204 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



virility of this line is further shown by the fact 

 that Stray Shot's daughter, Penitent, was the dam 

 of Ravensbury; while another daughter. Silver 

 Sea, bred Lord Bobs and His Majesty. It is 

 said that when the Duke of Westminster paid a 

 visit to Russley shortly after the purchase of 

 Shotover, his Grace told Peck he did not like the 

 filly. The trainer thereupon said he would take 

 her over at the price he had given. Some time 

 later the Duke changed his mind and bought her 

 back from Peck. 



With a view to ascertaining Shotover 's chance 

 of winning the Two Thousand and One Thousand 

 Guineas in 1882, we tried her on April 18, eight 

 days before the former race. This was the result : 



One Mile 



Incendiary, 5 yrs., 9 st i 



Locksley, 3 yrs., 7 st 2 



Shotover, 3 yrs., 9 st 3 



Sirdar, 5 yrs., 9 st. 4 



Won by a neck ; a head between second and third ; 

 another head between third and fourth. 



Shotover's form in this trial did not afford us 

 much encouragement. It looked a little better, 

 however, the day before the Two Thousand, when 

 both Sirdar and Incendiary were placed second 

 in mile races ; but, even so, we were anything but 

 confident she would win the Two Thousand. 

 Our doubt is revealed by the betting, for odds of 

 10 to I were laid against her. Although the 



