Pharlap Divide by 3

Racing Minister Rob Hulls wants to have the infamous heart, in Canberra, and skeleton - from New Zealand - join Phar Lap's hide in Melbourne for the 150th Melbourne Cup.

New Zealand Museum communications manager Jane Keig said the museum’s primary concern was the preservation of the skeleton.

“We need to carry out a full conservation report on the skeleton before we can agree or decline the request,” Ms Keig said.

“It’s looking pretty good...it would be great if we could make this happen.”

Ms Keig said the skeleton was last moved in 1998, and said new crates would have to be made to transport it internationally, if it was deemed sound to travel
Mr Hulls today told Canberra to stop guarding the only heart there and investigate ways of getting Phar Lap's ticker to Melbourne.

His dream of having Phar Lap's heart brought to Melbourne for this year's Melbourne Cup hit its first snag this morning with the National Museum saying it was in no state to travel.

But Mr Hulls refused to be deterred, saying there should be an investigation into technology that could help bring the horse’s fragile heart from Canberra to Melbourne.

He said 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 appropriate technology to transfer Phar Lap’s heart to Melbourne,” he said.

National Museum Manager of Conservation, Eric Archer, said the museum would "dearly love" to see Phar Lap's remains reunited.

But he said practicalities around transporting the heart may prevent it from returning to Melbourne.

Mr Archer said the heart was in a very fragile condition and any kind of vibration could damage it.

"The condition of the heart would make it a difficult proposition to travel anywhere,” Mr Archer said.

"We really want to keep it as stable as humanly possible so it can be on display for generations to come.”

Vibrations caused by movement and sound are the biggest threats to the heart, according to experts enlisted by the museum. It is kept in a special solution, under low lighting and in temperature-controlled conditions.

Mr Archer said the museum had refused a similar request to transport the heart to the New Zealand Museum in 2006, and said it would be unlikely to expect a different outcome in this case.

Mr Hulls launched the campaign to re-unify the turf champion at Melbourne Museum - to mark the 150th running of the Cup and the 80th anniversary of Phar Lap's win.

He has written to New Zealand and Canberra museums urging them to put "Big Red" together again.

"It would be a terrific tourist attraction during the Spring Carnival," he said.

Describing the initiative as one of "great importance", he wants the body parts displayed alongside Phar Lap's hide at Melbourne Museum.

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

"You could bet your life it is the sort of thing that Tommy Woodcock (strapper) and Jimmy Pike (jockey) would want.

"Phar Lap is still synonymous with the Melbourne Cup.

"It would be a terrific tourist attraction during the Spring Carnival to have all parts of Phar Lap reunited.

"I just think this would be a fantastic gesture on behalf of New Zealand and on behalf of the National Museum to offer up their exhibitions for the 150th anniversary of the running of the world's greatest race - and also the 80th anniversary of Phar Lap's sensational win.

"A display, including the three remaining aspects of Phar Lap, would be a sensation at the 2010 Spring Carnival and introduce his legend to a new generation of racing enthusiasts."

But the ambitious plan has divided racing figures, with 12-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Bart Cummings among those opposing the bid. "Leave it where it is, he's a Kiwi," he said. "They are building a statue of Phar Lap at Timaru, where he was born. That's more appropriate, I think."

Lloyd Williams, owner of three Melbourne Cup champs, also believed it was "more appropriate" that Phar Lap's heart and skeleton be left undisturbed in Canberra and New Zealand.

But champion jockey Damien Oliver welcomed the idea of all three exhibits being on display together at Melbourne Museum.

In the four years of his racing career, Phar Lap won 37 of 51 races he entered, including the Melbourne Cup in 1930 with 9st 12 lb (61.5 kg, or 138 lbs). In that year and 1931, he won 14 races in a row. From his win as a three-year-old in the VRC St. Leger Stakes until his final race in Mexico, Phar Lap won 32 of 35 races. In the three races that he did not win, he ran second on two occasions, beaten by a short head and a neck, and in the 1931 Melbourne Cup he finished eighth when carrying 10 st 10 lb (68 kg).

Phar Lap at the time was owned by American businessman David J. Davis and leased to Telford. After their three year lease agreement ended, Telford had enough money to become joint owner of the horse. Davis then had Phar Lap shipped to America in order to race. Telford did not agree with this decision and refused to go, so Davis sent Tom Woodcock.[14]. Phar Lap was shipped by boat to Agua Caliente Racetrack near Tijuana, Mexico, to compete in the Agua Caliente Handicap, which was offering the largest purse ever raced for in North America. Phar Lap won in track-record time while carrying 129 pounds (58.5 kg) and was ridden by Billy Elliot for his seventh win from seven rides.[17] From there, the horse was sent to a private ranch near Menlo Park, California, while his owner negotiated with racetrack officials for special race appearances.

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some great fotos check the measurments out

Thanks Shayne magic stuff