128 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



won a handicap at Newmarket as a three-year-old 

 when the property of Mr. Ellam. In 1873 

 Green Sleeve was sold and went to France. 

 There, mated with Dutch Skater, she bred Insu- 

 laire, winner of the French Derby, and second, 

 three days later, to Sefton in the Derby at Epsom. 

 As a four-year-old Blue Gown won seven of 

 his eleven races, including a walk-over. In the 

 Ascot Cup he was beaten by that year's Oaks 

 winner, Brigantine, the first animal owned in 

 partnership by Sir Frederick Johnstone and Mr. 

 Gerard Sturt (afterwards Lord Alington), with 

 whom we shall come into close contact later on. 

 As I said previously. Blue Gown was no match 

 over a long course for a real stayer, which Brigan- 

 tine undoubtedly was. At the end of that 

 season Blue Gown was sold for ;^5ooo. The 

 buyer was Monsieur Andr^, acting, it was under- 

 stood, on behalf of a French syndicate, who 

 hoped, before sending him to the stud, to win 

 with him big races at Deauville and Baden Baden. 

 He does not appear to have run at either of those 

 places, but in June 1870 he competed for the 

 Grand Prix de la Ville of £10^0 at Lyons. 

 Ridden by Daley, he was unplaced. Shortly 

 afterwards he was sold to Prince Pless, who ran 

 him five times in England in the autumn. His 

 only success was gained in a ;^50 handicap, 

 decided over the Cambridgeshire course. Dur- 

 ing the ensuing winter Blue Gown was sent to 



