I am almost half way through the wonderful book IN GAI’S WORDS which I picked up at a sale last week. What a great story and insight into the very hectic life of one of Australia’s greatest horse trainers. Basically the book is a series of Gai’s Blogs which started with the EI outbreak and her efforts to keep in touch with her clients who could no longer visit the stable which was placed in quarantine. Fascinating reading for anyone interested in horse racing.
Well it has prompted me to think that perhaps I should consider a blog after all. One of our staff POITR, who is into marketing, has been nagging me for ages to do a regular blog because he thinks some people may find it interesting. Can’t imagine that many would find it interesting but we will give it a go anyway and perhaps if I get some positive feedback I may continue! Who knows?
This week has been hectic here with the last of our yearlings coming into the boxes to be prepped for the Magic Millions sale in Launceston on 21st February, and the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne at the end of February. We now have 23 horses in stables and 6 capable young staff in charge of their every need. The wild winds we have been having this week have made their job particularly challenging. Thank goodness today is much better and I can already see the staff falling into a good routine. So far I have closely checked 2/3 of the yearlings and I am very happy with their general condition- all need a little more muscle and ‘top line’ and one filly (the Arapeho) could do with a Jenny Craig diet, but otherwise just some work on coats and manners and we should be OK. It is amazing how much these horses develop and change in their 6 – 7 week prep, and it really is wonderfully satisfying for everyone involved to see them develop into racehorses.
Speaking of which what a wonderful day yesterday for Armidale! For the THIRD year in a row an Armidale reared horse won the DEVONPORT CUP. This year DREAM FLYER (Savoire Vivre – Unamah) took the honours for owners Michael Mee and Rob Nightingale and trainer Troy Blacker. Capably ridden by the State’s leading jockey Brendan McCoull DREAM FLYER came from mid field in the straight to win by well over a length. Last year the cup was won by his half brother DREAM PEDLAR, and the previous year it was won by our great little mare WITH DECORUM (Savoire Vivre – Royal Egypt). Each of these horses spent their first 18 months at Armidale, and both Dream Flyer and Dream Pedlar spell at Armidale.
WITH DECORUM is now a mum! She has a HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR foal at foot and is back in foal to ARTIE SCHILLER. She resides at Ken and Jenny Breese’s lovely farm TOOLORA LODGE in Victoria. Ken and Jenny own half of WITH DECORUM and we also own the beautiful mare SHORT N SWEEP with them. SHORT N SWEEP is the dam of the stakes placed three year old this season FIRST COURSE (by Snitzel) whom we bred with Ken and Jen and sold to Ken Keys at Inglis Premier a few years back.
Not only did we supply the last 3 cup winners, but Armidale also reared a treble yesterday, with DREAM FLYER, ROYAL MISWAKI (Tough Speed – Royal Ruby) and REBEL BRIDE (Telesto – Striking Sort) all winning. There’s no doubt the Armidale grass is wonderful!
Well its time I checked all my mares and foals (around 60 at the moment) so enough for today.
