The Image Is Everything

Beach days with Black Caviar

2012-01-18T23:10:00.000+11:00

Two days in a row with Nelly (aka the great, great champion Black Caviar). There are so many times that everything else in your life can go wrong, and a Pony can make things right. Especially when the Pony happens to be Nelly!!! I'm still waiting for that elusive sunrise, however given that I am here all month, am still hopeful that this is only a matter of time!!!

Witness the lovely Dan sitting waiting patiently in the background behind Nelly....

The Return of the Queen. Black Caviar trialled this morning

2012-01-17T12:24:00.001+11:00

I'm staying down in Melbourne for most of January, because of the opportunity to house sit my aunt's flat in Carlton. It's a lovely little spot. I'm getting better at navigating my way to and from my usual haunts via the new destination. I've gotten very used to finding my own to everywhere from my sister's house, and so the Carlton address is bringing new challenges to the Canberra Gal, but some success too, following some wise advise from friends and family.

This morning I got up early to see one horse, and even then, I wasn't sure she would be there. It had been suggested that Black Caviar would have a 'jump out' this morning, in the unofficial trials they hold at Caulfield every Tuesday. Although there was no list of horses, and no confirmation she was trialling, from a decent distance away (all the way up the back straight, I was positioned on the home turn), I spotted her. She is all brown, with no white markings, but she is distinctive, in the way she carries her head and her general manner.

She won her trial, over 800m, in 46.34 seconds, by at least 6 lengths, with the hapless field trailing in her wake. Apparently her time was at least 3 seconds faster than anything else that morning.

She looked strong. Focused. Determined. And blindingly fast.. The Pony is back in town!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

2011-12-24T17:52:00.003+11:00

It seems fitting to display here a sweet little image being run this weekend by The Sportsman. I took some baby foal images for Arrowfield Stud when I was there doing their stallions during 2011 Stallion Parade week. I cannot take the credit for the Santa Hat on top of the little foal's head, but I can take the credit for the photograph itself! The filly is by the Red Ransom stallion All American, out of Flying Dancer. She was a darling little thing and lots of fun to watch through the glass of my Nikon lenses!

Merry Christmas for tomorrow. Have a wonderful and safe day.

With love

Bronnie

Racetrack Magazine: 2011-2012 Annual and Black Caviar Special Edition

2011-12-23T15:11:00.002+11:00

I still remember the time, and the feeling of absolute excitement, I had my first photograph published in Racetrack Magazine. This fine industry publication has been around for a long time, and has a time honoured place in the Australian Racing Industry, and it is always a wonderful surprise to open the envelope, gaze upon the front cover image, and think with a small smile to myself, 'oh, I took that'.

To those who enjoy stopping by and browsing through this Blog, I wish you all a Merry and safe Christmas, and a Happy New Year. It has been a memorable racing season, and it really has been my privilege to be present on track and record for the public memory the greatness that is a horse like Black Caviar, and the many other terrific racetrack performances that she has given us.

Enjoy..

Water Queen - Black Caviar at the Beach...

2011-11-28T14:04:00.001+11:00

Last month I spent most of my time in Melbourne. It's like a second home for me, with many of my best friends there, and also of course the vast majority of my family. If it weren't for my Mum being in Sydney, and my brother and his kids being in Canberra, and my kids in a very good school here in Canberra, I would move to Melbourne yesterday. One of the things I've often sighed about, over the course of the past 10 years, since the kids were born and photographing at the track became a little bit more problematic, was the difficulty in getting to things like trackwork, or down the beach, or just to the stables, like I used to before they were born. My son being a Type 1 Diabetic since 18 months old didn't help this at all, and there were many times I yearned for the days of being at the track all the time, or just popping down to Flemington in the afternoon to catch horses having a pick (ie - a walk and a graze), and/or having a swim in the pool.

I have to admit that I didn't do much trackwork this spring, but I did have several early rises, two of which were to follow that Famous Pony of mine, the great champion Black Caviar, or "Nelly" as the Moody team affectionately call her, to the beach. A few of the images were run in the papers, and I'm grateful to her trainer for letting me tag along.

