SAINFOIN AND COMMON 323 



caused him to break into a profuse perspiration. 

 The sides of the box had been newly lime-washed, 

 and when his moist quarters touched them the 

 lime adhered to his coat. It will readily be 

 imagined, therefore, that when we unboxed him 

 at Newmarket he presented a somewhat quaint 

 appearance. There were several people at the 

 station anxious to get an early glimpse of Common, 

 for it was known that he had won his trial. When 

 he emerged from the box a thing of sweat and 

 patches, one of the bystanders, after gazing at 

 the comical-looking object for a few moments, 

 exclaimed, " Well, of all the devils I have ever 

 seen in my life, this beats the lot ! '* 



Immediately prior to the Two Thousand, 

 Common was walking round the paddock like 

 an old cow. Sir Frederick Johnstone brought 

 Prince Soltykoff to have a look at him. ** He 

 seems to be well named,*' was the Prince's dry 

 comment. The colt, however, astounded the 

 Newmarket people by winning the Guineas in 

 a canter. M. Edmond Blanc's Gouverneur, 

 trained by Tom Jennings, was favourite at 5 to 

 4, and both Peter Flower and Orvieto were at 

 shorter odds than Common, against whom 9 to 

 I was laid. M. Blanc, however, after inspecting 

 the runners in the paddock before the race, 

 said : " The horse I am most afraid of is 

 Common." Orvieto finished second and Peter 

 Flower third. After the race I heard Sir Frederick 



