The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-14 00:00:00

A PROPHECY FOR THE GREAT

ST. LEGER, 1846.
(raom A CORRESPONDENT.)
As the time fist approaches when the great sporting
event of the year is to be decided, I hasten to commit a
few remarks to paper anent the principle favourites, and
endeavour to point out the probable ginner.
lago is a prominent favourite in Scott's lot, and one of
the speediest horses of the year; he ran well up for the
Champagne last year, being his first appearance in
public; he won two races in a canter in the Newmarket
Spring Meetings of this year, beating some fairish nags,
and ran Pyrrhus th 3 First (subsequently the winner of
the Derby) to a neck for the Newmarket Stakes. lago,
rode by Frank Butler, started for the Derby, looking
and going beautifully; he showed in front till he reached
Tattenharn-corner, where he resigned ti:e contest and
came in eighth or ninth. At Ascot he won tlse Welcome
Stakes, beating easily St. Demetri, that fast mare
Burlesque, and several others. At Goodwood, carrying
fibs. extra, he won the Racing Stakes in a can-
ter, beating a fairish field. At York he ran
a severe race for the Yorkshire Stakes with
Poynton, and was beat by a head in spite of Butler's
finest riding ; he, however, defeated a large field.
These performances are of the vey first class. A cele-
brated sporting writer for a morning paper is of
opinion that stoutness, not speed, is lago's forte. Now,
with due submission to that geatleman's excellent judg-
ment, I beg to differ entirely from him, because Lego
ran Pyrrhus to a neck over the ditch mile at New-
market, yet was beat lengths by the same horse over the
Derby course. For this and other reasons that might be
adduced, I maintain that speed is lago's best quality ;
and I doubt whether his power.s of endurance will be
found equal to a true ran race from end to end, such as
the Leger generally proves. When, io addition to this,
I see that Brocardo is in the same stabio—that he has
already defeated Ingo in public under disadvaeatageous cir-
cumstances, and that he is evidently Scott's Leger horse,
I firmly believe that lago, though a very speedy and a very
good horse, will not win this important yece, or
even get a place for it.
Joinville is, or rather was, a horse that would have' run
respectably, had he been started; but his break down at
Goodwood has put him entirely hors de combat.
The Free Lance ran well at two years old, winning
the Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket. Amongst other
things this year, he has defeated Joy, the conqueror of
Sting at Newmarket, and Joinville (who was a good
fourth for the Derby, and won the Drawing-room Stakes
at Goodwood) at Ascot. This last performance raised
him many points in my estimation. He is a fine looking
animal, and if bestridden by Nat, his chance is far from
despicable. He has been gradually rising in the betting,
and will be a better favourite yet before the race. 1
know no one who so well deserves to win another
St. Leger as his noble and spirited owner, but I fear no
such luck awaits him this year.
Fancy Boy's merits have been the theme of considerable
discussion. I will proceed therefore to examine the grounds
upon which such hopes rested in so many quarters pre-
vious to the Derby, and are now rapidly reviving.
Fancy Boy ran respectably at two years old in the
early part of the season, but those performances were in
some measure neutralised by his easy defeat at Doncas-
ter by Vanish, who, on the other hand, was beat in a
canter by Grimston this year .at Newcastle. As the
mare is now in John Scott's stable, he ought to have
the measure of both the other nags. Fancy Boy made
his first appearance this year at Chester for the St.
Leger, and, after a severe struggle with Dolo, won by a
neck; agood performance, but, in my opinion, by no means
sufficient to justify his elevation to the premiership
in the Derby betting. I stated at the time my impres-
sion that Fancy Boy would run well, but could not win;
and I firmly believe Grimston was the better of the
two even at Epsom. Fancy Boy since then started at
Newcastle for the North Derby Stakes, fell twice, in
consequence of the state of the ground, and was, of
course, beaten 100 yards. His admirers insisted strongly
on the manner in which he made up his lost ground
after his first fall. He did so, certainly ; for Matson
was too good a jockey not to seize the opportunity of
easing Dolo, while his opponent was running himself to
a standstill in his fruitless attempt to catch him. Fancy
Boy is no doubt a good horse, and has certainly been
unlucky ; but he never can, and never will win the
" Sellinger."
Cranebrook, an excellent two-year-old performer, ran
Fancy Boy to a head at Richmond last year. He has
been beat several times this year, and may, therefore,
have run himself into condition. Though he is reported
dangerous, he has but an outside chance ; and I cannot
persuade myself that he will even be near winning.
Grimston's performances in public are decidedly the
best of his year. At two years old he ran badly, but
rapidly improved during the winter, as appeared in his
race for the Derby, for which he was a good fifth, and
would have been more forward had Lye not waited on
Fancy Boy till the last moment. Grimston won the
Grand Stand Plate next day, beating a large field easily.
From Epsom he went to Ascot, where he won the Gold
Vase in a canter, beating a good field, including the
Chester Cup winner, who was second. At Newcastle,
for the Gateshead, he cut down Quadruped, Tom
Tulloch, Vanish, and another with ease, and was
then sold to Mr. O'Brien for 1,500 sovereigns ; and
finally at 7st. 41bs., a high weight for a three year old,
he won the Goodwood cup with the most perfect ease.
