It was also an anxious time for Joel Kenley, who had several horses running at the meeting. The trainer was still puzzled as to the merits of "the two boys", as he called the horses. Common sense told him Lucky Boy ought to beat Black Boy, and yet he could not drive away the idea that Jack's horse would beat him, if not actually win. As he went round the boxes the night before the race, he found Bricky looking earnestly at Black Boy. "Anything the matter?" asked Joel. "No, sir. He never was better. He's as hard as nails and fit to run any distance." "You seemed a trifle anxious about something." "I was wondering how much he'd win the Cup by," said Bricky, without a smile. Joel Kenley laughed as he replied-- "Then you are sure he will win, and it is only a question as to how far the others will be beaten. What makes you think he will beat Lucky Boy?" "I don't know, a kind of presentiment, one of those things a fellow can't understand. I'm sure he is a better horse than the other fellow." Joel Kenley seldom talked with his lads, but he knew Bricky had a wide experience and had ridden and looked after all sorts of horses, so he spoke to him with more freedom than usual. "What about the trial? Lucky Boy won that easily." "That's true, too easily I thought, he'd never do it again. It reminded me of a trial I once rode for Mr. Mason, at Eagle Farm, Brisbane." "What was there curious about it?" asked Joel. "There were two horses in his stable, same as it is here, and one of them won a trial with any amount to spare. They backed him for a heap of money, put the other horse in to make the running, which he did, for he was never caught, and won the race almost as easily as his stable mate did the trial. I rode the favourite, and I also rode him in the trial. In the race he would not try a yard and there was a regular row about it. Most people blamed me, but Mr. Mason stood by me and said he'd have another trial. We had, and dash me if my fellow didn't win again easily, and I rode him. Well, about a month after we took him to Gympie, backed him heavily, and he ran nearly last. The other horse, that he beat in the trial, we took to Rockhampton, and beggar me if he didn't win easily, fairly smothering the Gympie winner. What do you make of that?" "One horse must have been a rogue in a race, but would do his best at home," said Joel. "Quite so, and I have an idea that will be the case here." "You may be right, but we have no occasion to think Lucky Boy lacks courage, he ran a good race at Rosehill." Bricky shook his head and smiled as he said-- "I can't give any reasons, sir, but to-morrow my bit for the Cup goes on this fellow." "It will be a surprise for a lot of people if he wins." "It's good for 'em to be surprised sometimes," said Bricky. Jack Redland called at the trainer's the same night, and Joel told him what Bricky had said.