98 THE ENGLISH TURF 



ascent of the Criterion Course was strongly indicative of 

 what was to take place in the classic races of the following 

 year. 



As I have already stated, Flying Fox's three - year - old 

 career was a most remarkable one. All through the winter 

 he did as well as it is possible for a horse to do, and during 

 the early spring it was an open secret that he had made 

 far more than the usual improvement from two to three 

 years of age. The upshot was that when he went to the 

 post for the Two Thousand Guineas slight odds were 

 laid on his chance, despite the fact that he was opposed 

 by his Middle Park Plate conqueror, Caiman. In this 

 race no waiting policy was pursued and the Kingsclere colt, 

 coming away at score, had all his opponents dead settled 

 shortly after the Bushes were passed. The judge's verdict 

 was only two lengths, but the Two Thousand was never 

 more easily won, and the winner was eased up long before 

 the post was reached. The horse literally won in a canter, 

 and had there been no Holocauste in the Derby field it 

 is extremely probable that at least 5 to i would have 

 been laid on Flying Fox for the great Epsom race. As 

 it was he started at half that price, and though he was 

 perhaps hardly seen to so great advantage as he had been 

 at Newmarket a month before, he nevertheless asserted 

 great superiority, and was out by himself in the last quarter 

 of a mile. That an element of danger was removed when 

 the French horse Holocauste fell and broke his leg is just 

 on the cards, but it is impossible to say what the ill-fated 

 grey would have done had he stood up, as the accident 

 occurred almost half a mile from home, and long before 

 the crucial point had been reached. Full pressure had 

 indeed not been turned on, and I must leave the subject 

 with the remark that Holocauste was lying well up with 

 his horses when he came to grief, and that all speculations 

 as to what he might or might not have done are futile. 

 The broad fact remains that Flying Fox was a far easier 

 winner of the Derby than were Persimmon and Isinglass, 

 for he was never seriously challenged in the run home, 

 and won without the aid of whip or spur, Cannon only 



