THE REVERSE AT LONGCHAMP 23 



the ground, and by the sea, yet she beat most decisively 

 and uncompromisingly, all the French horses except 

 one, as well as her compatriot. 



I think that both the English horses were off colour 

 on this day, but that Zinfandel suffered the least, which 

 enabled him to finish within half a length of her. 



Next time they met it was a canter three lengths ; 

 and, extraordinary as it may at first seem, I am 

 inclined to think that in defeat Pretty Polly has 

 shown herself to be victa invincibilis {" conquered yet 

 invincible"), and that she may very possibly have 

 accomplished a greater thing in her reverses than she 

 has ever achieved in victory, by doing as much as she 

 did do when unable to make that final effort which 

 would have secured the judge's verdict. 



There was no question, in my opinion, of " slipping 

 his field." 



Presto II was never so far away that he could not 

 have been caught, and both jockeys rode a patient and 

 very well-timed race. B/i/ when the time came for the 

 English horses to go out and win they were physically 

 incapable of further effort. 



It was the Straits of Dover, and not Presto II, that 

 really won that race. 



It must be conceded that the winner was, on his day, 

 a very good handicap horse, but he had no pretensions 

 whatever to classic form, and had been well beaten at a 



