Australia Day

No, today isn't, as the title to this blog would imply, January 26th. It's actually the fifth anniversary of 9/11, so today we spare a thought for all innocent victims, irrespective of race or creed, of international aggression and sectarian hatred, for the murdered, the maimed, the bereaved and the dispossessed. All we can do is try our best to make our own corner of the world a better, friendlier place, and to pray for peace.

This place has been a good, friendly place today, thanks largely to the contributions of some of our Australian friends. (Ah, hence the title). To get the ball rolling, a text arrived this morning from Richard Sims to tell me that Sahaaran, the mare whom he formerly co-raced and from whom he now co-breeds (with Len Rhodes, breeder of Better Loosen Up) has had a foal. That's a half-sibling to the mighty Monsam, who alternately gives his part-owners (including Dickie) joy and frustration. There's a city win in him, I'm sure, if he stays problem-free, and his current trainer Lee Freedman must be fancied to get it out of him.

Next came the postman, bearing a wonderful package from Australian owner/breeder Glenda Bullen. Glenda and her husband Clive live in an idyllic part of the world, Yea in central Victoria, and I first met them when they showed up in Newmarket several years ago, having been pointed in this direction by Richard. They've been good friends, and a missive from Glenda is always a pleasure to receive. Somehow Glenda had got wind of the fact that I turned 40 in June, and today's package contained some birthday gifts: several items of Australiana, plus an excellent item of Yeaiana, ie a 'Yea Race Club - Come Picnic Racing In The Hills' T-shirt, kindly provided by Leigh Messner (to replace my by-now-dilapidated 15-year-old version of the same shirt) who, along with her late husband Bob, was so kind and hospitable to me when I lived in Victoria in 1991.

Then, to complete a mighty trifecta, Frank Byrne appeared in the stable mid-morning, completely out of the blue. I was delighted to see him. To cut a long story short, Frank is an Englishman who trained in this stable for nine months in 1973, after being at Derisley Wood Stud I believe, for American Irving Allan. He came to this yard after Humphrey Cottrell's retirement. Frank is now a naturalised Australian, having initially moved to Perth and thence to Victoria. When I lived there he was a successful trainer at Warrnambool, at the western end of the Great Ocean Road. Beaver Called might have been his best horse at the time. But then a few years later he had the dubious honour of becoming one of Richard Sims' many trainers. His greatest feat in this period was to prepare the aforementioned Sahaaran, with impeccable timing, to win a maiden race at Pakenham the most recent time I was in the country, November 1998, and Richard, Joff and I were all present to see her salute the judge on that mighty occasion. Anyway, the stress of training for Richard helped send Frank into retirement, because he packed up, suffering from heart problems, about five years ago. He is now enjoying retirement, looking really well on it, and is currently on holiday in the UK visiting his relations and old friends, such as Rae Guest. Today he was accompanied by his sister and brother-in-law, who live in Ipswich. It was really good to see him, and I hope that at some point Emma might adorn this posting with a photo of Frank and myself standing in the gateway of the yard on today's glorious September Morn (cue for our blogger Neil Diamond to break into song). And what was very nice was that Frank asked after Richard, said that he was no longer in touch with him but that he still has a lot of time for him, and asked me to pass on his best wishes to him.

So that's the reason behind today's title. The only shame on this Australia Day has been that one of our correspondents has been (again) a touch harsh on Stato-man in making him aware of Diktat's credentials. Stato-man is perfectly right in pointing out it is forgiveable for someone to be unfamiliar with a stallion who has never stood or raced in one's own country - I, for one, know this, having told Richard Sims only yesterday that I didn't know anything about Consolidator, a stallion which Mark McStay has suggested to Richard might be suitable for one of his many mares. Anyway, Stato-man, don't pay attention to westtip. For further information on Diktat, consult Michael Tidmarsh who is a big fan of the horse (although he may be just a bit biased, having been Warning's exercise rider for a time). I feel, and I know that Michael feels the same, that Darley may have missed a trick in not giving Australian breeders the opportunity to use Diktat; perhaps, Dickie could make this suggestion to some of his Darley (Aus) contacts when next networking with them.

Oh yes, and hats off to two more great Australians, Takeover Target and Joe Janiak, for another huge run yesterday. What a horse, what a trainer.