KING EDWARD VII AND A NEW ZEALNDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 58

KING EDWARD VII AND A NEW ZEALNDER.

HIS PURCHASE OF A NEW ZEALAND HORSE.

(Fkou Oxtb Own Couresfondent.) LONDON, February 24

In sporting circles a great d©al of sympathy was expressed for his Majesty King Edward VII when it became known on Monday that his sterpleehase horse Ambush 11, while being exercised in a long gallop at the Curragh, where he was being prepared for the Liverpool Grand National, to be run at the. end of next month, had suddenly dropped dead. It has been romarked that Ambush 11, who was 11 years of age, had not by his recent running encouraged the hope of success for the royal colours at Aintree this year. It will doubtless be remembered that this horse was tho winner in 1900 of tho Grand National, when the success of the six-year-old, carrying 11.3, beating Barsao 9.12 by four lengtLs. wiih Manifesto 12.3' a neck behind, pro's oked a scene of enthusiasm unparalleled upon a racecourse, and his Majesty, who was then Prince of Wales, and who was present on the course, was tremendously cheered on the brilliant performance of his hor=e. In 1901, owing to the death of the late Queen, Ambush II did not enter for the event, and last year, as all sporting enthusiasts will recall, this same, horse was beaten by the New Zealander Moifaa, the property of Mr Spencer Gollan. This season Amba^h II had been out once, but made a very poor show in the Stewards' Steeple-chase at Kempton Park a few days since. The King's manager. Mr Lushington, had hope that he would show to advantage in the Grand National this year, and. as I have already said, it was while being prepared for this event he suddenly dropped dead, injuring his rider (Anthony) so seriously that he had to be removed to a hospital.

Two days ago, however, in the earn© sporting circles mourning was turned into joy when the news was announced that his Majesty had made himself the possessor of last year's winner of the Grand National — namely, the New Zealand horse Moifaa, — which he had purchased from Mr Sponccr Gollan. It is ©xpeeteel that his Majesty will be present at Liverpool at the end of March to see the son of Natator run for the big steeplechase. The news of his latest purchase has been received with expiessions of gratification on all sides, for it had been thougnt that, owing to the lamentable death of Ambush 11, there would be no chance of tli© royal colours being sported in the " National " this season.

It is authoritatively stated that the transaotion was carried out in the following manner : — On the receipt of the news of the death of Ambush II the King immediately instructed Lord Marcus Beresford, who manages the royal stud, to obtain for him th© best horse he could with an engagement for th© coming Grand National, so that his colours should, if possible, not be mis-ing from tha bl>ie ribbon, qf steeple-

chasing at Aintree. In accordance with the instructions received, Lord Marcus Ber^ford la=t Tuesday bought Moifaa, the "hero" of last year's "National," through the agency of Mr Martin Cobbett, from tho owner, Mr Spencer Gollan. The nine-yoar-old son of Natator and Denbigh has been, passed as perfectly sound by Mr George Barrow, the well-known Newmarket M.R.C.V.S., and will at onco be sent to Egerton House, Newmarket, where he will be- trained for the corning Grand National engagement. His trainer will be Richard Marsh, who in his time, before devoting himself exclusively to training fiat-race. ! horses, not only trained, but rode, winners ' of most of the big cress-country evenrs in England. It is recorded as a piece of news that will be welcome to all sportsmen that it is his Majesty's intent:on to be present to see -hie new purchase run at Aintree next month. In all probabihty Anthony will be the rider. Naturally, the London papers contain a groat many references to the King and the latest addition to his racing stud. V7ithoufc exception ~rf>at satisfaction and gratification are expressed by the various critics on sporting subjects. For instance, the leadingsporting paper, the Sportsman, remarked : — "The greatest interest was crea-fcexl yesterday by the news that his Majesty had purchased Moifaa from Mr Spencer Gollan Such bad luck as the death of a Grand National winner in Ambush II mierht well dishearten an owner, but it is only on a par with his Maiesty's whole career as a sportsman that, instead of lamenting the inevitable, he has at once taken steps to make good his. loss. In all Uvp circumstances a second success for tb<* New Zealand horse would be hailed with unparalleled enthusiasm, and he certainly ran in vei-v encouraging fashion at Sandown last Friday. In spite of his w-elter weight he was a good third, and migrht haw been still nearer to Liberte had he been ridden cleancut. It was generally thouerht that he looked somewhat light and tucked up upon that occasion, but he has passed a veterinary exnmijuition all right, which comparatively tew horses in training aro able *o do; and we may be quite sure that Marsh, who earlier in his car-per, had so "mch tr» do with horses running under National Hunt rules, has not forgotffin how to train a candidate for the Grand National."

Although th*» actual purchase money has not transm'red. it is understood that the nrice paid for the horse was 2500 guineas. Tt is remarked by one writer that Moifaa " erpa^ed a great impression upon his importation into this country by his fine stv'e of negotiating a coup try. »nd he possesses sterline* sfaminn. The gelding, who is a somewhat peculiar-looking animal, was not so much fancied as some of the oth-er candidates, however, for last ypar'a ' bine ribbon of th*> chase ' but ho jumped in unoomprnmisins: fnsMon. and won comfortably from Kirkland. The Gunner, and 23 others. For this y-ear's ' Liverpool ' Moifaa has be-~n handicapped a+ 11.12, and such a rvi.-ri-torious display did he q-ive across the Eshpr slopes last. Fndav that he has been backed down 9 to 1 for the Aintrpe racp." FThe cable has informed us that Moifaa. fell in the race.— S. Ed.]