TWO CHAMPIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 10

TWO CHAMPIONS

DEFAULTER AND AJAX INTERESTING DIFFERENCES Defaulter may not have the perfect balance, according to Arab tradition, possessed by Ajax, but the three-year-old shows amazing development compared with the four-year-old (says Mr H. G. Warburton in The Sydney Sun). In vital leg measurements. Defaulter practically equals Ajax and Phar Lap, whose figures are those of four-year-olds. It will be seen in the accompanying pictures that whereas Ajax’s balance is perfect at 65| inches, Defaulter is longer behind the saddle. For the purpose of assessing the bal-

ance, according to the Arab theory, the horse is measured from the top-lip, between the ears to the top of the wither for the first section, and from the top of the wither along the back to the last point of the tail for the second section.

HORSE HALL MARK This equal measurement of 65g inches for each section is considered to be a perfect conformation and the hall-mark of excellence, fully borne but by Ajax. One of Defaulter’s most, amazing features is his long rein of 47 inches as compared with the 42 inches of Ajax

and his measurement from hip to hock C- 42 inches which equals that of Ajax. Ajax has a marked feature for a high-class horse—a big head which measures 32 inches as against the 29 inches of .Defaulter. Ajax has an outsize in heads, but of full quality and intelligence. Ajax fails by two inches to reach the height of Defaulter, • but they are such different types, despite equality of

measurements in some other respects, that the height disparity is offset. It will be noticed also that in girth Defaulter beats Ajax by one inch. When Defaulter was being measured in his stable he made no fuss and like Ajax when the measure was being taken, wanted to play with the tape. Even when his legs were being “gone over” ho just looked round with a mute query, “What is all this about?” Even when posing for his photograph he was not at all interested and was persuaded, with difficulty, not to stand very much at his ease. FIGURES TELL STORY

Appended are some general measurements of Ajax, Defaulter and Phar Lap, Defaulter now as a three-year-old and the other pair a year older. They are:—

Ajax Defaulter Phar Ins Ins Ins Length of head 32 29 29 Girth 73 74 7f Below knee 9 9 Hip to hock 42 42 42 Hock to fetlock 18 18 18| Hands Hands Hands Height 16.1 16.3 17.1