AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 363 



without bringing her to a shorter price than 33 to 1, 

 which was her starting quotation. What Stone Clink 

 liked was a strong run race over a long course, and this 

 she got both at Gosforth Park and Newmarket. A well- 

 known Yankee speculator, who believed in the " time 

 test," backed her for the Cesarewitch simply because of 

 the time for the Northumberland Plate. Mr. Vyner, 

 when he saw the Cesarewitch weights, was not at all 

 pleased, and told Major Egerton that in allotting her 

 7 st. 7 Ibs. he had not given her a chance. The late Duke 

 of Beaufort never stood to win so much money on a race 

 as he did on his sturdy little horse The Cob, and his 

 defeat was a great blow to his Grace and his party. It 

 looked all over but shouting, when coming across the 

 flat The Cob took up the running and at the Bushes 

 held a lead of several lengths. From that point, if 

 Wall, who was on The Cob, had sat down and taken 

 well hold of him, and been content to be in front with- 

 out forcing him, he would have won. This was just 

 what Stone Clink wanted. Half-way up the hill she 

 challenged, and the three-year-old drew out a little 

 again, and when Mr. Vyner's mare swerved, the race 

 once more seemed as good as over for the Duke's colt. 

 But Stone Clink had yet another effort left, and at the 

 very last got the upper hand, Wall leaving off riding 

 The Cob under the impression that he had reached the 

 post. The Cob stopped, and was beaten a length, that 

 being brought about in about two strides by Stone 

 Clink. In the opinion of the jockeys the race was the 

 fastest they had ever ridden in. Stone Clink's victory 

 was well received, and justly so, for the Vyners' banner 

 has ever been synonymous with integrity. Still, her 

 success was a blow to the general body of backers, who 

 never dreamt that her neck victory in the Northumber- 



