268 The Life of Fred Archer 
the greatest respect, but he was wrong. Porter was so proud 
of Ormonde that he suggested to the Duke that Tom Cannon 
should come right through with the horse just to show the 
pubhc what kind of a galloper he really was. 
The Duke had no objection, and the pubhc not only saw, 
but marvelled. Ormonde not only beat Kilwarhn, but can- 
tered home half a dozen lengths in front. The only comment 
Captain Machell could make to Porter was, " Ormonde is not 
a horse at all ; he's a damned steam-engine ! " 
Then came perhaps Ormonde's greatest feat, for on the 
following day Mat. Dawson challenged with Minting in the 
Hardwicke Stakes, the pair meeting at even weights, while 
Bendigo conceded 2 lb. Mat. Dawson was full of confidence, 
and he said to Porter, " You will be beaten to-day, John. No 
horse afflicted with Ormonde's infirmity can hope to beat 
Minting." 
The pubhc, however, stuck to their favourite and laid 
shght odds on Ormonde, but there was plenty of room for 
doubt, seeing that the race was a mile and a half with an up- 
hill finish. However, the faith of the pubhc was justified. 
Ormonde's performance was really a greater one than it 
looked on paper. George Barrett was jealous because Cannon 
was engaged to ride Ormonde, for he thought he should have 
had the mount. He rode Phil — the fourth runner — and 
coming round the bend into the straight bored his horse into 
Ormonde. Indeed, for a considerable distance Ormonde was 
practically carrying Phil. 
After the race it was found that Ormonde's skin was 
grazed for three or four inches down the side of his near hind 
leg. That was where Phil had struck into him, and Cannon 
was unable to make as much of Ormonde as he could and would 
have done. When he returned to the paddock Cannon was 
very indignant, as it had taken Ormonde all his time to win 
by a neck. 
There were scenes of tremendous excitement, the cheering 
