THE GRADUAL RISE 



remain in the stable. Still he figures in the return 

 as winner of one of the three races which showed a 

 slight advance on the previous season, adding up, 

 however, to no more than the very modest amount of 

 £52 j. It should be stated that some of the horses 

 had been transferred to the care of de Mestre at 

 Bishop's Cannings in Wiltshire. 



In 1 91 6 there was a distinct move upwards, chiefly 

 owing to Grand Fleet, the son of Bachelor's Double 

 and Dark Dinah, purchased at the Newmarket July 

 Sales for the trifle of 320 guineas, an extraordinary 

 bargain for the purchaser. The Revenge, Tingvalla 

 and Little Mabel added to the record of success, but 

 the advance was mainly owing to the Dark Dinah colt, 

 as Grand Fleet was called when he won his earlier 

 races. He was recognised as a horse of class and 

 much fancied for the Manton Two- Year-Old Plate 

 at Newbury, where that season three meetings were 

 permitted. It may be well to note in passing that 

 during the anxious period of the war there were 

 besides the eight regular fixtures at Newmarket, three 

 extra ones, three at Gatwick, four at Lingfield, three 

 at Newbury and two at Windsor. Sir Edward Hulton's 

 Greenmount, a 7 to 4 favourite for the Manton Stakes, 

 ran badly, and the Dark Dinah colt, starting at 9 to 4, 

 was beaten three parts of a length by Mr. H. S. 

 Persse's Publican. 



The experience gained stood the colt in good stead, 



45 



