THE ST LEGER.

Evening Star, Issue 9531, 31 October 1894, Page 3

THE ST LEGER.

LADAS AGAIN SUCCUMBS. [From Our Special Correspondent.] London, September 14. Since Dutch Oven upset that " dead certainty " Oeheimness twelve years ago, we have had no turn-up in the Leger as astonishing as yesterday's. The race is not, indeed, remarkable for surprires. Caller Ou (1861), Wenlock (1872), and Dutch Oven (1882) are the only rough outsiders which have proved successful since 1860. Yesterday three horses out of eight runners had really strong followings. These were Ladas, Matchbox, and Amiable. No 4 to 1 was laid on Lord Rosebery's champion this time. Fielders at first demanded 6 to 4, but so great was the rush on Matchbox that finally evens could be had in many parts of the Ring, though the official starting price was 11 to 10 on. Matchbox opened at 3 to 1, but soon 5 to 2 became the best offer, and in the end punters tumbled over each other to take two's. Amiable had plenty of friends at 10 to 1, and None the Wiser a few supporters at double the price, but Throstle and Hornbeam were friendless at 50's to 1 each. " A stone behind Matchbox " was the stable estimate of Throstle, and Lord Alington had to be begged to take 1,000 to 20 twice about his representative. The betting was: 11 to 10 on Ladas, 2 to 1 against Matchbox, 10 to 1 agst Amiable, 20 to 1 agst None the Wiser, 50 to 1 each agst Hornbeam and Throstle, and 500 to 1 each agst Legal Tender and Galston. The Race.—Throstle started off with the lead, but was soon pulled back, and Legal Tender made the running for a mile, Ladas lying last. At the Rifle Butts the pacemaker was done with, and Macchbox went on first, None the Wiser and Hornbeam being his nearest attendants. Rounding the final bend Tommy Loates began to creep up with the favorite, who cane with great guns into the straight to settle Matchbox as he had done before. This looked easy enough, as that presumed stayer was already in difficulties. Hardly, however, had the cries " Ladas walks in !" "50 to 1 Match, box!" been raised than another and a most unexpected danger threatened. This was the Kingsclere second string, Throstle, who,

dropping from the clouds, challenged Ladas boldly. In vain Watts rodo his hardest, and tried to shako her off. The half-sister to Common fairly outpaced Illuminata'B son, and won easily by half a length, that might have been more. Matchbox, two lengths off, was third, Amiable fourth, and Galston last. Value of stakes, £4,730. The form is inexplicable, as in the Eolipso Stakes, when receiving only 31b from Ladas, Throstle couldn't see the way he went. When, however, mares begin to improve they do so very fast. I will wind up here with congratulations to Lord Alington, whose luck in selling Matchbox for 15,000 guineas, and retaining unknowingly a better animal in his stable, is most remarkable.