AJAX PRAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 8

AJAX PRAISED.

BEAUTIFUL ACTION.

BEST SINCE PHAR LAP.

RACING IN AUSTRALIA.

"Ajax is the best racehorse that Australia has had since the days of Phar Lap," said Mr. G. J. Barton, the well-known Dunedin racehorse owner, on his return from Australia this morning by the Awatea.

The Xew Zealander had nothing but admiration for the way that racing was conducted in Victoria, and said that the stipendiary stewards carried out their duties efficiently, and a jockey who did not steer his horse properly had a good prospect of a month's holiday. Strict control had a salutary effect on the morale of racing, and with good prize money there was every inducement for owners to race their horses honestlv.

Mr. Barton said that Ajax had a beautiful action, and moved like a piece of machinery. In the Newmarket Handicap he won ;-. ftcr being on the extreme otitsidc. and appearing to be hopelesslj" out of the race.

Refcrriiii; to other horses in the public eye at the moment. Mr. Barton added that Hua was a good type, and Elanage was likely to lie otic of the best stayers. The bitter was the best New Zealandbred horse in Australia at present.

He went on to say the opinion in Australia was that the standard of Xew Zealand horses was not as jrood as it had been in past years, and there was certainly not a Gloaming for weight-for-age fixtures.

Mr. Barton sent over a team of ten horses, but although out of condition on arrival they improved a lot. and they were now in the charge of J. Fryer, the ex-Hawera trainer. To the team were Desert Chief and Desert Jewel, whose pedigrees ran hack to the famous Desert Gold, one of the most brilliant mares in the Dominion's racing history.

Mr. Barton said that the Australians had a general respect for New Zealand horses in view of their many great performances in the past, but it was felt that the Dominion was lacking in good handicap horses at the moment. The New Zealand riders were also held in high esteem. K. Voitre was coming back to form after his accident, and Maurice McCarten was recognised as one of the outstanding riders in the Commonwealth.

Mr. Barton intends to return to Australia after Easter.