178 CHASING AND RACING 



in the hands of Sam Pickering, to whom I had now 

 confided her. Besides, there was '* a pony " for the 

 second, and I was keen on a ride. 



Whilst my beautiful filly was being saddled, she 

 caught the eye of the Prince of Wales (as King 

 Edward VII. was then). 



" Has she any chance ? '' he asked me. 



" Well, sir,*' I replied, " they say that Blanc repre- 

 sents Isinglass at even weights ; so I suppose it will be 

 a case of 5-2 on him ! '* 



" Why, they are laying 100-8 against yours,'* 

 exclaimed the Prince. *' Have you backed her ? ** 



*' Yes, sir. I have £^0 on her S.P. on the ofF- 

 chance.** 



** And I shall tell Reuben (Sassoon) to take me 

 1000-80,** and away went H.R.H. as cheerful as a 

 cricket. 



Shortly before the Bibury meeting I had gone down 

 for a Dornroschen trial, and this came off one fine 

 morning by the side of the Limekilns gallop. 



If I remember rightly the weights were, Blankney 

 5 yrs., II stone; Dornroschen 3 yrs., 11 stone 10 lbs., 

 with Lord Rosslyn*s Grong (I think it was) with a very 

 light stable boy up, to ensure a true pace. Sam rode 

 the big son of Hermit, whilst I steered '* the star 

 turn.** The spin was over six furlongs only, but I had 

 Blankney well tacked down before half the distance 

 was covered. 



Dornroschen was turned out for the Portsmouth 



