The two horses ran different varieties of races. Phar Lap ran long distance where as Black Caviar is a sprinter, however I believe we can compare them on the grounds of their cultural significance.
As much as we hate to admit, Phar Lap was born in New Zealand in 1926 and was picked up and trained in Australia. Phar Lap's astonishing record united Australia in a time when the Great Depression had its hands around Australia's throat. The horse brought new hope for those who could barely afford a loaf of bread.
Although his death is still considered mysterious, Australians believe that he must have been poisoned because he posed a threat to the American's dominance.
Although we are not in a depression, Black Caviar emerged in a time when Australia's cultural and political landscape were hardly stable.
With the Global Financial Crisis and the internal affairs of the Labour Party followed by Australia's first hung parliament, Australian's tended to focus on this new sprint superstar.
According to the Herald Sun, (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviar-primed-to-win-21st-consecutive-victory-at-morphettville/story-fn67tz2v-1226353417187) BC's odds are $1.04.
With odds like these you would expect no one to back her, yet they do.
So many people put on small bets just to keep the winning ticket. They don't care about their two dollars and four cents pay out, their only desire is to be part of history.
So although Phar Lap and Black Caviar lived in different periods of time with different challenges and raced different races, they still draw the same euphoria out of us that ultimately unites a nation.
good from you Briggsy
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