PARADOX 231 



well, and in the circumstances I was quite 

 satisfied with his performance, for he finished 

 only two lengths behind Melton, though I should 

 explain that the latter was giving both Paradox 

 and Xaintrailles 7 lb. So, too, was Royal 

 Hampton. To me it seemed obvious that, but 

 for the mishap at the start, Paradox would have 

 been returned the winner of the Middle Park 

 Plate. 



This unlucky defeat was to have important 

 consequences. While we were rubbing Paradox 

 down after the race two or three of the Duke's 

 friends came into the box to look at him. I 

 happened to hear one of them remark: ** A nice 

 brute they have stuck the Duke with I ** This 

 silly innuendo angered me, even though it was 

 made by a man palpably ignorant of the finer 

 points of racing. I let the observation pass, 

 but was not greatly surprised when, a little later, 

 the Duke informed me that if I could find a 

 buyer he would sell the Casuistry colt. I at 

 once suggested to Mr. Cloete that he should 

 buy the youngster. When I told him the Duke 

 had paid £6000, he naturally said that as the 

 Duke was anxious to sell he ought to be prepared 

 to do so at a loss. Mr. Cloete offered ;^5ooo 

 and the bid was accepted. A fortnight later 

 Paradox — he was now so named — won the 

 Dewhurst Plate in a canter by three lengths 

 from Cora, with Xaintrailles third, four lengths 