In fact, no horse out this season has achieved such
triumphs. But these very achievements give rise to a
serious question whether he be not stale from the
number of preparations he has been compelled to un-
dergo for his different engagements. Perhaps so,
though he has won all his races with such ridiculous
ease that but little has been taken out of him. In fact,
so good do I consider him, that if he comes to the post
as the representative of Dawson's stable, which even now
would not surprise me, I would take small odds that he
is one of the first three.
Sotades may run, as Dole appears to be much amiss,
and unlikely to show. This is unfortunate for his
noble owner, for Dolo has always run well, and would
certainly have cut a good figure. The notion propa-
gated by a few would-be knowing ones that Silvius is
likely to (Blue) Bonnet us must, I suspect, have origi-
nated in the fertile imagination of some victim who has
drawn him in a lottery.
Sting was indisputably the best two-year old out last
season. He was considerably off when he ran for the
Derby ; though reported to be dwindling away, it is my
belief that he is considerably improved since his arrival
at Newmarket, and may yet have a stinger left for his
enemies. Barring casualties, he is certain to start.
Pyrrhus the First, of Derby fame. I cannot help re-
gretting that he has not bad the opportunity afforded
him of attempting to break the spell which has hitherto
prevented the Epsom winner from carrying off the great
northern event. With the prestige of victory accompa-
nying him, meeting for the chief part vanquished oppo-
nents, and enjoying advantages in the shape of owner,
trainer, and jockey, which have never before fallen to
the lot of Derby horse, what save foul play could have
prevented his winning? Besides, let it be remembe red,
the Days are the only men who ever won the St. Leger
with south-country horses, viz., with Elis and Mango.
Tom Tulloch was much fancied in the spring. He
was beat by Sir Tatton for the 2,000 Guineas, but ran
well up, proving himself beyond doubt a speedy horse.
His backers supported him warmly, notwithstanding, for
the Derby in which, though rode by Nat, he made a
poor show; since then he has been beaten easily at New-
castle by Grimstone. The stable possesses two such very
superior nags, that I should have considered Tom's
starting as very doubtful, had he not been backed
within a few days in such a manner as to justify a con-
trary opinion.
Vanish was, probably next to Sting, the best two-
year-old of the year, on the strength of which she
was made a rattling favourite for the Oaks, which she
did not win. She subsequently beat Malcolm at New-
castle, where the compliment was returned her by
Grimston, her then stable-companion. Was this the
reason Sir Charles Monck removed his horses from
Dawson's? If so, it is a pity he placed them in Scott's
hands, at least the mare in question, as I fear her
chance for the race will be lost sight of, in that monster
stable.
The colt by Touchstone, out of sister to Joanna, has
recently come into the betting. He was formerly trained
in Ireland, but is now at Scott's ; he is dark, and un-
likely to start.
Jonathan Wild's best performance was winning the
Goodwood Stakes, but the Hero, of the same age, gave
him 141bs. and was defeated by a neck only. Jonathan
has since run at Warwick, and was a good second to
Wolf-dog, for the Queen's Plate, which he probably
would have won had he run straight. This was aecre-
ditable performance, proving him to be a good four-mile
horse, a rare thing in these days. He received, how-
ever, on this occasion likewise, more weight than the
difference in age warranted.
The Traverser, a short time since, was first favourite
on the strength of favourable private, trials, the most
uncertain of tests. At two years old, he showed great
speed. He ran for the Derby though amiss, because he
was heavily backed, and was, of course, nowhere. He
won the Wokingham (three-quarters of a mile) in a
canter. If the report spread of The Traverser's being
the best of Dawson's lot were true, I should consider
him much to be feared, but I make it a rule never to
believe anything emanating from a stable containing
two or more favourites, and must therefore be allowed
to entertain a very different opinion of his capabilities.
I consider that speed, not bottom, is his forte, and so far
from winning, I should be surprised to see him in the
front rank at the finish.
Erin-go-bragh has been much cried up of late to the
prejudice of Sir Tatton. He is dark, it is true, but it
would be without a precedent almost for one man to
possess two such animals as Sir Tatton of the same
year. I look upon the wondrous tales told about him as
moonshine, and should be surprised to see him start.
Sir Tatton Sykes, the pride of the Yorksbiremen,
stands next. A glance at his performances will show
the strong grounds there are for public confidence. Sir
Tatton started for the first time for the 2,000 guineas,
which he won cleverly—Tom Tulloch second. I con-
sider this a good performance, but by no means a crite-
rion for the St. Leger, or even for the Derby, as Sir
Tatton beat the same horse several lengths for the
latter race when he made his next appearance. It will
be recollected that he was beat by Pyrrhus by a neck,
owing, as it was said, to W. Scott's temporary want of
judgment, or rather of discretion. Now my humble opinion
is, not that Sir Tatton's stoutness failed him in the severe
struggle which took place, but that he succumbed to
Pyrrhus as the stouter of the two. This opinion may .
appear bold, and certainly rather singular, but the pedi-
grees of the horses would seem almost to bear out my
assertion. Pyrrhus being gut by Epirus (the winner of
many races at long distances and high weights), out of
Fortress, the dam of Old England—perhaps the gamest
horse in the world—and, to go farther back, descended
from the famous Camerton ; Sir Tattoo, on the other
hand, is got by Melbourne, more famed for 'peed than