Seeking to equal the Australasian record of 19 wins in succession, Ajax started at 40-1 on in the Rawson Stakes at Rosehill; the shortest priced favourite in Australian turf history. He ran second.

Biography

TRAINER: Frank Musgrave

OWNERS: E.L. Baillieu, A.W. Thompson, "F. Constable"

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 46 starts: 36 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds/£40,275

Major Wins 

• Newmarket Handicap
• Futurity Stakes (three times)
• Caulfield Guineas
• W.S. Cox Plate
• Underwood Stakes (three times)
• AJC All-Aged Stakes (three times)
• AJC Cropper Stakes (three times)
• Melbourne Stakes (twice)

About

Ajax dominated racing in the late 1930's as Australia's greatest sprinter-miler of the period.

Ajax was foaled at the historic Widden Stud in the Hunter valley in 1934. As a two-year-old he won the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and the Champagne stakes at Randwick. At three he was second in both the AJC and Victoria Derbies, won the Caulfield Guineas, and proved himself Australia's best sprinter with victories in the Futurity Stakes and Newmarket Handicap.

In the spring of 1937 Ajax began a phenomenal run of 18 victories, in races now all at Group level. In six of these races he broke race or course records, or equalled Australian records. In all he won 13 of 14 starts over a mile, while his weight-for-age performances in major events were the equal of any horse before or since. His winning sequence was only brought to an end by his inexplicable defeat in the Rawson Stakes by a horse which started at 33-1.

On retirement Ajax stood at stud in Australia and the United states. His son, Magnificent, won the AJC and Victorian Derbies.

Ajax was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004.

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