The first visit was on Tuesday 11 October. It was wickedly cold that morning, with Melbourne in the grip of a nasty cold front. Port Phillip Bay is usually pretty serene and even when 'rough' compared to where I am used to swimming at Tathra on the NSW Coast, it's pretty tame. However the surf was flying all around Nelly, and the water was unquestionably cold. Her strapper, Zach Ianson, who's a lovely chap (Donna doesn't take her to the beach, or at least hasn't on the occasions I have been) started off with a jacket, but would have been better suited in a wetsuit! You'll witness the later shot where the jacket is missing. That's after he was bowled over completely and discarded it. Nelly, like the Queen she is, kept her feet! That's my girl!

The 2nd visit was on Saturday 29th October, which also happened to be VRC Derby Day. That's a long day anyway behind the lens, with 5 Group 1 races, and the other 4 all Group 2s or 3s, finishing off with the barrier draw. Throw into the mix getting up at 4am to drive from Preston to Caulfield, then on to the beach, and it was a long day!

Tuesday 11 October 2011. My first session with Nelly at the beach, with young strapper Zach Ianson.

Saturday 29th October 2011. VRC Derby Morning. Driving to the beach behind Nelly at 5.25am.. I wondered, as we travelled, whether anyone glanced at the truck, and wondered whether the fastest racehorse in the world was on board? It was dark. And raining..

Arriving at the beach.. Still dark.. Still raining.. Problematic conditions for a photographer. On the way there, I'd begun praying for red lights to make the trip take a little longer in order for the light to improve a little bit. As always whenever you need a red light you won't get one, and vice versa!!!

In the water with her strapper Zach Ianson. A terrific young bloke.... The rain broke for a short while, but it was still pressingly dark. My treasured D3s tried valiently to focus correctly in the dark... and gasped for more light....

"Look Nelly, look at the puppy!"

Kisses....

More puppies....

The rain came down again, so alas, just as the light was beginning to be workable in, the beach session was cut short, but as always, Nelly must come first.

America gets a turn of our Black Horse.

2011-11-25T15:42:00.001+11:00

The concept of shuttle stallions is now well and truly established in the Thoroughbred Industry. Global operations like Darley and Coolmore have multiple farms in America, Ireland/England, Australia, and in Darley's case, Japan. John Messara, of Arrowfield Stud, can arguably lay claim to being the man behind the whole shuttle stallion concept in Australia, and it's overwhelming success, because of his selection and subsequent half share purchase in the mighty stallion Danehill. Messara's stallion roster is now actually 100% Australian bred, but his stallion All American (Red Ransom - Milva) was I think the first Australian bred stallion to shuttle to an American farm. Previously stallions have shuttled from Australia to the northern hemisphere, but their destinations have largely been to Europe, with Octagonal, Fastnet Rock, Choisir, Starspangledbanner, Encosta de Lago and Exceed and Excel all serving in the northern hemisphere.

This year however, an absolute great of the Australian turf, and now breeding industry, will become the 2nd Australian bred horse to shuttle to the United States of the America, with the news that Lonhro (Octagonal - Shadea) will this year travel to Darley's Jonabell Farm in the Bluegrass of Kentucky. This near black stallion was Champion Racehorse of Australia in 2004. He won 11 Group 1 races, including the Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Stakes (twice), George Ryder Stakes (twice), Queen Elizabeth Stakes, George Main Stakes, CF Orr Stakes, Australian Cup, MacKinnon Stakes and the Chipping Norton Stakes.

Lonhro the Racehorse. Winning 1 of his 11 Group 1 races, the 2003 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Lonhro winning his 11th Group 1 race, the 2004 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

Then in 2010-2011 he joined the great Vain as the only Racehorse of the Year to also become Champion Stallion of Australia. He is pictured here at Darley's Aberdeen Stud in the Hunter Valley of NSW. We took these images on 31 August 2011, the day before the formal start of the 2011-2012 breeding season.


Lonhro at stud, at Darley Kelvinside. Aberdeen NSW.

So America. Enjoy him. He's a superstar. You are so lucky that he is coming across. Take care of him, and send him home safely to us here in Australia. We love him dearly. He's a superstar, and a truly great stallion. And from my own point of view, having seen the absolute professionalism and care that Darley lavish on their horses, and their stallions in particular, I am absolutely sure that the great Lonhro will be in good hands during his stay on American soil.

The Eagle has Landed. President Obama in Canberra.

