EIGHT ON END.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 14

EIGHT ON END.

AJAX'S PERFORMANCES AN EASY VICTORY. THE TRUMP RUNS SECOND. Ajax won iiis eight successive race and increased his winnings to £20.4»H) when he cantered home at the head of the Memsie Stakes field at Ctiul field on September 3. His ginning margin was two and a half lengths from The Trump, who had to be ridden right out to beat Aitchengee a head for second money.

Ajax was not allowed to stretch out iir the early stages, and Badger held him in restraint, with the result that he did not make a big gap in the fiixt half mile. ,■■'.. Rounding the turn he hung awav from the rails slightly, and The Trump pushed through on the insid;-. but the Cups' winner of last year did not have the dash to ttike advantage of the owning left to him. More tWan half the bookmakers in.the paddock ring did not bet on the race. When the barrier row? Ajax immediately went to the front and. going along at a nice leisurely gallop, he led from Tactical ami The Trump, with .Aitchengee, and Elanage next and Marauder tailed off. With the exception that Tactical got a little closer to Ajax, there was no great alteration racing down the railway side, but at the three furlongs Aitchengee made a fast run and dashed up on the outeide of Tactical, while The Trump was hllggiup the rails. Manage was now dropping ~ut and Marauder was ntill last. Close to home it looked as if"Aitchen gee would beat The Trump for second money, but The Trump was hard ridden and he just put his head in front in the last few strides.

Ajax won as most people anticipated that be would, but it would appear a* if Tin* Trump i<4 not quite as good as he was, as. taking a line through Aitchengw. he should have beaten thTit old gelding more easily than he did. Ajax'rt time, 1.52J was two seconds outside Young Idui's Caul Held record. He ran the last mile in 1.38 J, the last six furlongs in 1.135, am i t i, e la*t half mile in 48 ; ,'s.