Phar Lap memorabilia goes under the hammer

Phar Lap memorabilia goes under the hammer at London auction

Triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva will be the toast of the racing world this week but interest intensifies in a fortnight in memorabilia of a former NZ equine star Phar Lap which goes under the hammer in London.

The legend of Phar Lap is well know to racing enthusiasts the world over but very little memorabilia has found its way to the UK over the years and opportunities to purchase mementoes have been scarce.

A number of rare and priceless auction items will come under the hammer at an auction by Sotheby’s, in association with Graham Budd Auctions, on November 16. The two lots of memorabilia are expected to fetch up to stg1900.

``Among the Phar Lap items is a catalogue for the 1928 yearling bloodstock auction at Trentham that saw Phar Lap being offered as lot 41,’’ Graham Budd said today.

``The person attending that January 24 1928 auction has annotated his catalogue with his observations of the yearling who would become Australasia’s most celebrated racehorse: `Good Walker, Great Shoulder, Very Strong Made Colt.’ ‘’

The Phar Lap memorabilia is being sold by a private Irish collector.

Phar Lap was sold that day in 1928 by Mr A.F. Roberts or Seadown Stud Timaru. He was a chestnut colt by Night Raid out of Entreaty. Also recorded in the catalogue for sale next to Phar Lap are the notes: 'H Telford, 160 guineas' ; four racecards for Phar Lap victories in 1930, the AJC St Leger April 19, the Sydney Tattersalls Chelmsford Stakes September 13, the AJC Craven Plate October 8 and the AJC Randwick Plate October 11; a press cutting from The Argus, April 7 1932, with the headline Phar Lap Dead, Collapse in California, Won More Than £66,000; and The Story of Phar Lap by I.R. Carter.

Other Phar Lap commemoratives at auction on November 16 include:
The Phar Lap Collection, deluxe edition published by Equus Marketing, 1996, signed by the publisher Rhett Kirkwood; a Sporting Globe colour supplement print after the famous oil painting of Phar Lap by Daryl Lindsay; a modern limited edition print after Richard Stone Reeves, PHAR LAP, signed in pencil by the artist and the stud groom Tommy Woodcock.

Also being sold at auction is captain Phil Bennett’s British Lions blazer and dinner jacket from the 1977 Tour of New Zealand.

Former All Black Frank Oliver’s white No.19 World XV team substitute's shirt for a match against South Africa in 1979 may be sold at the auction for 150stg.

An unusual set of All Blacks autographs on an artist's canvas, inscribed 2004 ALL BLACKS touring squad and management signed at Piccadilly Circus London 1/12/04 along with the match programme for the Barbarians v New Zealand match at Twickenham, December 4 2004 is also for sale. It should fetch about stg150.

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