▁following ▁year ▁he ▁failed ▁to ▁win ▁but ▁arg u ably ▁reached ▁his ▁peak ▁with ▁a ▁second ▁place ▁in ▁a ▁very ▁strong ▁renew al ▁of ▁the ▁As cot ▁Gold ▁Cup ▁and ▁also ▁finished ▁placed ▁in ▁the ▁Ch ester ▁Cup ▁and ▁Prix ▁Ker gor lay . ▁After ▁being ▁s idel ined ▁by ▁injury ▁for ▁almost ▁two ▁years ▁he ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁track ▁as ▁a ▁seven - year - old ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁win ▁another ▁minor ▁race ▁at ▁Hay d ock ▁before ▁running ▁second ▁in ▁the ▁J ockey ▁Club ▁Cup . ▁The ▁highlight ▁of ▁his ▁final ▁active ▁season ▁was ▁a ▁second ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁Henry ▁II ▁St akes . ▁ ▁Background ▁In ver mark ▁was ▁a ▁dark ▁bay ▁or ▁brown ▁horse ▁b red ▁in ▁England ▁owned ▁and ▁b red ▁by ▁Sir ▁David ▁Will s . ▁A ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Will s ▁family ▁of ▁to b acco ▁mer ch ants ▁Sir ▁David ▁established ▁the ▁D itch ley ▁Foundation ▁and ▁was ▁described ▁as ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁greatest ▁but ▁least - known ▁benef act ors ▁of ▁the ▁post - war ▁era ". ▁In ver mark ▁was ▁trained ▁throughout ▁his ▁racing ▁career ▁by ▁James ▁F ans ha we ▁at ▁the ▁Peg as us ▁St able ▁at ▁New market , ▁Su ff olk . ▁Will s ▁was ▁an ▁enthus i astic ▁follow er ▁of ▁field ▁sports ▁and ▁In ver mark ▁was ▁named ▁after ▁In ver mark ▁L odge ▁in ▁Ang us , ▁Scotland . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁s ired ▁by ▁Mach ia vel li an ,