FUTURITY STAKES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 7

FUTURITY STAKES

THRILLING STRUGGLE

AJAX DEFEATS HIGH CASTE GREAT OVATION FOR WINNER Ajax made racing history when he won the Caulfield Futurity Stakes for the third time in succession. It was a thrilling struggle and roused the great crowd to a high pitch of enthusiasm, writes " Cardigan." Fifty yards from home Ajax, Manrico and High Caste were almost on terms, but Ajax, making light of his welterweight of 10.5, battled on with superlative gameness and defeated High Caste by half a neck, with Manrico a length away in third place. Few horses have received such a tumultuous reception as Ajax as he trotted hack to scale, llats were even thrown in the air, and the cheering continued until Badger had unsaddled the champion.

To add to Ajax's amazing win was the fact that he ran a race and Caulfield record of I.iM for seven furlongs, clipping a-quartor of a second from Winookn's time. Ajax is now the holder of the five furlongs, seven furlongs, one mile and nine furlongs records at Caulfield. This is a record that has never boon equalled by any horso in Australian racing history.

Interest in Betting The race was run at a fast pace all the way, and, although Ajax was outpaced by Manrico in the oarly stages, he gradually closed on that horso and a furlong from home had got on terms with him. Just as it seemed as if Ajax would huvo a fairly comfortable win, Manrico shifted out from the rails, and Bartle, on High Caste, shot the colt through. High Caste was slightly crowded for room, but still he got tile run, and, although lie was making up ground at the finish, Ajax was able to hold him off.

One of the most interesting features of the race was the contest in the betting ring. The previous day leading fielders expressed in no uncertain terms their certainty that High Caste would be favourite, but the public rallied round Ajax, and the gallant chestnut went to tho post as first choice. However, it was only by a fraction.

Ajax was clapped as he left tho enclosure to go to the post, and I noticed while at the barrier that Badger kept him on the move and trotted him smartly round and round until the horses wero called into lino.

Actually High Caste was one of tho first to move, but Manrico immediately went to tho front, and ovor tho hill ho led from High Casto and Gold Salute, with Ajax fourth. Soon afterwards Ajax moved up rapidly, and at the half-mile Manrico was about two lengths in front of Ajax, with High Casto next, while Pure Gold had now moved up on the outside of High Caste.

When Ajax moved up to Manrico, the laltor, tiring slightly, rolled away from tho rails, and it was then that Bartle switched High Casto back to tho inside and pushed through. The horses were almost in line 50 yards from home, but Ajax, showing all tho grit and courage which he has shown on so many other occasions, was able to defeat the three-year-old.

Half-mile in 47$s At this stago of the race Ajax was going particularly well, whereas High Caste was not. striding out with quite the same freedom as last week. As a matter of fact, approaching tho turn iio continued to lose a little ground. On tho turn Manrico, still going well, had a useful advantage, hut soon afterward Ajax moved up rapidly, and Pure Gold also came into the picture. High Caste improved his position and Bartle was waiting for a run. Manrico was not disgraced and he made the record possible for Ajax by cutting out such a fast pace. The first furlong was run in las, two in 24%5, three in 3GMiS, and half-mile in -17%8. Amiable was fourth, just in front of Pure Gold, who was right in tho firing line at the distil nee. _ , Ajax is the first horse to win the Futurity tlireo times, and the £2300, the value of tho first prize, made his stake winnings £35,100. He thus goes into eighth place in the list of great Australian winners, his victory taking him past Peter Pan and within reasonable distance of Windbag, who is one rung above" him. . ■ Frank Musgrave, tho veteran trainer, has hiuL niajiv thrills, associated with Ajax's amaifitig^career, but it fs doubtful whether ho has even received a -greater thrill than when the chestnut won the Futurity Stakes. Mus"grave was almost beside himself with excitement, and when congratulated after the race lie . saill: "He's by no means a back number;- he's 'still the best." After tho race Mr. A. \V. Thompson, one of Ajax's owners, fed tho winner with a handful of sugar.

NURSERY STAKES TWENTY-FIVE ACCEPTORS TIMARU TROTTING FIELDS [BY TF.LKGRAI'H —PRESS ASSOCIATION] TIMARU, Wednesday Following are the acceptances for the Timnru Trotting Club's Autumn Meeting on Saturday:—

12.30—KING SDOWN HANDICAP, of £l5O, trotters, limit 3.44, l'A miles.—Axworth, Co-Director, Frances Worthy, Invigor* :i*or, Lady Ede, Manian, Moerangi, Patti Nolson, Peter Harvester, Royal Parrish, Small Change, limit; Appomattox, GaynOr, 12,vds bhd; Chateau, Elite Key, Milestone, Native Ruler, 21; Patch's Discovery, 30; Great Linnett, -IS; George Arliss, <>o.

"1.10 —FAIRLIE HANDICAP, of £l5O, limit 3.35), l'A miles.—Chelidon, Marque, limit; Ben W.vvis, Manawai, Pursuit, Scenic Gem Sisjor Polly, Swift Lady, 12yds bhd; MacGregor, Sabu, Shadow Boy, 24. i.SO—TIMARU TROTTING .CUP, of £385 and'trophy'valued at £ls, limit. 4.34, 2 miles. —Dusky Sound, Great Don, Harold Guy, Red Piireon, limit; Cruiser, Donor, Fremont, Roan Duke, 12yds bhd; Nelson Eddy, Waipahi, 24; Bill 8., «4S.

2.3O—SEADOWN, HANDICAP, of £IOO, limit 3.3(>, 1 /,> miles. —Betty Boop, Golden Rivor, Gold Pot, Petite, Prince do Oro, Rowi, limit; Drumcreo, Hidden 'Charm, Little Derby, 12yds bhd; Janet . Gaynor, Stormtost, 24; Rollalong, 48.'

3.10 —TIM A HIT NURSERY STAKES, of £,'55(). two-year-olds, 1 mile. —Bill Ashton, Bromley Boy, Cassandra, Cold Steel, Diamond Jim, Earl's • Pride, My Lady Luck, Walter Moore, Flying Scott, Gold Chief, Jill, Kuako, Malapert, Ngarimu, Nilgau, Otematakau, Prcstigena. Quite Likely. Ronaki, Rosa Derby, Royal Maid, Shadow Maid, Special Force, Surprise Potts, Wee Rey.

,3.SO—TEMUKA HANDICAP, of £250, trotters, limit 3.50, 1 mile 5 fur. —Bill Grattan, Header, Manna's Son, Paddy's Harvest, Reception, Sagamore, limit; Sonoma King, 12yds bhd; Native Huon, Parrish Guide, 21; Gyrate, Jenny's Guy, Mohican, 30; Gracio Fields, 00.

I.3O—WASHDYKE HANDICAP, of £2fio, limit 2.48. V/, miles.—.Aircraft, Aqua Bond, Cruiser. Donor, Dusky Sound, Great Don, Jesse Owens, Silver Gn.v. Subsidy, Wee Potts, Worthy Need, Mankind, limit; Fremont, Harold Guy, Marlene, Token, 12yds bhd; Lightning Lady, 30yds bhd. S.IO—WAT-ITI HANDICAP, of £IOO, limit 2.50, l'/ 4 miles. —Betty Boop, Golden River. Gold Pot. Jerry Parrish, Petite, Prince do Oro, Rowi, Swift Lady, Tiny Axworthy, limit; Drnmcree, Little Derby, 12yds bhd; Janet Gaynor, Stormtost. 24; Devotion, 30.