VIRAGO 9 



found, to his enormous relief, that it was all a dream. 

 When Virago, again at York, was run into and a 

 hind leg cut she was unable to do any work between 

 that meeting and Newmarket. However, she 

 warmed up to her work in the race, and won in a 

 canter. Porter has no hesitation in giving it as his 

 opinion that Virago was the best mare at all 

 distances that ever trod the turf. He questions the 

 accuracy of the description of her adopted by ' The 

 Druid,' namely, 'the roach-backed Virago.' She 

 had great length and power, and as to any striking 

 peculiarity in ' shape and make,' all you could justly 

 say of her, neither more nor less, was that she had 

 1 the regular mare's head and neck.' Looking back 

 over the animals that have passed through his hands, 

 Porter considers it remarkable that the two finest of 

 them all, Virago and Ormonde, should have become 

 roarers. Oulston and Yellow Jack, the historical 

 'second,' were also of the Michel Grove company. 

 Porter, in recalling the last-named celebrity, is 

 reminded of a horse of more recent date, namely 

 Matchbox, who, like Yellow Jack, 'was not quite 

 good enough.' 



The Michel Grove stud also included Little 

 Harry and St. Hubert. During his service there 

 Porter rode in all the trials, and occasionally sported 

 silk in public, albeit Wells (who could ride 6 st.) 

 was the recognised stable jockey. The bother 

 about St. Hubert causing the retirement of ' Honest 

 John' and the transfer of Mr. Pad wick's horses to 

 the care of William Goater (previously head lad 



