48 PRETTY POLLY 



and he had been beaten fairly and squarely at New- 

 market by the mare, despite all the assertions of those 

 who stated that she won " all out" on that occasion. 



If Bachelor's Button was such a great horse then 

 Mark Time would have beaten Pretty Polly, for the 

 former only managed to defeat Mark Time at even 

 weights by a short head at Doncaster. 



To say that Pretty Polly failed to stay is absurd. 



It was want of vitality, not want of stamina, that lost 

 her the Cup. 



As has before been remarked in these pages with 

 reference to the only other defeat the wonderful mare 

 has suffered throughout her career, so it might be said 

 again with reference to Ascot that in defeat she was, 

 perhaps, more glorious than in victory. 



No want of commendation for the winner, good, 

 honest horse that he was, but knowledge of the respec- 

 tive class and merits of the pair, as judged by the 

 career of each, prompts any one who is an impartial 

 judge to hold conclusively that had Pretty Polly been 

 absolutely at the top of her form on that tragic day she 

 would inevitably have won, and won, too, with consum- 

 mate ease. 



Pretty Polly was no worse for her severe race, and 

 was confidently expected to appear again under colours 

 in the Doncaster Cup. 



Unfortunately, owing to the hard ground, she jarred 



