'Here's luck, Willie. He's only got seven stone.' Then his face fell and he said, 'You will not be able to get down to that weight.'
'Yes, I shall,' said Willie, and ran outside to the weighing-machine.
'I am only seven stone seven pounds now,' he shouted. 'That seven pounds can soon be knocked off. Dr Tom will see to that. Tell him he will have to dose me.'
'We will have no dosing,' said Jim. 'It weakens you too much, and you require all your strength for a long, severe race like the Sydney Cup.'
It was considered a stroke of good fortune for Jim Dennis's Grey Bird to have only seven stone in the Sydney Cup, and Swamp Creek and Barragong folk vowed they would back the local horse no matter how good the others in the race might be.
Adye Dauntsey and Dr Tom were present at Grey Bird's final gallop before his long walk to Sydney commenced. The magistrate meant to take a few weeks' holiday and go to Sydney to see the race.
'I saw his sire win one of the best races I ever witnessed at Swamp Creek, and I must see his son eclipse even that performance.'
'We shall be mighty proud of your company at Randwick,' said Dr Tom. 'To have the celebrated P.M. from Barragong with us will considerably enhance our reputations.'
'Chaffing as usual, doctor. I believe you would laugh at a funeral.'
'Probably, if I had not been attending the deceased in a medical capacity,' replied the doctor.