GRAND PARADE 



a length and a half at even weights by Certosa-di- 

 Pavia, and for the comparatively valuable Railway 

 Stakes at the Curragh in September she finished third. 

 As a three-year-old Geraldina did not reproduce her 

 earlier form, failing in all her five attempts, but as a 

 four-year-old she did better, carrying off the Browns- 

 town Plate and the Scurry Handicap, both at the 

 Curragh. 



Of Grand Parade, her next son, I shall speak in the 

 next chapter. At present we will glance at Grand 

 Geraldine's descent. As already noted, she was a 

 daughter of Desmond and Grand Marnier. Desmond, 

 son of St. Simon and L'Abbesse de Jouarre, was a good 

 horse when he cared to display his capacity, but best 

 known for his exploits at the stud, where in the year 

 191 3 he headed the list of winning sires, frequently 

 having been near the top. Desmond, the property 

 of Lord Dunraven, was ready early in the season, 

 which was perhaps on the whole not a good augury, 

 for it is generally understood — Lord Suffolk sum- 

 marises the observation — that the Brocklesby Stakes 

 form is apt to come out at the end of the season some 

 two stone behind the Middle Park form. This was 

 written a great many years ago, but that it remains 

 true appears from the fact that the Brocklesby of 1920, 

 the year in which this book was begun, went to Napo- 

 lyon who, of course, carried 9 st. and in the Free 

 Handicap for Two-Year-Olds was allotted 7 st. 1 lb., 



157 



