It seems like forever since I have sat down at my computer (or my iPad) and written on this Blog.  To my regular readers I'm sorry.  To begin with I guess things just seemed to be sailing along so nicely that I almost forgot about writing.  Or at other times I think just keeping up with everything meant that I was wasn't devoting that 30 minutes or so most days to writing.   However in August it became apparent to me that all wasn't well with me.  For someone who's always been well, and the only 2 times I've been in hospital was for the birth of my two children, this came as a bit of a shock.  But then I guess "The Spanish Dancer", or "The Big C", or pure and simply cancer, is always going to be a shock.  I think it's one of life's real cruelties that a girl had to get cancer to get loads and loads of really beautiful and cool flowers. I won't go in to too many details here, but suffice to say that I have been extremely fortunate...

Today at Eagle Farm Racecourse, in Brisbane Queensland, they ran the final Group 1 race of the 2013/2014 Racing Season.  The race is called the Tattersall's Tiara.   Much to my relief they decided against sending "CJ" up north for the race.  I was actually happy they kept the mare here, because the risk of injury and the travel could have ruled her out of the Spring Carnival.  I'm desperate to see her race in Melbourne this Spring.  Yes, I'm being a little bit selfish here because if she ran in Queensland I wouldn't be photographing it, however here in Melbourne is a completely different matter. The race was won by a little filly trained by Gai Waterhouse.  She's called Cosmic Endeavour and she has been partnered by the brilliant young Tommy Berry, who has of course touched our hearts following the terrible death of his twin brother Nathan earlier this year.  I've only photographed Cosmic Endeavour once.  She was sired by ...

We popped in to The Valley on Saturday.  The racing at this time of the year isn't the type I need to cover for my clients, as they typically need stakes races.  It is good to go along still to see everyone and to keep my reflexes sharp.  There was also a tall, slender black mare at The Valley early on that I wanted to see.  As is my want, I find myself becoming fond of the mare we now call "CJ".  Yes, it was Commanding Jewel.  My lovely little Jessica is getting a lovely collection of images of herself with good race horses. Our weekend has been very nice.  I feel like life is pretty good right now.  Tomorrow I will pop Freelance on the lunge and organise a few photoshoots for this week and next.  On Wednesday I have a shoot on that I'm looking forward to.  I'm also in the process of organising Freelance a permit so that she can be worked on the beach.  It is so close to our paddock and it promises to be a lot of fun.  Th...

This post is probably pure indulgence.  But I can't help myself.  Today I put The Lovely Freelance back into work.  She hasn't worn a saddle in almost 12 months because I've either been working other horses or just so busy moving.  She was also separated from us for 5 months.  So today was a happy day.  V happy...  It's such a lovely spot for her.  It makes me look forward to seeing her and makes me want to put a saddle on her back.  She is beginning to look like a real horse again, and I have to say I'm more than a little bit excited about how my mare will look this spring, when she grows that gorgeous summer coat and is fit and working really well.

The days seem lovely at the moment.  My mare is here, and somehow many things seem right in the world.  In recent news it was announced that the gorgeous Fiorente is going to stand at stud right here in Victoria at Eliza Park Stud.   I'm delighted about this.  He's a smashing horse.  A real individual.  And I loved him as a racehorse and I hope I come to love him as a stallion as well.  His breeding is different.  He's an Irish bred stallion, from the Germany stallion Monsun.  I'm not familiar with this sireline, however he's a prolific sire of G1 winners in the Northern Hemisphere, including sons Manduro and Novelist.  He joins fellow Melbourne Cup winner Americain at stud in Victoria and will I hope lead a resurgence of Australian bred stayers that can begin competing with the current dominance of the northern hemisphere bred stayer.  A girl can hope...