For years Lord William declared no Australian horse could touch the English, but Mercury caused him to change his mind, this horse’s performances having been almost phenomenal. In consequence of being bitten with the grey Australian, and not content with having between twenty and thirty horses already in training, he gave the well-known Australian dealer, Mr. Weekes, a commission to bring him one or two of the “real things” from Melbourne.
When the dealer returned from Australia, he brought with him two horses for Lord William, Myall King and Golden Gate. I do not remember hearing of the latter doing anything encouraging, and Myall King made a poor show to begin with, and his new master said a few things not altogether complimentary to the dealer in connection with his selection, but before long changed his mind, Myall King becoming his greatest favourite, winning three Viceroy’s Cups for him, the first on December 24th, 1887, value 7000 rupees. When Lord William was leading his horse in after the race, thoroughly pleased and happy, the excited and delighted Mr. Weekes, who had purchased the horse for his lordship and who had been brooding over the names he had been called when first he brought Myall King over, rushed up to Lord William holding out his hand for joy, saying, “Now do you still say I am a something something thief?”
“No,” replied Lord Bill, taking the proffered hand; “indeed you are all something something right.”
“Then you will come and stay with me in Melbourne, won’t you?”
“Of course I will,” said his lordship, only too anxious to move on.
Myall King also won the Durbangah Cup, £150, on the 30th of the same month.
In the summer of 1887 Lord William bought up the lease of the Dehra Doon course, over which he spent some time and trouble, getting it into good order; he kept it up entirely at his own expense until he left India. He removed all his horses there, also the Viceregal horses, being a good climate for them.
People in India were beginning to be rather frightened of Lord William’s string of horses, saying it was no use entering theirs against him, that they had no chance. I remember hearing a good deal of this at Lucknow, but it was not quite a fact, as his lordship found out to his cost occasionally. He certainly had a formidable string of horses, and he wanted to be on top, where to a certain extent he was, but in racing there is always the element of chance to be reckoned with, horses going wrong, jockeys making mistakes, and no end of other things to be taken into consideration. He sent his horses to all parts of India for race meetings, even to Poona.