412 • APPENDIX, 



STERLING. 



{WINNER OF THE LIVERPOOL AUTUMN CUP, 1873, ^c.) 



Sterling by Oxford was bred in 1868 by the Messrs. Graham, at Yardley, and 

 is the third produce of Whisper (hkewise dam of Playfair by Oxford, Genuine 

 by Oxford, &c.), who was bred in 1857 by Mr. Taylor. This remarkable horse 

 ran his first race at Warwick, in September 1870, when he was beaten for the 

 Castle Park Stakes by Miss Lizzie, a very smart filly, also got by Oxford ; while 

 behind the pair were Mornington and some others. On returning to New- 

 market, Sterling achieved a very easy victory for the Hopeful, beating a field of 

 nine horses, and the same week he won the Rutland by six lengths from Ainsty, 

 Revoke, Ortolan, and two others. In 1871 Sterling ran in nine races, three of 

 which he won. He was beaten by Boswell by a length for the Two Thousand, 

 finishing three lengths in front of King of the Forest (third), while among those 

 behind him were Blenheim, Digby Grand, and Ripponden. Not being engaged 

 in the Derby, he next ran at Ascot for the Prince of Wales Stakes, in which he 

 was beaten by King of the Forest, but on the Mile Course for the Biennial the 

 next day he beat King of the Forest very easily at even weights. At the New- 

 market July Meeting, Sterling showed himself to be a wonder, as, carrying 8 st. 

 12 lb., he won the Summer Stakes on the last six furlongs of the Bunbury Mile 

 by three lengths from Azalia 3 yrs. 6 St., Piquillo 3 yrs. 6 st. 2 lb., and 

 seventeen others. He next carried 8 st. 11 lb. into the second place, behind 

 Botheration 3 yrs. 6 st. 7 lb., for the Chesterford Cup at Goodwood, but at 

 Brighton Vulcan effected his overthrow for the Champagne Stakes. Burdened 

 with 9 St. 5 lb. he was not placed for the Great Eastern Handicap, won by 

 Philomela 3 yrs. 5 st. 8 lb. ; but in the Houghton week he astonished the 

 racing world by carrying 8 st. 11 lb. for the Cambridgeshire and running a dead 

 heat for second place with Allbrook 5 yrs. 6 st. 9 lb., the pair finishing a head 

 from Sabinus. The same week odds were betted on him for the Derby Free 

 Handicap, which he won by three lengths from Shannon, Gautelet, Verdure, 

 and some others. In 1872 Sterling ran in only three races, one of which he 

 won — viz. the Craven Sfalscs at Newmarket, whilst at Ascot Albert Victor beat 

 him by half a length for Her Majesty's Gold Vase, and Prince Charlie for the 

 All Aged Stakes. In 1S73 Sterling ran on only two occasions — viz. for the 

 Cambridgeshire Stakes, in which carrying 9 st. 7 lb. he was third to Montargis 

 3 yrs. 7 St. 13 lb., and Walnut 3 yrs. 6 st. 7 lb. ; and for the Autumn Cup at 

 Liverpool, which (carrying 9 st. 4 lb.) he won from Louise Victoria 4 yrs. 7 st. 

 6 lb , King Lud 4 yrs. 7 st. 12 lb., and twelve others. The betting was 20 to i 

 against Sterling, who after a rattling race won by a head. Sterling was put to 

 the stud at Yardley in 1C74. Sterling's most distinguished progeny are Beau- 

 desert (winner of the Middle Park Plate), Caxtonian, Discount, Fernandez, 

 Geo'ogist, Post Obit, Isonomy (winner of the Cambridgeshire), Siluria, Plar- 

 vester, Paradox, &c. 



