PRIAM AND ZINGANEE. 149 



to Newmarket about the same time, after keeping up 

 in the North for two seasons the character which he 

 had acquired by making his own running and defeat- 

 ing such horses as Voltaire and Sir Hercules in the 

 St. Leger. The Chifneys had kept an eye on him 

 ever since Sam got his measure on that memorable 

 day with Voltaire ; and even when he came into their 

 hands for his fifth season, they declared him to be 

 " the best horse at all distances from half a mile to 

 four miles that they had ever trained" no small 

 praise from the owners of Priam and Zinganee. His 

 sire wasOiseau,who also distinguished himself through 

 Revolution and some rare four-mile horses in the 

 north ; while his dam Katharina was by Woful. The 

 price was 1,000 guineas ; and at one time John Scott 

 thought of taking half of him, but changed his 

 mind, from a feeling of delicacy towards Mr. Petre, 

 whose luck was then sadly on the wane. In shape 

 he was, perhaps, as nearly perfection as possible; 

 low and lengthy, perhaps rather light-timbered, but 

 with beautiful quarters. His head was small, clean, 

 and deer-like, with an exquisitely expressive eye; 

 and casting our memory back over the thousands 

 of thorough-breds we have seen stripped, we know of 

 few that we would not more readily have spared to 

 the foreigners. One leg had required a good deal of 

 care before he arrived at Ascot to encounter Cama- 

 rine for the Gold Cup, in 1832; and this coarse, big 

 mare, whom Robinson always considered some pounds 

 better than Lucetta, presented a quaint contrast to 

 her elegant little opponent, who looked little qualified 

 to give her 171bs. for the two years. The race was 

 one of the most extraordinary and interesting ever 

 run, and The Saddler was soon beaten off. Chifney 

 walked 150 yards, and then cantered in front till 

 about three-quarters of a mile from home, when he 

 went on at a terrific pace Robinson waiting with 

 the mare till about 70 yards from the chair, where he 



