ii8 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



Nevertheless, Blue Gown was a good horse. 

 He stood about 15.2^, and was greatly favoured 

 by his vigorous constitution. He required little 

 work and kept his condition well. Jockeys 

 never had any trouble with him, for he was a kind, 

 free horse to ride. His best distance was, I 

 should say, a mile. True, he won the Ascot 

 Cup, but in that race he was opposed merely by 

 the horses he had accounted for in the Derby, 

 and they could stay no better than he did. When 

 Blue Gown met a real stayer — as in the following 

 year when Brigantine beat him in the Ascot Cup — 

 his lack of stamina was apparent. 



Green Sleeve was the biggest of the three, 

 for she measured 16 hands. Her coat was dark 

 brown, almost black. She was too big for her 

 limbs, for she was light of bone and very difficult 

 to train. When, however, I had her right she 

 was better than Blue Gown. 



A day or two after our Derby trial we found 

 that the gallop had, for the time being, taken 

 out of Rosicrucian what little strength there was 

 in him ; he was not ready to run, nor anything 

 like it. As Green Sleeve was also far below par, 

 we were forced to rely chiefly on Blue Gown in 

 the Derby. The declaration Sir Joseph made in 

 favour of Rosicrucian and Green Sleeve was 

 merely a precautionary measure, and so under- 

 stood by the public; for whereas Blue Gown 

 started second favourite at 7 to 2, odds of 25 to 



