142 The Post and the Paddock. 



to Newmarket about the same time, after keeping up 

 in the North for two seasons the character which he 

 had acquired by making his own running and defeat- 

 ing such horses as Voltaire and Sir Hercules in the 

 St. Leger. The Chifneys had kept an eye on him 

 ever since Sam got his measure on that memorable 

 day with Voltaire ; and even when he came into their 

 hands for his fifth season, they declared him to be 

 " the best horse at all distances from half a mile to 

 four miles that they had ever trained" — no small 

 praise from the owners of Priam and Zinganee. His 

 sire was Oiseau, who also distinguished himself 

 through Revolution and some rare four-mile horses in 

 the north ; while his dam Katharina was by VVoful. 

 The price was 1000 guineas ; and at one time John 

 Scott thought of taking half of him, but changed his 

 mind from a feeling of delicacy towards Pvlr. Petre, 

 whose luck was then sadly on the wane. In shape he 

 was, perhaps, as nearly perfection as possible ; low 

 and lengthy, perhaps rather light-timbered, but with 

 beautiful quarters. His head was small, clean, and 

 deer-like, with an exquisitely expressive eye ; and 

 casting our memory back over the thousands of 

 thorough-breds we have seen stripped, w^e know ot 

 few that we would not more readily have spared to 

 the foreigners. One leg had required a good deal 

 of care before he arrived at Ascot to encounter Cama- 

 rine for the Gold Cup, in 1832 ; and this coarse, big 

 mare, whom Robinson always considered some pounds 

 better than Lucetta, presented a quaint contrast to 

 her elegant little opponent, who looked little qualified 

 to give her i/lbs. for the two years. The race was 

 one of the most extraordinary and interesting ever 

 run, and The Saddler was soon beaten off. Chifney 

 walked 150 yards, and then cantered in front till 

 about three-quarters of a mile from home, when he 

 went on at a terrific pace — Robinson waiting with the 

 mare till about seventy yards from the chair, where 



