364 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



with him. Although the Barents horses were 

 now being trained by Dick Marsh it was arranged 

 that Matchbox was to remain for a time at 

 Kingsclere, and in due course we took him over 

 to France. Again he had to put up with second 

 place, for he was beaten a neck by Dolma- 

 Baghtche. At any rate the judge said so. Many 

 of the onlookers were under the impression that 

 Matchbox just won. Be that as it may, I feel 

 sure he ought to have finished first. Morny 

 Cannon, who rode him that day, was not seen at 

 his best by any means. 



At Goodwood Matchbox won the Sussex 

 Stakes; and then came the St, Leger. By this 

 time the colt had again changed hands, Baron 

 Hirsch having sold him to the Hungarian 

 Government for, I believe, ;^ 15,000, the sum 

 he himself paid. The horse was not, however, 

 to be delivered until after the St. Leger. As 

 Throstle played so astonishing a part in the race 

 at Doncaster we must briefly review her career 

 up to this point. 



A beautiful filly, Throstle's eyes were closed 

 when she was born, and they remained closed 

 for several weeks. It is my firm conviction that 

 she never could see properly. As a two-year-old 

 she ran three times, but, except in the Chester- 

 field Stakes, when she so nearly beat Speed, did 

 not show much form. She, however, did much 

 better as a three-year-old. After running un- 



