84 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



was looking light, and fretting very, very much, 

 and I think we are sure to beat her." 



*' That's good news, old man." 



Ard Patrick won the Derby very easily. 



When I saw Sceptre on the downs that morning, 

 I said to a friend : 



** I do not fear Sceptre to-day." 



But it was a different tale when I saw her at 

 Sandown on the EcHpse Stakes ; she had improved 

 very much. 



Ard Patrick as a three-year-old won the Prince 

 of Wales's Stakes at Ascot, and got it after an 

 objection. At that time there was some new 

 ground just about opposite the stand, and when 

 he cantered down to the posts I saw him falter 

 in this ground, and said to a friend who was next 

 me, " By jingo, my horse has nearly broken his 

 leg," it was such a strain to get it out of this deep 

 ground. Though he got through the race with 

 this, it prevented me training him for the St. Leger. 

 He did little more than walking exercise that year. 



I put him by for the Eclipse Stakes £10,0C0 



next year, which he won. When he was tried 



for the Eclipse Stakes, he presented 

 Great Trial ^ . 



of Ard Caravel, who was then handicapped 



7 St. 10 lb., with 3 st., and beat her 



by a neck over a mile, and did it twice. I then 



had to go to Newmarket, and sent my assistant — 



