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WHY SPION KOP FAILED : Derby Winner Affected by Peculiar English Bug Disease. 9 Gilpins Stable Ravaged by It Buchans Doncaster Cup Astdr Horse Goes to Stud. BY E. E. COUSSELL. .. LONDON. England, October 13. Splon Kop, after the Grand Prix, was given an easy time, which was unusually protracted because the colt became affected by a mysterious malady which has attacked more or less all the animals trained by Mr. Gilpin. The trouble first shows itself in the heel and spreads to other parts of the body. It is believed to be caused "by n microbe. Mr. Lambton, whose stable was also attacked, and Archaic in particular, describes it as "bug disease." So long as the "bug" is active, the victim must remain idle and to what extent the malady vitiates the constitution no one knows. Many weeks ago Splon Kop was believed fit to go in hard training. He was beaten a head by Abbots Trace at Derby the week before Don-caster and was expected to be all the "better for the race. In a trial five days before the St. Leger he showed to advantage, but the Doncaster miming proved the other inmates of Gilpins stable were so out of form as to be unreliable. Spion Kop was sweating profusely in the paddock. He got well away and for half a mile lay third. From that point he fell back to finish last but" brie. His rider said he ran as. though there was no life in him. Clearly the "bug disease" has sapped his vitality. There can be no other explanation of the ignominious failure of the colt, which is bred to stay forever. Orpheus -was thought to have a good chance, biit gave a disappointing display. Before the St. Leger the trainer of Allenby expressed the opinion his colt would -win or -break down hopelessly. He was a true prophet. The breakdown occurred and the sou of Bayardo was pulled up. Caligula and Manton got away last. The former remained in that position for over a mile. He then made a vigorous spurt and was soon leading. Silvern made a gallant effort, but failed to overhaul the gray colt. Caligula started at 10 to 1. The previous night lie was nt odds of 25 to 1, and two days previously S0l to 1 could be easily obtained. POOR LUCK OF LORD WILTON. Until five days before the St. Leger,. Caligula was; owned by Lord Wilton, who paid 3,100 guineas for him as a yearling. He sold the colt to the well-known Indian owner, Mr. Goculdas, for 8,000 guineas, plus half the St. Leger Stakes if he won. This meant 3,000 pounds sterling. This must be poor consolation for young Lord Wilton, who expended great sums in bloodstock two or three years ago. Caligula is a brother to Snow Maiden,- the only other one of The Tetrarchs stock to stay over one and one-half miles-. Their dam Snoot was a sprinter only and never went more than fiveeighths. Snoot was by Perigord by St. Simon N. R. A., who never ran. As a three-year-old she -was sent to the Newmarket .December-sales. In foal to Perigord, she was. bought . for ninety guineas by Mr. J. J. Maher. Snoot was the produce. The last named is a very small mare, only 14.3 hands high. All her produce to date are -winners. The mare returns to The Tctrareh in 1921. . . . Miss Gunning, the third dam of Caligula, won races over one mile and the next dam did not face. Further back the female line eventually reaches Ellen Middleton, the dam of. Wild Dayrell. From this tap-root descends Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee. , Naturally, the defeat of Alan Breek In the. Champagne Stakes was disappointing except to those who feared the ravages of the -malady which had afflicted Mr. Gilpins horse. The son of Sun-star looked burly in the paddock. He was help-lesV a long way from the finish and distressed when he returned. Mr. Joseph Watsons Lcmonora, a big far-striding son of Lemberg proved successful. He was unluckily beaten a neck in the Gimcrack Stakes. Some people now describe him as the best youngster! I understand his wind is slightly affected. He was bred at Sledmere and cost 3,300 guineas last year. Lemberg has been a long time making headway at the stud. A few more like Lemonbra and his success is assured. Polemarch, which Tvod the Gimcrack Stakes, was also successful in the Rous Plate at Doncaster. He is a good-looking chestnut colt by The Tetrarch -Pomace, h sister to Corcyra and Berievente: He was bred and is owned by Lord Londonderry, whose stud ill fortune continues, for Pomace died a few days before Polemarch won at York. It is cruel luck to lose Corcyra, Polumetic and Pomace In the space of three months. Buchah set the seal on his fame by winning the Doncaster Cup, in which Galloper Light was unplaced. The latter was strongly fancied. Tangiers leg slightly filled a few days before the race and he was withdrawn. Otherwise the Doncaster CUp would have been the race of the year. Galloper Light was badly kicked at the post by Brigand and, as a result, never extended himself. The race, therefore, was a bit inconclusive, but Buchan won like the good horse he undoubtedly is. He how retires to the stud at a fee Of 400 guineas and his list for 1921 Is full.
