THROSTLE AND MATCHBOX 365 



placed in the One Thousand Guineas, Throstle 

 won the Coronation Stakes at Ascot, finished 

 fourth in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, and 

 won the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. This last 

 performance appeared to give her a good chance 

 in the St. Leger, and I believe several people 

 backed her at that time to gain " classic " honours 

 at Doncaster. But for one failing we ourselves 

 should have deemed her prospects as good as 

 those of Matchbox, for she was an extraordinarily- 

 good stayer. Owing, no doubt, to her defective 

 eyesight she had an unfortunate habit of bolting 

 out of the course. She had done this both at 

 home and in public, and we quite expected to 

 see her bolt from the track when competing 

 in the St. Leger. That is why our hopes were 

 centred in Matchbox. 



Having twice suffered defeat since the Derby, 

 Ladas no longer inspired the confidence in his 

 powers which caused him to start so hot a 

 favourite at Epsom. We were, indeed, rather 

 sanguine that Matchbox would at last beat him. 

 That public opinion tended in the same direction 

 is shown by the betting. Backers of Ladas had 

 to lay only 11 to 10, and supporters of Matchbox 

 could get no more than 2 to i. Very few 

 speculators gave a thought to Throstle. At 50 

 to I she was practically friendless. Both Lord 

 Alington and Sir Frederick Johnstone stood, 

 however, to win ;^iooo on her, just on the off 



