As you might have seen on my Facey and Twitter, I have definitely started off in a rich vein of form; the ladies turn up and they go away satisfied in every department.
(One of my favourite girls, Angelic Light wins the McKewen Stakes - pic credit www.heraldsun.com.au)
There’s no doubting the fertility rate is first class, but in breaking away from common practice I’m not going to talk myself up too much at this early stage. I’ll leave that up to you human folk. As another week goes by, the atmosphere is really starting to build out here at Eureka as everyone is talking about the upcoming Spring Carnival. For the fifth season in a row, big bro Temple is down there, once again flying the flag for Queensland, along with an entourage that seems to get bigger year-on-year for us banana benders.
As a relatively small horse who has never carried weight well, Temple’s first-up run where he carried 59.5kg was a very good one, taking on unexposed horses who had nowhere near as much lead in the saddle. In 10 days time he’ll run in the Gilgai Stakes, a race he has won previously. With an expected weight drop of around 3 kgs he’ll go there with a live chance of replicating his 2011 win.
But all the neighing this week with my mate Red has centred around Friday night’s Group 1 sprint, the Moir stakes at Moonee Valley. Two of my old adversaries square off...... Lankan Rupee, who’ll be looking to right the wrongs of his last start defeat and Queensland's reigning horse of the year, Buffering (took me a while to neigh that let me tell you, lucky I don't hold grudges!) I hear the Buff is flying and primed for his first up assault, while word is Lankan Rupee has improved lengths since his first-up run, though I have heard that before .. and boy didn't they throw out the excuses after his first run. The poor old jock didn't he cop it, unfairly in my opinion. At least he wasn't 3 wide with no cover midfield, in a slowly run race with 7 horses in it; like I was against Black Caviar!! (Oops maybe I do hold grudges, but hey, we all have off days).
I have a feeling connections will be throwing the excuses out again, as the forgotten horse in this race is Lankan Rupee’s first up conqueror, Angelic Light. What was missed in the aftermath of the McEwen is that Angelic Light had only 1 run since a significant layoff. Speaking from experience, though many will find it hard to believe, even yours truly whacked on a few pounds when given a week or two off. She was second up, and every chance still feeling her first-run; in my own wizardry of the race game, I think she’ll have benefitted just as much from that run as the world’s highest rating sprinter.
Speaking of ratings, in between doing the business, I was listening (yes I can hear and understand you human folk; still remember when I heard some of my previous owners talking about taking my manhood back in the day.... Best thing they ever did was keeping me in total, didn’t run a bad race after that). Sorry, I digress .. talking ratings and it was interesting to listen to the recap of the McEwen from the experts at Timeform (all except when they came to rating my exploits, 116 … Please!!!). Do yourself a favour and listen to this before dismissing Angelic light this weekend or going in hard on Lankan Rupee. Basically they say that Angelic light is every chance of repeating the dose. BTW Angelic, what's the go with not answering my calls? You and me could definitely have a future together. Please please please!! Geez I sense some self-desperation!!! Spirit wake up to yourself!! Oh love can make us all weak. (NOL)
Until next week
Spirit