102 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



And now comes another spell of walking, and an- 

 other good look at the three favourites. 



Lord Marcus thinks Watercress will make a great 

 stud horse some day, and has already christened the 

 progeny of him and La Fleche Arrowroot. The 

 question as to who will ride Watercress and La Fleche 

 is not decided. John Porter would, I think, like to 

 see Watts on the colt, not from any presumption that 

 the filly is the worse candidate, but because such a 

 great, leathering horse wants a powerful jockey, whereas 

 almost anybody could ride La Fleche. Who the second 

 jockey will be is not settled, but I should not be sur- 

 prised to find that he is one whose name has not yet 

 been published in any of the "probable" lists. If this 

 choice be made, the backers of his mount may feel 

 quite satisfied, for he has all the power necessary to 

 get the utmost even out of Watercress. 1 



Next we get to real business, which is the morning's 

 gallop. The rare old Slave Vasistas is told off to lead 

 Orme and Watercress at a "good half speed" over a 

 mile and three-quarters ; Trapezoid has to do the same 

 friendly office for La Fleche over a mile and a half. 



"They say she only gallops once a week," said Lord 

 Marcus, "so her next gallop will be when she wins 

 the Leger." 



Those who are familiar with Kingsclere Downs will 

 understand where these gallops were done. Going down 

 the valley away from where we stood, the horses start 

 and still keep right away till they turn to the left round 

 one of the spurs of the slope, and being lost to view for 

 a little while, presently are seen coming towards us, a 



1 The choice was John Osborne, who had retired some years earlier. 



