SURPLICE AND LOADSTONE. 255 



If, however, the later careers of Planet and 

 Slander were destined " to unbeseem the promise 

 of their spring," very diiferent was the case with 

 Surplice and Loadstone. I have already stated 

 that each of them, when tried as yearlings, per- 

 formed so well that the brightest auguries were 

 formed for their future. As a yearling, Surplice, 

 who was named by Lord George Bentinck, showed 

 considerable speed, which is not always concomi- 

 tant with great size and an extremely lazy dis- 

 position. Moreover, his action appeared to me 

 to be that of a stayer. In addition to all Lord 

 George's other yearlings, Surplice beat some speedy 

 old horses very easily indeed ; and, being the son 

 of Touchstone and of Crucifix, it was natural that 

 great hopes should be built upon him after he had 

 won his trial in such grand style. It was at once 

 determined to reserve him for the Derby, and to 

 make no more two-year-old engagements for him 

 than those in which he was already entered. 

 Loadstone, on the other hand, was a smaller 

 horse ; and, being possessed of capital speed, was 

 engaged in a great many two-year-old stakes, in- 

 cluding the Champagne, and the Two-year-old 

 Stakes at Doncaster, and the Clearwell, Prender- 

 gast, and Criterion at Newmarket. 



Although Lord George had ceased to be the 

 owner of Surplice and Loadstone, his interest in 

 them seemed to revive when he heard from Mr 

 Mostyn that they had been favourably tried as 



