The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-21 00:00:00

TRAINING NOTES.

NEWMARKET.

There has been so little doing on the Heath for the last
three weeks, likely to be of any service to your readers,
that I have not thought it worth while to forward you any
communications, especially whilst your sporting contem-
poraries have been writing a great deal about nothing,
and gratifying themselves (for I presume it is a gratifica-
tion) by finding fault with each other. They say the New-
market people are bad judges—that The Rake is a little
dandy ; D'Estournel can't stay ; The Hermit has a leg, &c.;
whereas the first-named ought only to be described as the

thorough race horse ho has always proved himself to be,
and you may rest assured his beatingtahse
sfla3nignaginAechaiboevue-t
Achieve-
ment was no fluke, as Joseph Dawson, having put hint
through the mill with Volunteer, w
lowering her colours for the Middle Park Plate previous to
the filly's defeat by Plaudit.. D'Estournel is growing into
a Derby horse all over, and the market speaks volumes in
his favour. As regards Mr. Chaplin's horse, ho has
grown and thickened into a very nice horse. There cer-
tainly was something the matter with his hock last
summer which required rest and blistering. He, how-
ever, goes free and well at the present time ; and I should
bo sorry to recommend your subscribers to take any
liberty with him, my opinion being in favour of his
standing the necessary preparation for the Derby.
It would be very strange if the metaphysicians and cow
doctors who have been hero lately, writing about our
horses, should have missed the winner of the Two
Thousand Guineas, but they have had very little to say
about the horse in question—l allude to the Star of India,
who has made more improvement than any other horse at
head-quarters, and who is unfortunately disqualified by
the death of the Marquis of Exeter from
_fulfilling his
Derby engagement. Ile belongs, moreover, to a noble-
man who never bets, is a certain runner, and will have
the assistance of T. French, one of the best jockios in
England, although some people were uncharitable enough
to find fault with the way he rode Savernake in the
Derby. Challoner could not get Lord Ailesbury's
horse any nearer for the St. Leger, and, as Wells justly
remarked after the race, they are ono and the same
jockey. The Star was not half prepared when he ran at
Doncaster, but his performance there was more than
respectable, as he boat Grand Cross and a lot of good
horses over the same course on which Lord Clifden so
distinguished himself as a two-year-old. To account for
his running so badly afterwards, my impression is that
his severe race at Doncaster, when as fat as a pig, probably
upset him for the remainder of the year. French was told
that the horse was not fit, and instructed not to punish
him, but he found himself in front at the distance, and the
animal running so gamely that he let him have his head
and won cleverly. There has been " much ado about
nothing " concerning the French stable, and much jea-
lousy about who is allowed to see the horses. Ono
writer even says neither au Englishman nor an Irishman
would be admitted ; but if the latter were allowed to
inspect the lot they have in training at present, he would
doubtless pronounce them a lot of garcons, and, in my
opinion, they won't trouble the judge's eye much this
year. The two sporting papers now at variance with each
other were unanimous in their opinion last summer that
Gladiateur was going in his old form, and that it was
finally settled he would run for the Goodwood Cup, which
must have been of considerable assistance to certain book-
makers in their milking operations. They now tell us his
legs are gone, and that there is a great deal of merit due
to Mr. Jennings for the manner he brought the horse to the
post for the Ascot Cup—why did they not add, and to the
milking pail for the Goodwood Cup. The weather con-
tinues very severe. Most of the horses are confined to

their straw beds ; but there are several to be seen canter-
ing on the snow every morning. Goodwin's team has
seldom missed a day from the race-course side, and it is
good going, as the frost keeps the snow from balling, and
will keep the horses in form for their spring engage-.
ments.