Saturday, November 25, 2006

The return of the prodigal son

Dedicated Graeme Connors fans might deduce from the title of this blog that I've been listening to his CDs since my return. And a very good way of settling in they've been, too. 'The Rain Tumbles Down In July"' has been played a lot, as the rain tumbles down in November here - still, at least that means it's (relatively speaking) quite warm (ie only a bit colder than it was at Flemington on Cup Day) with no signs of frost. I feel rather guilty about cursing the incessant rain, having seen the effects, particularly in Victoria, of Australia's ongoing and severe drought. I am sure that the Ritchies will be hoping that the rain will indeed tumble down next July, as they would be entitled to expect that it should. Let's hope that next July comes in the middle of a very wet Australian winter, following a wet summer and autumn.

A good way of getting back to normal here is by having a runner, and that is what we're doing at Lingfield this arvo. By Storm should run ok, courtesy of having a feather weight in an ordinary race. She should stay appreciate the distance (12 furlongs), but still has to prove that she can show the same form on the all-weather as she showed when winning on soft ground at Nottingham last month - gosh, was it really only last month? It seems years ago. Unbelievably, Lingfield is one of THREE flat meetings in the UK today - even harder to believe is that Brett Doyle is riding at all of them. Since having taken the excellent Laura Way on as his agent, he's been busier than he's ever been, and is at last being kept as busy as a jockey of his calibre deserves to be. Let's hope it's a good day for him (even if not in the 3.10 at Lingfield, as we'll be in opposition).

Stony Creek on Monday will be the next focus of attention, with Stoneage Romeo (pictured) due to line up. I look forward to hearing a report (several reports) on how he fares - let's hope he runs well and that his perceived (by me) potential stamina becomes more evident / less speculative. John and Terre McNamara will be arriving here that day to stay for the week and I hope I'll be unstiffening by then - having had three and a half weeks out of the saddle, my middle-aged bones have been creaking a bit since my resumption. I'd like to say that Chilly Cracker and Mozie Cat have been looking after me since my return, but anyone who knows Chilly Cracker would know that would be a lie. Still, we're still in one piece, and I was delighted with Mozie Cat's gallop on the Cambridge Road all-weather this morning. She should be ready for a run sometime before Christmas; ditto Lady Suffragette and Millyjean (and ditto Timmy - Limit Down - if he can ever find a race that he won't be eliminated from, which could actually happen in the run-up to Christmas), so let's hope that the stable can end the year with a flourish. Starting today ...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Check out Mr Angry - does Tony Blaire really think that Britain's yoof is going off the rails because they're all at the races instead of sitting down to Sunday lunch?