XB ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



In those days the Portland Plate was a handicap 

 for all ages. That was before the rule came 

 into force that two-year-olds should not be handi- 

 capped with aged horses. At the close of her 

 two-year-old season, Manganese was beaten a 

 head for a Nursery at Newmarket. A mare 

 named Shela, belonging to Mr. Saxon, beat her 

 Manganese carrying 8 st. 10 Ibs., and Shela 

 6 st. 6 Ibs. 



" There were only five runners in Manganese's 

 *" One Thousand.' She was looking ' rough ' at the 

 time, and I remember some one telling my father 

 that John Day's people were coming through with 

 their filly Mincepie to cut her down. My father 

 told me never to give them a chance but to bring 

 her through. I had them all settled before going 

 half way, and won in a canter. That same year 

 Manganese ran fourth for the Portland Plate 

 at Doncaster. In that year our stable was 

 second, third, and fourth. A horse trained by 

 "Wetheral, named Lance, won; Lord Alfred was 

 second, Saunterer third, and Manganese fourth. 

 As a four-year-old Manganese went to the stud 

 at Ashby." 



Manganese, bred by Mr. W. H. Brooke in 1853, was 

 got by Birdcatcher, her dam Moonbeam by Tomboy out 

 of Lunatic by Prime Minister. Moonbeam, got in 

 1838, was bred by Mr. King, w r ho also bred Luminous, 

 Loup Garou, Gleam, Constellation, Herschel, Clair 

 de Lune, Moonshine, Benhams, Rebecca, Sermon, 

 Radiance, The Vicar, and others. She died in 1862. 

 She was first mated to Touchstone in 1859, but missed 

 to him. In 1860 and 1861 she dropped Mandragora 

 and The Miner, these being bred by Mr. W. H. Brooke. 



