TRACK AND STABLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19892, 21 March 1939, Page 9

TRACK AND STABLE

VISITOR TO MELBOURNE MR. BARTON’S OPINION AJAX AND DEFAULTER By “Trenton” Mr. G. J. Barton, who recently arrived at Melbourne lor the autumn racing, expressed some interesting opinions to an interviewer. The report states: “Mr. Barton is one of the few New Zealanders who does noi consider that Defaulter would beat Ajax. ‘Defaulter is good,’ said Mr. Barton, ‘but he is not as good as Ajax, who is the best horse over a short course I have ever seen. I cannot imagine any horse beating him.’ Mr. Barton had rather a melancholy story to tell about racing in the Dominion, fie said that it made New Zealanders miserable to see Australians buying all the best yearlings at the national sales at Trentham. The high prices were in the main caused by the competition among the Australians themselves. Inquiry Finding •An inquiry was held on Saturday into interference met by Rakahanga in the Railway Handicap on the first day at Trentham. After hearing evidence, the stewards decided the trouble was accidental. Back to Riding F. R. Foster has relinguished training at Pukekohe, and intends to confine his activities to riding. Foster, who is now settled at Ellerslie, is a very capable rider, both on the flat and over fences, and is not likely to lack mounts at the coming meetings. Rehandicaps Mr. H. Coyle has declared the following rehandicaps for the Manawatu Racing Club’s meeting on March 21 and 25; — Woodhey Hack Handicap.—Trebor, ■9.9, Barabbas, 7.11. King George Handicap.—Mea Mea, 8.0. j: M. Johnston Memorial Handicap. —Florence Mills, 8.1. Te Matai Hack Handicap—Yours Truly, 8.9. Beau Vite has been withdrawn from the Cloverlea Nursery Handicap. Siegfried Winner One of the most improved horses to graduate from the maiden ranks lately is Fiancee (Siegfried—Betroth), who carries the colours of Mr. H. E. Card, Wanganui, at one time owner of The Banker. She has built up a good deal and her improvement in physique induced many to support her in the novice handicap at New Plymouth. The class she had to deal with was not strong, but she disposed of them with the greatest of ease; in fact, her rider treated the opposition as though the filly had no chance of being beaten. His view was correct, for, after waiting till inside the last furlong, she walked past them and won with ease. Fiancee is bred to be something more than a sprinter and her performance at Taranaki suggested that she would run a good seven furlongs or a mile.