AJAX FOR SALE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1938, Page 7

AJAX FOR SALE

NOTED AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSE. BUT ONLY AT A PROHIBITIVE PRICE. (Received This Day. 9:30 a.m.) SYDNEY. This Day. An American sportsman recently tried to buy Ajax, whose part owner, Mr A. W. Thompson, on Monday sent a cablegram saying that Ajax was for sale “only at a prohibitive price.” NEGOTIATIONS FOR PURCHASE. LIKELY TO BE COMPLICATED. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK. December 19. Mr Neil Newman, local representative of Mr Neil McCarthy, of Los Angeles, has announced that the latter is attempting to purchase the Australian racehorse Ajax through his trainer, Fred Williams, with the object of bringing him to California and eventually entering the racehorse at Santa Anita, etc. Mr Newman said that negotiations at present were in their earliest stages. Local racing circles consider that the deal is likely to be complicated by Ajax’s ownership. It is understood here that there are three owners, which naturally will .make bargaining more difficult, particularly since the price is likely to be the paramount issue. It is not as though some extremely wealthy stables, such as that of Mr Whitney, which are able to pay virtually any price, are involved. On the contrary, Mr McCarthy is a Los Angeles attorney and a polo player who has bought and raced horses for twenty years with securing a particularly notable winner, except Tick, which is at present at the stud. ’While it is known that Mr McCarthy is greatly impress-: cd by Ajax’s record and is extremely anxious to add him to his stable, it is considered certain that there is a definite limit to the price he is willing and able to pay.

Mr Newman told the Australian Associated Press that “Negotiations at present have reached an impasse, and it is unknown what outcome is likely. Although Mr McCarthy is anxious to complete the purchase prior to January 1, 19,39, ho may not be interested after that. He has not yet discussed the Drice.”