Phar Lap statue created by sculptor Joanne
Sullivan-Gessler. Photo by NZPA.
A slightly larger-than-life bronze statue of legendary
race horse Phar Lap will be unveiled at Phar Lap Raceway near
Timaru tomorrow.
The statue, created by sculptor Joanne Sullivan-Gessler in
Auckland, consisted of 850kg of bronze and 200kg of stainless
steel framework.
The bronze statue is the only one of Phar Lap in full flight.
There is a statue of him at Flemington racecourse, the home
of the Melbourne Cup, which he won in 1930.
New Zealand's most successful jockey, Lance O'Sullivan,
Timaru Mayor Janie Annear, Australian ambassador Paul
O'Sullivan and breeding industry representative Sir Patrick
Hogan would attend the unveiling, along with Eddie Telford,
the 88-year-old nephew of Phar Lap's trainer Harry Telford.
Two days of celebrations would include a Phar Lap race day on
Thursday, commemorative dinner and a dedication ceremony.
Phar Lap was born at Seadown, near Timaru, on October 4,
1926, and strode into racing history in the late 1920s and
early 1930s.
In his short life of six years Phar Lap became a household
name in the racing world. He started in 51 races and won 37,
including the Melbourne Cup.
When Phar Lap died in the United States, his skeleton was
returned to New Zealand, where it now stood in Te Papa in
Wellington.
His hide was at Museum of Victoria in Melbourne and his huge
heart at the Australian National Museum in Canberra.
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