AUSTRALIAN RACING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1939, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN RACING

ANOTHER.WIN FOR AJAX. SEVENTEENTH IN SUCCESSION. •By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MELBOURNE. March 9. The weather was fine and there was an excellent attendance for the third day of the V.R.C. meeting at Flemington today. Imitari, trained by the New Zealander, Stan Reid, showed great improvement on last Saturday’s form to win the Autumn Hurdle. Saturday's victor, Celtic King, was unplaced today. Proof led throughout and registered a comfortable win in the Hopeful Stakes in which the place horses all finished near the inside rail. Bursary was never dangerous. Ajax registered his seventeenth successive win in the King’s Plate. He not# has had 24 wins, three seconds, and one third in 28 starts, and his stake winnings of £28,175 place him seventeenth among the greatest stake winners. Ajax scored an untroubled victory today over Aitchengee and Bourbon. He ran the last half-mile in 47. Bourbon finished stoutly and pleased his supporters for the Australian Cup on Saturday, in which he has 8.13. The New Zealand-bred colt High Caste scored his third Victorian win in as many starts in the Ascot Vale Stakes. Zonda. who ran second to High Caste in the Sires’ Produce Stakes last Saturday, looked dangerous a furlong from the post but was outstayed. Lusson was a moderate third. ' Aurania weakened. High Caste has now won £3,910 here. Anapapejo finished strongly to win the Elms Handicap in the last stride from the costly Carpentier. Swettenham was a good third. Crojick and National weakened in the final stages. Con Devon scored a surprise win in the'River Handicap. Grecian Princess finished strongly and enhanced her Cup chances. Fearnought was a fair third. Stretto tired in the final stages. Desert Chief was a promising sixth. Results: — Autumn Hurdles, 2.}m: Imitari, 9.6 (J. Crowe) 1; Peter Thrice, 9.3 2; Shere Khan, 9.12 3. Eight started. Four lengths: half a neck. Celtic King was fourth. .Time, 4.4. Hopeful Stakes. sf: Proof. 7.7 (P. Simonds) 1; Hotch Potch, 7.7 2; Atlas. 7.10 3. Twenty-three started. Three lengths and a half; two lengths and a half. Sunshine Boy was fourth. Time. 1.1. King's Plate, 11m: Ajax, 9.0 (H. Badger) 1; Aitchengee. 9.0 2; Bourbon, 9.0 3. Only three starters. One length and a half; half a head. Time, 2.351. Ascotvale Stakes, 6f: High Caste, 9.1 (E. Bartie) 1; Zonda, 8.10 2: Lusson, 8.5 3. Aurania also started. One length and a quarter; three lengths. Time, 1.12. Elms Handicap, Im: Anpapejo, 8.6 (D. Munro) 1; Carpentier, 7.9 2; Swettenham, 7.6 3. Sixteen started. Head; two lengths. Rexfelt was fourth. Time, 1.37 J. River Handicap, lm: Con Devon. 7.2 (J. Duncan) 1: Grecian Princess, 7.9 2; Fearnought, 7.11 3. Twelve started. Two lengths; three-quarters of a length. Irving was fourth. Time, 2.41. Hamurah is returning to Sydney. Anpapejo and Brazandt are remaining here for the Caulfield meeting on Saturday week.