NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 68, 22 March 1910, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Sir Bedivere.) Acceptances for tho Wairarapa Racing Club's autumn meeting, which commences on Saturday next, are due tonight. The fields do not promise to be particularly strong, but if Sunbonnet, Truganjni, Full Rate, Tribulation, and Killaloo put in an appearance, the sport should not be lacking in interest. The news of Bobrikoff'e withdrawal from the Doncaster Handicap does not come altogether as a burprise. Those who know tho black gelding best have never regarded his prospects of winning such an event as this the least favourable. A slow beginner can do well enough in moderate-sized fields, but when it comes to having to overhaul anything from twenty -five to thirty-five opponents, the task is well-nigh an impossible one. Bobrikoff will, no doubt, take part in the Autumn Stakes on Saturday, in which he may be opposed by Maltine, Malt King, Pendil, and other good ones. Ho is also engaged in the All-aged Stakes (one mile), Cumberland Staices (two miles), and the A.J.C. Plate (three miles). New Zealand-bred horses were again to the fore in Australia last week. The San Fran gelding Waihnku won. ;he Welter Handicap a-t Moonee Valley, Gunpowder (Hotchkiss — St. Elyn) annexed the Abique Welter at Cauliield, Highland Reel won a trophy worth £15 at. Orange, and Ellis (Hotchki&s— Edith Cureton) was first home for the Kuranalling Mile at Coolgardie The once-prominent English, crosscountry rider, Arthur Birch, who, consequent on a fall he received, will never ride again, was recently interviewed by a representative of Fry's Magazine. Naturally, the subject of the best horses he had ever ridden was touched upon, and as a steeplechaser he gives the palm to the New Zealander, Moifaa* Chatting about this well-known performer, he said; "The best 'chaser I have over ridden was Moifaa, on whom I won the Grand National in 1904 from twenty-five other starters. Over a country, on his duy, past a doubt Moifaa was a nailer. A great big horse, standing 17 hands, Mr. Spencer Gollan's 'waler' was a magnificent jumper, and over the stiff National course at the finish he won running away, after never putting a foot wrong. Indeed, W. Halsey, who knows as much about 'chasing as most men, afterwards told me that Moifaa's win was the easiest he has ever seen. But before finishing with Moifaa, I must just say a word or two about the gallop he had over the Walton coiirse j which served to tell the stable 'the time of day 1 with regard to his National chance. In company with Kiora, Moifaa, your humble servant up, was given, a good rough gallop over four miles and a-half. Kiora, I must tell you, was allowed two fences start, but my mount was always playing with his opponent, and. taking up the running at the water, was never headed again. This 'good rough gallop,' in fact, turned out an exact fao simile of the Grand National itself, in which race Moifaa 'took it up' at the water, and from thence was never headed. Yes, the old horse was a fine lenper, and I well remember that in hit gallop with Kiora he took on three or four fences the opposite way. If you do not quite realise what this means, I would suggest that the next time you go. to a jumping meeting you just take a stroll round the course before racing, and then you will be able to thoroughly appreciate what a lot of jumping the fences want in that 'back to front' manner." Tho ex-jockey F. Finlay, who died in December last at the age of 44, left estate of the gross value of £18,986 5s Bd, and in quoting this the London Sportsman mentions that among the fortunes left by other notable jockeys and trainers were the following :—: — Fred. Archer, who died on Bth November, 1886, leaving personality 66,662 George Fordham, who left personality 18,903 Tom King, who died in 1889, I leaving 54,472 John E. Bordman, of Newmarket, a brother-in-law of Otto Madden, left ... 9,618 Matthew Dawson, trainer ... 11,994 Robert Perk, trainer, left ... 13,667 Young Robertson Graham, breeder and trainer, left ... 8,830 Jamos Jewitt, trainer, left ... 33,852 Tom Jennings, trainer, left ... 45,007 It is claimed that Mr. Barney Schrieber, a prominent bokmaker, owns more pedigreed horses than any other man in America. He has 250 brood mares, seven stallions, and 250 horses in training. And this, remarks an American, has been brought about by sixteen years of book-making. It is not only in America that a bookmaker has taken a prominent place as the owner of thoroughbreds. Mr. Sol Green has now been breeding fairly extensively for a year or two, and the latest metal lician to start a stud is Mr. Barney Allen, who is reported to have acquired a property in the Goulburn Valley district. He has already acquired about a dozen mares, and is the owner of the imported stallion, Caiman. BOBRIKOFF SCRATCHED. By Telegraph.— l'ress Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 21st March. Bobrikoff has been scratched for the Doncaster Handicap. For the Highweight Handicap to be run at Randwick next Saturday. Flavinius is top weight with 11.0. Tho New Zealander Gold Thread has 10.3, and Achillean has 9.6. AUCKLAND SCRATCHING S. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 21st March. Maori King was withdrawn from the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, and Wimmera from the Hobson Handicap at 1.45 p.m. to-day.