90 THE ENGLISH TURF 



the best of his year. Galtee More and Persimmon were 

 a long way beyond the average Derby winner in point of 

 merit; but 1895 was a Da -d year, yet in all probability 

 Sir Visto was, with perhaps two exceptions, the best of a 

 moderate lot. He was beaten in the Two Thousand, but 

 he won both Derby and St. Leger with something in hand, 

 and if there was a better three-year-old that year I should 

 make choice between Whittier and Marco. The first-named 

 was undoubtedly the best two-year-old of the previous year, 

 and he won the March Stakes in great style when a three- 

 year-old. But he was difficult to train, and was not a good- 

 tempered horse, and very little was heard of him after the 

 spring of his three-year-old career. Marco had no classic 

 engagements, but during the autumn of Sir Visto's year he 

 was very smart, and as a three-year-old he won five of the 

 seven races in which he took part, his victories including the 

 Lewes Handicap under 7 st. 6 Ibs., and the Cambridgeshire, 

 when he had 7 st. 9 Ibs. in the saddle. This last-named race 

 he won in a hack canter, giving no less than i61bs. to Count 

 Schomberg, of his own age, and beating the five-year-old 

 Best Man at 19 Ibs. The three first-named were the placed 

 horses, and amongst the unplaced lot were Le Justicier, who 

 had won the Eclipse Stakes ; None the Wiser ; Green 

 Lawn ; Portmarnock ; La Sagesse, who won the Oaks that 

 year, and carried I Ib. more than Marco ; Rockdove, winner 

 of the Caesarewitch ; and Telescope, who had run second to 

 Sir Visto for the St. Leger, and who carried 1 3 Ibs. less than 

 Marco ; and several others who were able to win good races. 

 This was undoubtedly the best three-year-old performance 

 of the year, and if further proof was necessary that Sir 

 Visto was lucky in not meeting Marco in the Derby and 

 St. Leger, it was afforded in the following autumn, when 

 the two met in the Champion Stakes Across the Flat. On 

 that occasion the pair were opposed by Whittier and 

 Labrador, but of Whittier's running little heed can be 

 taken, as the horse was not wound up and was not in the 

 least fancied. He had beaten Marco as a three-year-old, 

 but now 100 to 8 was offered against him in a field of four, 

 Sir Visto starting favourite at 5 to 4, with Marco well backed 



