F. D. JONES RETURNS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 13

F. D. JONES RETURNS

HIGH PRAISE FOR AJAX

The Riccarton trainer F. "D. Jones returned from Austraha last -week after a successful campaign. He stated that Hoyal Chief had. done well throughout the trip; and that the gelding had caused him very little ankiety by soreness. ' .•'■■■-. ■ •'. ; Discussing Royal Chief and his form, Jones said he xan, many good races. Naturally, the Metropolitan Handicap, which he won at Handwick, "was regarded as the high light of the trip, and after that he considered his last :paee was his best. That was one of the times he met Ajax, and in the opinion of his trainer, Royal Chief ran. a very solid race, even though Ajax beat Mm. The race -was the C. B. Fisher Plate and there were only four .starters, the ■distance being a mile and a half. A^as toad his share of good fortune, as he was on the move, when the barrier was released, when his three opponents were standing .flat-foted. Jones made no complaint, contenting himself with the remark that it was the luck of the game. Royal Chief rah a good race in the Melbourne Cup. He had only three: horses behind Mm with seven furlongs; to go, heing therf a hundred yards from; the leader, Ibut he finished on in fifth; place, after being eleventh at the turn.' tGREAT GAIiLOPEK. jßeverting to Ajax, Jones said he was a great galloper, -and -though his habit of "boring "was apt to lbs trouble-; some, he" always seemea to have a j finishing €ash left. Apart from his galloping aMlity ADax took Jones's fancy for his commanding appearance, and he expressed the ippinicm that the, Heroic horse -would make a grand .sire; when he Twas xeiared. to the stud. If-j will i>e a great .pity, ne said, if Ihe. did not get a real stud. <chance. > ; J©mes was greatly impressed with; some of the two-yearrdlds he .saw,, and: found room for much satisfaction ttitat: so many of the best liivenole per-, formers were by young sices, in -fheir; first stud season. Among these sixes: were Manitoba, Madagascar, Portofinq,, and Zingaro, four imported horses, Hej was also pleased ait the successful start; .made fcty Waikare. TJhis littnand hotsßs was mepresEaatsd iby Waircika, a "weH-j .growaa fillgr, -wil2i ixciHiant ;?pßed. She; was trafiued Ijy Qeorge Price, and :isnEi aaaigjhj-(develop into s. Mgh-c3ass lihr£B-' y^ar-old. ; / '' ■ ■.NO'MLASB.MaiME; " Commenting ©n a sref erence in a Melbourne paper that Jre contemplated retxuraing to CauMeM in Hie autumn -with; the idea of setffing there, Jones said that though, ihe enjoyed making trips to Australia, tie had no intention of leaving Biccarton 1© reside there permanently, . . No plans have Ibeen made for Royal. Chief for the remainder of the season^ The id-ea of taking him to Australia; again in "the autumn has not been dis-i cussed. The horse will have an easy; time for a' lew weeks, there being noj Intention of racing him during thej Cfcunastmas and New Year holidays, but; he asnay lie ©ttt again in the autumn,! even if there is no Australian trip. ]i Jones may go south during the' sholadays with Lady Leigh and possibly, also the two-year-old Prudent Prince. ■QfEher members of the home team, all; of them in good order, will be racing later in the season. Bere Regis, a two-ryear-old filly by I/ord Warden from Anthem, has left the stable, having gone to Mosgiel under *he care of D. P. Wilson at the dose of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Meeting.