A GREAT HORSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 106, 7 May 1938, Page 24

A GREAT HORSE.

SPEED OF AJAX.

OPINIONS OF RIDERS.

CROPPER PLATE SUCCESS. "Since 1915 I have ridden some of the most brilliant racehorses in Australia, but never in my whole experience have I piloted a horse as great as Ajax over a short distance," declared E. Bartle, after the C. W. Cropper Plate at Randwick recently. An even greater tribute to the speed which has raised Ajax perhaps to Australia's greatest three-year-old miler of all time, was paid by Jack CSullivan, rider of the second horse, Pandava (says a Sydney writer). "I have never ridden against e. horse so brilliant as Ajax," said O'Sullivan. "At any stage, after we had gone a furlong. Ajax could have run paet Pandava. Pandava was going like a 'scalded cat,' and no ordinary horse would have kept even reasonably close to the colt in the first few furlongs. Pandava was apparently going very easily at the top of the straight and I glanced back to see how close were the others. There was Bartle, on Ajax, well within two lengths of Pandava, and Bartle wae sitting back in the saddle to prevent Ajax from stretching out at his top. When Ajax went past Pandava juet inside the furlong he was still only cantering, and I don't think there is any horse in Australia which could live with him up to a mile."

Bartle admitted that, had he liked, Ajax could have, been well ahead of Pandeva all the way. But with the two-year-old anxious for the lead, it would have been unwise to force Ajax unnecessarily. Even so, Bartle had to pull hard on the champion to keep him behind. "I had Pandava well beaten ajl the wey. Jtiet before I went close to him at "the furlong post, I decided to see where the others were. I looked back and saw no danger, and all I had to do on Ajax was to give him his head. Ajax went past Pandava without the slightest effort, and then I merely let Ajax come home at hie own pace," said Bartle.

IN EASY WORK. Minga and Rehearsal are being kept in easy work at Wanganui, but Icing has been turned out for six weeks' spell. If she goes on all right she will be brought in again and got ready for racing next season. BROTHER TO MARTARA. Mukama, who won a maiden two-year-eld race at Williamstown last month, is a full-brother to Martara. Mr. W. R. Kemball paid 350gs for him at the national sales, bpt he ie now raced by Mr. F. K. Manson. NOVICE SHOWS ABILITY. Tupeotu, who recently joined F. ~L. Butterworth's team at Ellerslie, has been schooled over hurdles a couple of times recently and shows distinct promise. He is a six-year-old gelding by Potoa from Merry Jest, and when he has had a bit more experience he should develop into a useful performer. A GOOD-LOOKING PAIR. The two youngsters brought in from Koatanui to be got ready for racing by W. Rayner are now being ridden (says our Wanganui correspondent). One is a colt by Pombiil out of Solange, and is a wellgrown youngster with splendid bone and locks like one that should prove p. very speedy customer. The other youngster is a full-sister to Courtcroft and is a real aristocrat in appearance. Brown in colour, she is compactly built and shows quality all over. She is one of the nicest-looking fillies seen here for many years.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. NOSKY.— £2 2/. PAVICH (Helensville).— £9 16/ and £3 16/, and £3 2/6 and £1 11/.