HE SET A STANDARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 24

HE SET A STANDARD.

When Alan Cooper, who, by the Tray, returned to Sydney from a' visit to America last month, gave £18,000 ,for Talking, he set a standard which owners of good horses in Australia have not been, slow to coj>y (says an Australian writer).

Once if n man offered £10,000 for the best horse, racing he would not have had much trouble 111 buying the animal. It is different' now, and when llr. H. D, Greenwood, tile owner of New Zealand's grand colt. Defaulter, recently received an offer of ten thousand for the son of Defoe, he feimply refused to hear the bidder.

Asked to put a price on Defaulter he also refused, so it looks as if he will continue to own the champion. As 3lr. ~ A. K. Firth refused £10,000 for Royai Chief in Sydney in the Spring, it says something for Xcw Zealand that there are two horses owned in that country worth live figures.

I am afraid that the same could'.not' be said about Australia. Ajax, of course, would bring a tremendous sum if submitted to auction, but I wouldn't like to give ten thousand (even if I had it) for the best horse in the Commonwealth. One of the troubles would he to select the second best.