 Ladas progressed well over the winter , despite a reported bout of coughing in early March , and was sent straight for the 2000 Guineas for his first appearance of 1894 . On 9 May he started at odds of 5 / 6 ( 0 @.@ 83 / 1 ) in a field of eight with Matchbox the second choice on 9 / 2 ( 4 @.@ 5 / 1 ) . Ladas raced towards the rear in the early stages before moving into third place behind Matchbox and St Florian just after half way . Two furlongs from the finish , Watts ( riding on his thirty @-@ third birthday ) moved him up to challenge for the lead and , as predicted , the race developed into a contest between Ladas and Matchbox . Matchbox " came again " after being overtaken and the colts raced together for a few strides before Ladas pulled away to win by one and a half lengths . Immediately after the race , bookmakers offered Ladas at odds of 8 / 13 ( 0 @.@ 62 / 1 ) for the Derby , which was expected to be his next major target . 
