Mephisto: a silver & enamel vesta case, hallmarked Birmingham, 1887, the white & black enamel hinged cover depicting the devil between the inscription

Mephisto: a silver & enamel vesta case, hallmarked Birmingham, 1887, the white & black enamel hinged cover depicting the devil between the inscription I AM 'MEPHISTO' WHO THE [...] ARE YOU, the underside engraved ASCOT, JUNE 19, 90, roughened striker worn This vesta commemorates Mephisto's victory in the All Aged Stakes at Royal Ascot on 19th June 1890. Mephisto was owned by Prince Demtrey Soltykoff who owned the Kremlin House Stables at Newmarket, the yard formerly occupied by Michael Jarvis in recent times. The Russian nobleman was a great patron of the Turf who won countless big races including the Gold Cup, Champion Stakes, Coronation Stakes, July Cup, Sussex Stakes as well as a number of the major handicaps. However, he never had the fortune to lead in a Classic winner. The devil design incorporated into this vesta is a pun on the horse's name Mephisto, a shortened version of Mephistopheles, the devil in ancient legend to whom Faust sold his soul. The colt's name was inspired his sire Robert The Devil.