It's the end of the day.  I feel flushed with success..  And sore, having used muscles I haven't used in awhile!  I loved riding this morning.  Yes, I'm a bit rusty, but Grant said he won't change much about the way I ride and that I ride well, he's just got to get me fit, and of course I'm used to dressage which is different from jumping.  I dropped the kids off this morning, then called in to my local newsagent to see if I could get a copy of Sunday's Herald Sun.  They had one, so I have a copy of my front page photograph.  They had seen the photograph in the Tele and the Herald Sun, and were pleased, and asked what I was going to do now Black Caviar has been retired!  Hopefully still see her I said!!!!  I then called in to see Freelance and feed her.  She looks well, and it was nice to see her, and then I went straight from there to my riding lesson.  Grant popped me on a middle sized gelding called Buddy.  I liked ...

This morning I'm doing something just for me.  I decided it was time to do a few more of the things that are important to me.  Yes!   It involves horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I say this somewhat defensively and with eyes glaring ever so defiantly at those who might say either pleadingly, jokingly, angrily, or somewhere in between " but there are others things out there that you like and would be good to do, it doesn't always have to involve a horse ". This morning I'm riding.  I'm having a jumping lesson with respected coach and former Australian showjumping team member Grant Hughes, on one of his horses.  It will be easy stuff and I've told him don't toss me in to the deep end, but I like Grant and he's terrific.  I started having some lessons with him before the kids were born, but it was too hard to fit in with work and university.   It should be a good incentive to try to see whether Freelance's legs can stand up to a bit of work, a...

I'm stopped with Maxie at Lake George. We are having an uneventful trip home. I've been receiving many truly ace messages about the image of Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton that ran on the front pages of the Sunday Telegraph and Herald Sun. Maxie has worn his harness tied to the passenger seat so that he can sit next to me but not be a complete pest and a menace. And he is having a little look around at the rest stop as well. We will set off again shortly. Driving makes me reflective. And recall things good and bad. There was definitely some of each. Whether in equal parts I guess depends on whose perspective you look at it from. If the Waterhouse v Singleton drama tells us anything, it is that different people can have differing views on the same event or set of events depending on which end of the stick they were getting. I am under no illusions that this image, and its byline, will be differently received in different households in both Sydney and Melbourne where...

In a major drama owner John Singleton announced after More Joyous' unplaced run in the G1 All Aged Stakes that he was transferring all his horses from trainer Gai Waterhouse.  These images say it all. The image will run on the front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph and hopefully in a number of the interstate News Ltd mastheads.   The editor of the paper just messaged me to say that the image is a definite award nominee and to make sure I enter it in all the awards (I only know of the Walkleys, what else is there???).  And yes, I still want to pick up the phone, and wanted to do so during the talks about it, just to check I was doing the right thing.  Old habits..  Dying hard... http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/john-singleton-and-gai-waterhouse-lock-horns-after-failure-of-more-joyous-in-all-aged/story-fn67tkww-1226630657653 On the way to the track, ABBA's Super Trouper came on over Dan's crackly speakers. "Tonight the Super Trouper....

After shouting his head off the whole trip, Maxie and I made it to Sydney.  Before setting off, I did check my oil and water, although I almost didn't do it, thinking 'but I only checked them only 3 days ago!!!' , but then decided I should do the right thing.  I did revert back to the usual cursory glance at my tyres though. Actually, I'm not even sure that I did this.. On arrival I read that champion colt Pierro's new home has been decided.  It was announced late today that he will stand at Coolmore Australia.  This will be a nice base for him, although I do find myself wishing just a little bit that he was going to Arrowfield or Darley, as I tend to spend more time at these farms as a general rule.  I like to hope I'll be seeing a bit more of this wonderful colt though over the coming years as a stallion at stud. I am going to try to head to bed soon.  I have been sleeping terribly and therefore staying up much later than I normally do or is good f...

Maxie and I are about to set off again. We stopped at Pheasant's Nest. I got him out of the car with his little harness on, and we stood on the grass for 5 minutes, looking over at the truck parking area. It's a far fry from my last brief stop here.  Maxi is alternating from being just ok to bring a complete and utter warty toad. I think I prefer the Bad Ass. He thinks being kept in the cat carrier the whole way is complete and utter bollocks. The little toad.

I was asked to photograph the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Cocktail Party on Monday 8 April 2013.  It was held at Star, with the most amazing views over Sydney Harbour in the outside viewing/entertainment area.  These sorts of events are hard work, but there's some nice images here.  It was good catching up with a few friends as well. Gilgai Farm's Meaghan Strickland-Wood Rick Jamieson, owner of Gilgai Farm and breeder of Black Caviar, All Too Hard and the Redoute's Choice - Helsinge colt that sold for $5million arrives at the Cocktail Party. Mark Webster, Rick Jamieson, Meaghan Strickland-Wood and Pete Ford     Managing owner of Black Caviar, Neil Werrett and Lena Attebo.   John Coates