AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 93 



his stable. The horse was a martyr to rheu- 

 matism. He never ran from the Two Thousand 

 until he was stripped for the Great Yorkshire 

 Stakes in the autumn, when Ashmall rode him. 

 He beat Skirmisher, who was his stable com- 

 panion. It was in the Great Yorkshire that a 

 declaration was made to win with Vedette as 

 against Skirmisher. No doubt they declared to 

 win with the better horse, and Vedette won 

 easily. Lord Zetland was the sole owner of 

 Vedette, but only part owner of Skirmisher with 

 Mr. Savile. I fancy Mr. Savile was not well 

 pleased with the declaration business. At all 

 events, Skirmisher was taken away from Aske 

 shortly after, and Mr. Savile began racing him 

 in his own colours. There is not the slightest 

 doubt in my mind that Vedette was the better 

 horse of the two. Skirmisher was a good horse, 

 but Vedette had better speed, and stayed as 

 well. This same year I won the ' Fitzwilliam ' at 

 Doncaster on Vedette, and Tom Chaloner rode 

 him when he won the Doncaster Cup. Vedette 

 beat two good two-year-olds in the ' Fitzwilliam ' 

 in Lady Alice and Princess Royal; and Black 

 Tommy was second to him. This horse had run 

 second in the Derby that same year. Vedette 

 not being engaged, of course, did not run in 

 the Derby. In fact, had he been entered, he 

 would not have been fit to run, as he went all 

 wrong after the Two Thousand. He was bred 

 by Mr. Chilton and Mr. Anthony Harrison at 

 Billingham Grange; they were great friends, 

 and jointly owned the dam. Lord Zetland and 

 Mr. Williamson, who was Lord Zetland's 



