182 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



hampton that has not been returned a winner. 

 Mr. c. E. ^^^ instance, Broomstick, Galoneer, 



Howard LiTTLE Ben, WeATHERCOCK, ENGLAND, 



Giant, and last, but not least, Willonyx. Most 

 of these I bought and sold to Mr. Howard. 



It may be interesting to know that Willonyx 

 was offered as a yearling at the Doncaster sales, 

 and was passed out of the ring unsold. I asked 

 Sir John Robinson his price afterwards, and he 

 said £800. I immediately said : 



" Well, the horse has been in the ring, and 

 didn't make your reserve of £800 ; won't you take 

 less for him ! " 



" Yes," he said ; " £700 to you." 



" He is mine then," I replied, and I passed him 



on the same day to Mr. Howard. Willonyx is by 



William III out of Tribonyx. He was 



Willonyx 



very slow coming to hand : practically did 



nothing as a two-year-old, came on rapidly as a 



three, but more so as a four. As a four-year-old 



it is well known that he won the Chester Cup, Ascot 



Stakes, and the Ascot Cup, which is a record for 



the two at the same meeting. His next record 



was carrying the highest weight ever carried 



successfully in the Cesarewitch (9 st. 5 lb.). He 



afterwards wound up by winning the Jockey Club 



Cup. Mr. Howard then decided to put him to 



stud — he went straight from the race-course to 



I 



