THE DUKE OF PORTLAND 



wonder that Carbine had a good passage. Day, who has 

 made two voyages to Australia, two to America, and several 

 to India in charge of blood -stock, has had the care of 

 Ormonde, Foxhall, Cavalier, Order, Bismarck, and other 

 famous horses, either on sea voyages or at the stud. Perhaps 

 his best performance, however, was landing a valuable con- 

 signment of forty-five horses for the Ameer of Afghanistan 

 at Karachi, and convoying them safely through the Khyber 

 Pass to their destination. It is not surprising that Day's 

 services are in immense request when valuable animals 

 have to cross the seas, and he may make up his mind that 

 the greater part of his future life will have to be passed on 

 the ocean. 



I fear that I have half-unconsciously delayed giving my 

 opinion of Carbine, because, much as I should like to write 

 that I was very pleased with him, I cannot honestly do so. 

 He gives me the impression of having been " made at twice." 

 Behind the saddle it is impossible to pick a hole in him, and 

 his grand muscular quarters and splendid second thighs 

 make him a wonderful horse to follow. Per contra.^ I cannot 

 say that I was particularly in love with his shoulder, whilst 

 his head appears to me to be somewhat wanting in character, 

 and to be rather that of a mare than of a horse. There can 

 be little doubt, however, that he is exactly the horse for the 

 purpose for which he has been bought — to mate with Galo- 

 pin and St. Simon mares. They are nearly all inclined to be 

 high on the leg^he is just the opposite ; his calm and placid 

 disposition will nicely temper their fiery and impetuous 

 natures ; whilst they will impart the style in which he is just 

 a little lacking. Of course, it Avas hard on Carbine to be 

 followed so closely by Donovan and St. Simon. The former 

 has improved in an extraordinary degree since I saw him 

 last, and is now probably the most perfect and beautiful 

 specimen of a thoroughbred sire in the world. I preferred 

 him even to St. Simon, though the champion has never 

 been better than he is at present, and does not look more 

 than half his age. All the sires do from two to three hours' 

 strong exercise each day, and the stud groom must be highly 

 complimented on the beautiful hard condition which one 

 and all of them exhibit. 



After St. Simon had been led away, the twelve yearlings 

 were paraded. Perhaps the best of an exceptionally good 

 lot is Smean, by St. Simon from Muirninn. She has far 



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