THE MIDDLE PARK PLATERS.

Writing after the Newmarket Second October meeting, the Sportsman's " special ' said : The itwo-year-old hero of the week is j Democrat, and, though paddock critics were almost unanimous in/condtmning the quality of the Middle Fork field, I must say that I . entirely disagree with -them. The cold wea- ! ther of the morning had rather taken hold of come of the colts, and Democrat especially was looking dull, if not stale; indeed, I never saw him appear to less advantage. He ( must have been all right, however, as tho result proved. Simon Dale is certainly no ■ beauty — split up,, loosely cupled, with; proppy forelegs, round joints, and weak , hocks. But we knew he could _j*o, and as a : St. Simon he was entitled to full respect. His -stable companion, Goblet, is immeasurably better looking, and the Duke of Westminster was quite prepared to see him prove the better in the race. It would not be easy to find a oolt more nicely turned than Gob- ' let, and, though he is not a big one. hogis ' very thick and strong, with the very best 'of limbs. Diamond Jubilee on his best behaviour caught the eye as an improving colt, and a true made one. " The winner of next year's Derby," said Marsh, half in jest, but j in jest, we are told, many true words are spoken. Certainly Diamond Jubilee is a J very nearly reformed character now, for he gave something like his true running, ' whereas when ho only just beat Paigle at the last meeting he must have done something like 281b less than his best. The nroof of this is easy, for there was litfle or nothing to choobc between Simonswood and Paigle in July, but in his home gallop Diamond Jubilee gave Simonswood 14-lb and a four-lengths ' beating. Watts renewed racecourse acquaintanco with him in the Middle Park Plate, and their old differences seemed to have been forgotten : indeed, Diamond Jubilee is a perfectly well mannared colt, whether he puts heart into his work or not. For my part. I could see no reason to find fault with his finish. A colt that has made strong running from the fall of the flag in a six-furlong race is not likely to finish the last hundred yards so stoutly as one that has been able to wait and still get at him. Therefore, it was in no way remarkable to frnd the brother to Persimmon unable to stall off the -challenge of Democrat, on whom Sloa*i, after getting off badly, rode an exceedingly welljudged race and well-timed finish. But coming on as he is now doing Diamond Jubilee might well make a better three-year-old than Democrat, more especially as sons of Sensation have never yet improved into good three-year-.olde. Once a thief, always a thief, is a pretty pafe maxim, and backers of Diamond" Jubilee will never feel quite comfortable till he is past the post, but I certainly saw nothing to suggest that the demon has not in his case been exorcised by the 6pells of Marsh, Lord Marcus Beresford, Watts, and other artful functionaries. Gaptain Kettle ia a hardy, Bound-looking bay colt

of considerable promise, but possibly of not more than handicap class. The best-looking of them all is Sailor Lad, a well-grown brown colt of beautiful quality, by Ladas out of Seabreeze. He stands lohds lin, and was clearly backward, though he had won his trial against moderate tackle. Wood has no fewer than five two-year-olds bigger than Sailor Lad, one of them — the Ladas-Corstor-phine colt — being 17hds. Naturally, therefore, he had had to pursue a policy of patience with such charges. -