Looking back at 2010-2011

The 2010-2011 Racing Season is rapidly drawing to a close.  Our racing seasons don't run July to June like the financial year calendar, rather it runs July to August, however for me, the season is over from a photographic perspective.

My work of course covers two important components:  (1) of the racehorse at the track because, as Les Carlyon puts it, "the true arena is, has been, and always will be, the racecourse", and (2) stallions at stud.  It is fair to say that on both fronts, the 2010-2011 season will for me be remembered for really special images of true thoroughbred superstars.

On the track it's been world champions So You Think and Black Caviar.  And in addition to these two out and out champions, there's been More Joyous, Hay List and Hot Danish.  There was the 2yo juggernaut that was Darley Australia, who gave us Sepoy (Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper) and Helmet (AJC Sires, Champagne Stakes).  My little Queanbeyan filly Karuta Quen provided much joy.   I met the Sheikh on Melbourne Cup Day, copped an absolute drowning on VRC Derby Day, and visited and photographed on Macedon Lodge for the first time.  Oh, and the little matter of having an image published on an Australia Post Stamp set, and finally collaborating with the great writer Les Carlyon.  There were some terribly sad aspects to 2010-2011.  Personally I was devastated by the death of Hot Danish, and Stathi Katsidis died of accidental causes on the eve the WS Cox Plate.

On the farms, it was capturing horses such as High Chaparral (sire of the mighty So You Think), Medaglia d'Oro (sire of US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra), Street Cry (sire of the mighty Zenyatta), Big Brown (winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes) and Bernardini (also a Preakness and Travers winner) for the first time.  Throw in Lonhro and Denman just for good measure, and of course a long overdue reunion with their champion dad and grand-dad, the great Octagonal whom I've not seen properly since 1997.  To cap it off, we got all three horses together, in a now famous image of the trio at Darley.  And returning to established Australian champion stallions like Redoute's Choice, who finally sparkled and danced in his paddock for me, the gorgeous More Than Ready, up and coming stallions Not a Single Doubt and Starcraft, and industry stalwarts in Danzero and Flying Spur.  And I would be remiss in not mentioning photographing some of the 2010 foal crop of John Singleton's elite Strawberry Hills band of mares, with a full sister to More Joyous and the first foals of champion racemares Tuesday Joy and Samantha Miss.

What more could the Horse Mad Girl ask for?  Very little!  Well, actually, 'please sir, I'd like some more!' Ever in search of the perfect image, I hope it will all unfold again, and that 2011-2012 will be just as special.


Apache Cat at Legends
Bernardini.  Darley Australia.

Big Brown at Vinery.

Black Caviar
 

Lightning Stakes. 
Newmarket Handicap

Standing guard over the famous saddle and cap.
 

Two Legends of the Turf.  Cummings and Hogan.
Octagonal, Lonhro and Denman.  Darley Australia.

Efficient
Exceed and Excel - sire of Helmet
Dear Spur - Flying Spur at Arrowfield
 

Hay List.  Currently battling a serious leg infection.  2nd only to Superstar Black Caviar
Wayward, naughty, but brilliant is Helmet
High Chaparral.  Sire of champion So You Think

Hot Danish.  Broke my heart when succumbing to a leg infection in April 2011.
Hot Danish at the Pool.  Last photos I ever took of the great mare.
Hot Danish - last time I photographed her winning, in the 2010 Premiere
"Lilly" - Karuta Queen
 

Neville and Barbara Layt, a filly called Karuta Queen brought them back together
Champion Stallion Elect for 2010-2011:  The great Lonhro.
Megalia d'Oro.  Glorious
 

The full moon at Arrowfield Stud.
More Joyous - Superstar.
 


The black horse again.  More Than Ready.  Sire of More Joyous.
 

Not a Single Doubt.  Sire of my Karuta Queen
Cox Plate Day - Bart Cummings finally makes it back to the track after ill health to watch his champion So You Think win the Cox Plate for the 2nd successive year.

The great stallion Redoute's Choice at Arrowfield Stud.
Took up Jessica's "My Little Pony" ferris wheel to help him put his ears forward!  He's sussing out Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash!






Saw Saintly again.  Always nice..
Discovered had photographed Sepoy as a weanling!!!!


Sepoy - Blue Diamond
Sepoy - Golden Slipper

Shocking at the Pool.  He won the Australian Cup in 2011.
Sigh..  I miss him.  He's just walloped Workforce in the G1 Eclipse Stakes in England.  He is of course So You Think.  I suppose the next time I photograph him will be as a stallion when he returns to Coolmore Australia.

 









Starcraft

Street Cry


Street Sense
Workout at Macedon Lodge
Dear old Zip..  Zipping at Macedon Lodge.


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