2^6 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



to come over to us. I examined the colt with 

 critical and admiring eyes. " Yes,** I confessed, 

 " he's a magnificent specimen of a racehorse." 



After we had discussed Minting for quite an 

 appreciable time, I suggested that we should 

 have a look at Ormonde. When my candidate 

 for the Guineas had come over for inspection. 

 Matt looked him up and down and went all 

 round him. Then he delivered his verdict. 

 " A very nice horse — a very nice horse indeed," 

 he said; " but mine is better here, and better 

 there." He declined to admit that Ormonde 

 compared favourably with Minting. Finally he 

 lapsed into prophecy. " When," he declared, 

 " the race is being run you will hear them shout- 

 ing Ormonde and Saraband home ; but when 

 they get into the Dip it will be ' Minting! * and 

 nothing else. My horse will leave *em all there, 

 John, you'll see." 



** Don't be too confident. Matt," was my 

 rejoinder. " In all probability it is in the Dip 

 that Minting himself will get left behind." Matt 

 smiled. It was a scornful smile. I knew he was 

 thinking me foolish for entertaining the idea I 

 had expressed. At that moment no amount of 

 talking would have shaken the supreme faith he 

 had in Minting's ability to beat his rivals in the 

 Two Thousand or any other race. 



Saraband and Ormonde were stabled in Ald- 

 croft's yard off the High Street. There were a 



