THREE- YEAR-OLDS. 



163 



he was a good horse in the spring of 18S3, and from the way 

 in which they tried him it is evident that they had the courage 

 of their opinions, and that these opinions were justified by the 

 result. The spin which took place on May 18, 1883, was as 

 folio v;s : — 



One mile and a half. 



Won by two lengths ; four lengths between second and 

 third ; a length between thu'd and fourth ; three lengths 

 between fourth and fifth. 



On paper a truly wonderful performance ; for we have 

 Shotover, the winner of the Two Thousand and .Derby, beaten 

 six lengths at 6 lbs., or 13 lbs. less than weight for age, while 

 Geheimniss, the winner of the Oaks, succumbs at 13 lbs., 6 lbs. 

 less than weight forage ; ar;d to make sure of a pace, there is 

 Energy in receipt of a pound. 



It is, however, only fair to see hov/ far this form will bear 

 analysis. Imprimis — Shotover, who was within 3 lbs. of Incen- 

 diary when she was three years old, should surely have made 

 some sort of improven:ient with another year over her head ; 

 and yet when she tries to give 10 lbs. she is beaten four lengths, 

 which makes her out to be a trifle worse than she was before 

 she filled those two niches in the temple of fame. Then 

 Geheimniss never really stayed but once in her life, when she 

 won the Oaks, and she had then nothing behind her but St. 

 Marguerite, a worse stayer even than herself ; and to wind up, 

 Energy, though his tremendous turn of speed was probably 

 more than suspected, had not at any rate proved himself the 



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