Another week gone and it should come as no surprise that it represented another period where I played host to many of the opposite sex.
(pic credit www.racingandsports.com.au)
I’ve certainly been holding up my end of the bargain, but some of the females haven’t showed that same commitment (typical)!! Neigh there, before you all get on your high horse.... (pardon the pun) but I’m giving my all and some! At this stage I’m on target to serve over 140 mares, meaning I’ll have around 110 mares in-foal. To the point in question, it can never be overstated that sending the mares to the boss a month or 2 in advance, for preparation, is money well spent. There’s no doubt the girls I’ve had the opportunity to acquaint myself with, through my gentlemanly charms, are mostly in-foal. Like any relationship, spending quality time together definitely sows the seeds to a successful outcome.
On the track over the past fortnight there’s been some great racing action with the much hyped, race of the carnival, the Manikato definitely living up to it's billing. Many want to question the time of the race; whilst it was slow, the horses were ridden to win the race rather than beat the clock. To say there were plenty of hard luck stories would be an understatement. I must confess I was only looking out for 2 horses, but the effort from big bro to sit 3-deep for the entire journey, yet still be in the most amazing photo finish, is testament to his fortitude and desire. Temple ran his heart out, but the unluckiest of runners on the night surely must have been my kindred spirit, Angelic Light. She nearly fell early in the race but picked herself up to be travelling the best on the turn, only to be held up by Temple. Once she got out, she flashed to the line and a stride after the post was out in front. That, as they say, is racing and for every hard luck story there’s the one happy one.
Come tomorrow though we’ll have the chance to see another cracking feature and quite possibly the best quality race of the spring. With the majority of the field being Group 1 winners, or those on the cusp of doing so, it’ll be a lucky 13 for the punters, as the world’s best sprinters take their place in the Darley Classic. The big bro again lines up in the field but will need all the breaks to feature at the finish. But I know all too well when you human folk dismiss him, he gets angry and comes out and beats a superstar, at big odds, just like he did earlier this year against yours truly. NOL!! My tip for the race, if big bro doesn't get the hay, is Lankan Rupee, who I can attest is very hard to catch up the straight.
I heard that both Temple and Angelic are likely to be locking horns again in the Group 1 Winterbottom stakes in Perth. That too should prove a very good race, with the local horses taking on us 4-legged folk from the eastern states. I can't neigh that I have fond memories of the race after nearly hitting the deck last year and being just happy to get through the run with no major dramas. Tell you what though, it’s a long way to go not to salute!
Finally, the human folk out there who are putting horse racing down of late, clearly have no idea what sort of privileged life us equine elite have. To say we are afforded a luxurious lifestyle is far from overstating the fact. Our every need is taken care of and we don't want for too much. I’d hate to imagine how we would be treated if we didn't have the amazing people within the industry to take care of us. These people are up before dawn and leave after the sun has well set. We become like their own children and those do-gooders out there who are misinformed to the point that they only want to be heard, need to pop along to any of the stables across Australia to see the love and care we receive.
Neigh for now
Spirit