HERMIT AND ISINGLASS 



many of the sons and daughters of Newniinster, 

 and Hermit was no exception to the general rule, 

 which will account for his never running again 

 during his first season. 



He wintered pretty well, and, in the early part 

 of his preparation for the Derby, was led by 

 Target, and seemed to be progressing in satis- 

 factory fashion. However, it was thought that 

 Target, who was a very moderate horse indeed, 

 was not good enough for the work, and that fine 

 stayer, Rama, who was then a four-year-old, was 

 purchased from Lord Westmoreland to act as 

 schoolmaster. There could be no doubt about 

 Rama's capability to lead a good gallop, indeed 

 he made the work much too strong for his 

 delicate pupil, who began to go back steadily, 

 and would soon have been galloped off his legs 

 had not Captain Machell divined what was the 

 matter, and reinstated Target in his old position, 

 which produced an immediate change for the 

 better, the easier work just suiting Hermit. 

 His only trial took place shortly after the Two 

 Thousand. This race had been won by Vauban, 

 who beat Captain Machell's Knight of the Garter 

 by a couple of lengths, the latter being a head in 

 front of Marksman. Considering; the disadvantage 

 under which he laboured. Knight of the Garter 

 ran exceedingly well, for about six weeks prior to 

 the decision of the Guineas he had jumped off the 

 straw bed and slightly over-reached himself, Avhich 

 necessitated a stoppage in his work. Thus he was 

 not quite fit when he finished second to Vauban, 

 but was improving every day, and when Hermit 

 gave him 10 lb. and a beating over a mile, the 

 stable felt that they held the Two Thousand form 

 quite safe. Another trial over a mile and a half 

 was to have taken place on the Wednesday before 



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