MATHEW DAWSON AND LADAS in 



There was no semblance of hock trouble that I or 

 what is more to the purpose Mathew Dawson could 

 see, and when they pulled up and walked past us I liked 

 Ladas even better than before ; nor, if all goes well 

 with him, do I doubt his smothering all his probable 

 opponents for speed, while as to stamina 



" We have never seen any reason to believe that he 

 can't stay as well as the best," said Mr Dawson. 



"At any rate," I surmised, "he looks like staying 

 well enough for the Derby." 



Mr Dawson smiled as if he thought so too. 



" We have nine weeks before the Two Thousand 

 Guineas," he added ; " plenty of time to get him ready." 



Another canter similar to the last about six furlongs 

 was presently done, and again Ladas gave every 

 satisfaction. After this he was sent home, and if he 

 does not show any stiffness when cooled down it may be 

 taken for granted that, bar accidents, his Two Thousand 

 Guineas preparation will go on without further inter- 

 ruption. Like Matchbox and Bullingdon, he is a fine- 

 tempered colt, but he has more dash about him than 

 they have, and, unless I am mistaken, a lot more speed. 



Now as to the first part of the above quotation I shall 

 never forget how on that Monday evening poor Donat 

 Leonard, the then Newmarket correspondent of The 

 Sportsman, kept the obliging telegraph office open to 

 receive my news about Ladas on my return from Melton 

 House, Exning, and it was no easy thing to return from 

 Mathew Dawson when you sat down with him at night, 

 and he would keep asking the servant with extreme 

 courtesy if she would please bring a little more whisky. 

 However, I got back to the Rutland in time, and the 



