Plan to 'reunite' famous racehorse

Phar Lap at Museum Victoria. Photo / Michael Potter

Legendary Kiwi racehorse Phar Lap's remains may finally be reunited - in Australia.

Te Papa museum in Wellington is supporting an Australian proposal to have Phar Lap's skeleton - now in its care - reunited with his heart, which is in Canberra, and his hide, which is in Melbourne, for the 150th Melbourne Cup in November.

Te Papa says it will work with the Melbourne Museum and Racing Victoria to try to make it happen, despite long-running controversy over the nationality of Phar Lap.

Te Papa spokeswoman Jane Keig said the museum welcomed the concept of Phar Lap's temporary "reunification"' but any move would have to be approved by the museum's conservators.

"It would be fantastic to be a part of this but it's dependent on our conservators making a full report on the skeleton to see if it's fit for travel," she said.

"Obviously we wouldn't be pulling it apart - it would have to travel as it is at the moment."

The assessment process would start today.

Ms Keig told News Ltd the skeleton was last moved in 1998 and said new crates would have to be made to transport it, if it was deemed fit to travel.

Australian Racing Minister Rob Hulls' dream of having Phar Lap's heart taken to Melbourne for the 150th cup hit a snag when the National Museum in Canberra said it was in no state to travel.

Yesterday, Mr Hulls told Canberra to stop guarding the heart and investigate ways of getting it to Melbourne.

He told News Ltd there should be an investigation into technology that could help transport the horse's fragile heart and that the quick rejection of the bid by museum boffins was a sign of over-zealous protection.

"Whilst we understand them wanting to jealously guard one of the only hearts in Canberra, we are very keen to enter into serious negotiations about how, in the 21st century, we can use technology to transfer Phar Lap's heart to Melbourne," he said.

The remains of Phar Lap, who died in mysterious circumstances in California 78 years ago yesterday, are divided between his birthplace - New Zealand - and Australia, the scene of his greatest equine feats.

Phar Lap's bones were articulated - wired together - following his autopsy after his American-born co-owner David Davis decided it was appropriate to send the horse's remains "home".

While transporting Phar Lap's skeleton could prove a gamble, the condition of the heart seems to make the reunification a logistical long-shot.

Four years ago, the Wellington Racing Club sought permission from Canberra to borrow the heart for its centenary celebrations. The Australians declined, citing the fragile condition of the organ.

Mr Hulls said bringing together the three aspects of the champion chestnut would be timely.

"It would be a perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the mighty Phar Lap," he said.

"Phar Lap is still synonymous with the Melbourne Cup and this would introduce his legend to a new generation of racing enthusiasts."

However, the plan has split Australian racing identities.

Bart Cummings, a 12-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, told the Herald Sun newspaper: "Leave it where it is, he's a Kiwi. They've built a statue of Phar Lap at Timaru, where he was born. That's more appropriate, I think."

But champion jockey Damien Oliver favoured the idea of all three exhibits being on display together.

"Phar Lap is our greatest horse. I'd love to take my children and show them," Oliver said.

"It's important that the story of Phar Lap is embraced by today's kids, just as it was when I was a kid."

Phar Lap conquered the Australian racing scene, winning 36 races from his last 41 starts, including the Melbourne Cup, and then won the Americas' richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico, in 1932.

A fortnight later, he was struck down by a mystery illness that many suspected was the work of gangsters.

- NZPA