossomed forth at the Farm.” She would end up going home after her new season foray into the ring with nearly £7,000 from Joe Matthews and co.* Bookies at Warwick Farm felt even then, this would only be the beginning of a fresh onslaught. They just did not know yet exactly how devastating that onslaught would be.
* Truth 31 August 1930, page 2
After the dust settled, most realised what an incredible effort from the eight year old Amounis over the four year old Phar Lap it actually was. Many also realised the difference in result lay in the tactics of the two jockeys – Harold Jones and Jim Pike. While Amounis received a fair walloping all the way up the Warwick Farm straight, Pike had remained steadfastly guiding Phar Lap hands and heels. Although Frank McGrath enjoyed a lovely betting win, he was nonetheless in two minds with the treatment dished out to Amounis from his jubilant jockey. Jones must have picked up on the uncertain vibe and narrowing gaze boring into him from his trainer and was quick to say, “It was the only way to beat him.”* Pike's reception back to scale was not the usual welcome from the crowd. His riding had placed them in a filthy mood for not having given Phar Lap a similar reminder there was a section of the community out there with money riding on the result.
* Truth 31 August 1930, page 2
The majority of punters may have been wanting Phar Lap to be urged on with a few hard whacks on the rump, the mood among bookies, trainers and other owners on Phar Lap’s performance became nothing short of a shudder of cold realisation. If everyone thought Phar Lap’s three year old season was something special, his four year old season could well turn out to be extraordinary. It meant every upcoming weight for age race made him an unbackable favourite. As for the other owners and trainers, despite coming second, Phar Lap’s run sent a wave of despondency through their ranks. How on earth could a horse only be ridden hands and heels, still carrying condition and so obviously under prepared, come within a whisker of beating the second best horse in Australia that is being whipped all the way to the line to break an Australian record. As much as everyone loves watching a front running champion, among most of the heavy betting trainers, owners and big punters, this Warwick Stakes was perhaps one of the most dispiriting moments many could remember. For they knew, from here on in, any race, particularly weight for age, with the name Phar Lap in it, would pretty much shut down the ring.
Jim Pike was still being taken to task a week later from the press and public for his reluctance to use the whip on Phar Lap in such a tight finish. No criticism was coming from either Harry Telford or David Davis. Pike became annoyed by the constant chatter but still let it pass. After decades of riding, he knew just how fickle the punters could be and was equally certain as soon as Phar Lap started winning again, all would be forgiven. The stewards, however, viewed the matter differently. Their concerns had little to do with his lack of whip work and more his tactic they considered reckless, bordering on dangerous. They indicated in their report the two checks on Phar Lap were due to Pike trying to take his big gelding through gaps where there was insufficient room.*
* Observer 4 September 1930, page 21
Jim Pike has been rightly viewed as one of Australian racing's great hands and heels riders. Yet the criticism he received after the Warwick Farm loss still stuck in his craw. Months later after Phar Lap’s tenth straight win after the Warwick Stakes defeat, the jockey’s annoyance still remained.
“It has never entered my head to pull the whip on Phar Lap because there has been no necessity. I am not an advocate of the use of the whip. Punishing horses went out with the straw hat. It is not because of this conviction but the fact he has never been pressed in races except one. Only once has he faltered from under me and that was due to lack of condition. That was the first race of this spring when Amounis beat him in the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm. But even then it did not enter my head to pull the whip. I know the horse was doing his best and the whip could get no more out of him because a flail cannot make an out of condition horse go faster. It is just possible if I had have flogged him on that occasion he might have been beaten still and might have been ruined for the remainder of the spring. I am convinced that the occasion for whipping Phar Lap will never arise. I am not an advocate of the whip. I think more races are lost than won of it because jockeys who pull it more often than not loses his balance and let’s go of the horse’s head. I much prefer the principle of sitting still and holding a horse together.”Referee 26 November 1930, page 7
A few years later, Pike modified his story and told the papers Harry Telford expressly told him to nurture the horse and not use the whip on Phar Lap under any circumstances as he was so out of condition for a first up run. But whip or no whip, it made very little difference to the betting opportunities for the Phar Lap stable over the coming months. Telford, Pike and Davis saw their chance to make substantial betting gains from Phar Lap shrink and continue shrinking. They knew this situation would only worsen. Over the next few months, Phar Lap ran in seven more weight for age races before the 1930 Melbourne Cup and won them all easily. The Depression saw the stake winnings lowered as racing clubs had little option with attendances continuing to fall. As predicted, when Phar Lap began his weight-for-age winning streak, the real problem was not in Phar Lap winning but winning so absolutely as to make betting unprofitable. So after his nine wins through the autumn and the same result about to repeat itself in the spring, it is unsurprising schemes would be hatched.
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