CHAPTER XV 



AUSTRALASIA 



The late Mr W. R. Wilson Purchase of Bill of Portland Immense 

 Success Importations to England Merman and Aurum 

 Otterden, carrying Martian, goes to New Zealand Mr G. G. 

 Stead Disappointments with Multiform and Noctuiform Lady 

 Meux and Survivor Mr Edgar Cohen and Oban 



I HAVE written so much in The Sportsman about 

 Australasian blood stock that the subject may be 

 dealt with more briefly now than its real importance 

 warrants. My first real friend from Australia was the 

 late Sir Samuel Wilson, of Ercildoune, who took Hughen- 

 den Manor and embarked on a political career in this 

 country. His sons later on bought Trenton when the 

 late Mr W. R. Wilson, of St Albans, Victoria, dis- 

 posed of his stud by lottery and they sent the horse 

 home to me, without so much as "by your leave." 

 All the same they conferred a benefit on British blood 

 stock which will have long-abiding consequences. 



Mr W. R. Wilson, however, was my chief friend from 

 Australia in those early days, about 1896 or 1897, and 

 banks were breaking in Australia at that time. He 

 wanted a St Simon stallion, but each day felt like 

 spending less money, and eventually he limited him- 

 self to an outlay of 1000 guineas. Then he took my 

 advice, which was to buy a really high-class horse with 

 a "crab" about him, rather than a sound mediocrity, 

 and I recommended Bill of Portland, who was worth 



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