Tiaras...

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 the late Northern Meteor and her win today only further highlights the loss of this young stallion who stood ever so briefly at Widden Stud. 

I was fond of these images, taken up around the 100m mark, in the growing gloom at the conclusion of a wonderful day of racing at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.  And because of this was nice to hear that the filly won at the highest level today.

Cosmic Endeavour winning the G2 Sapphire Stakes on Day 2 of The Championships (19 April 2014) for trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Tommy Berry.


 




Tommy Berry...  he rides with such balance and poise.
 





For Nathan.....
An image from a series that would have been the final time I ever photographed Nathan Berry.  It was the evening after he had won the Magic Millions Classic on Unencumbered.  He looked so happy.

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