2011-11-16T21:14:00.001+11:00

The President of the United States, or POTUS as it's shortened to, arrived in Canberra today. Air Force One was supposed to touch down at Fairbairn at 3.25pm, but he arrived early, with his distinctive blue and white plane appearing over the hills of Canberra at 3.06pm. I watched the plane land from Mount Ainslie. I expected a fair few people to turn up, but admit to being surprised by the numbers, and the fact that the plane arrived 20 mins early that scheduled meant that there could well have been still more. The photographs of the plane itself aren't brilliant, because we were a long way away on a hazy and cloudy day. Many of the roads were blocked off, but in hindsight I could have gotten a better image from a closer vantage point, because there were people much much closer than I thought they would have allowed, so there is the chance of something better tomorrow.

It was all very exciting then at Parliament House. I was back with many of the other media, as only a select group were allowed up, and so again, the images of the President himself are still from a decent distance away, but I liked all the images of the crowd, and the expectation. It's clearly evident what a big deal this was, and I was pleased to be out and about in it.

A woman and her young baby arrive at Mt Ainslie to see Air Force One land.

Military training. They weren't there to hunt us off the mountain!

Spectators

3.05pm, as a spectator checks his iPhone

Air Force One appears in the distance

The Eagle Has Landed.. President Obama touches down on Australian Soil in Air Force One at Canberra Airport.

Motorcade crossing Commonwealth Avenue and the signature fountain.

The Beast. President Obama's vehicle. Alas he's on the other side!

21 Gun Salute for the President

President Barack Obama.

A spectator. There were lots of cameras!

The Australian Federal Police. Out in force.

The physical drain of riding horses

2011-11-15T16:24:00.001+11:00

Most people agree that the life of a jockey is a difficult one. There are a handful that rise to the top, and do extremely well out of the Sport of Kings. The vast majority however struggle with their weights, and do their best to avoid and/or overcome injury. Anyone who has ever been pelted off a horse would know that it doesn't tickle! And of course the older you get, the more it hurts! We used to fang around on our ponies, bareback, in headstalls and leadropes, never wearing a riding hat. Completely fearless, and I am sure that on the odd occasion I parted company with my horse, I used to bounce. In fact I rarely used to fall off, unless the horse came down as well, I guess all those years of galloping around bareback meant my balance and ability to swing my body with the horse was pretty good. I'd like to say that I could still ride the same, but age and the maturing mind catches up, and you start thinking of the consequences of 'what if I come off', which at age 16 never entered your mind!

Jockeys have to put up with riding flighty, temperamental, and often green horses that are as likely to shoot off at right angles as go straight. Sometimes they can travel with the horse, other times they get pitched off. And of course if the horse itself comes down, either through injury or interference, they stand little chance of a soft landing. Racing in a tight field is fraught with danger, as the tragic death this week of young Qld jockey Corey Gilby clearly indicates. And as if this isn't enough, the toll on the body of the endless wasting, to get down to unrealistic weights, takes such a strain on the body. I realise that we are all showing the signs of ageing and that none of us look like we did 15 years ago. However I would maintain that the ageing affect on jockeys is accelerated by the constant wasting and dieting that they have to endure.

I was searching for photographs today, and came across this picture. It was taken in March 2000, after he'd won the Kewney Stakes on a filly called Umaline.

Fast forward 11 years. This is the same jockey after winning the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed on 15 October 2011. His name is Craig Williams. He's able to ride light, and is one of the successful ones, albeit having his ups and downs. But he's won a Golden Slipper, a Cox Plate (2 actually now), and a Caulfield Cup, and came within a whisker of adding the Melbourne Cup this year when booked to ride Dunaden, but suspended after a ride at Bendigo. Dunaden duly won the Cup, with Williams sitting on the sideline after his appeals were unsuccessful. Only 11 years on, he's still got the big smile, but the fresh faced jockey is a thing of the past. I challenge anyone to tell me that he's not aged more quickly than had he not been forced to subject his body to such fierce wasting. And why? I just don't get why they cannot raise the weights. After all, no other equestrian sport insists that you have to weigh 50kg to be able to ride in an event!

Olds Friends. Danewin at Emirates Park Stud.

2011-11-15T07:46:00.001+11:00

I began photographing at the racetrack in 1993. Just as I do now, in those early days, I had some favourite horses. At first I had a long line of 'favourite boys'. Lately, my special ponies have tended to be girls, with my Famous Pony Black Caviar, or 'Nelly', the wonderful mare More Joyous, the brilliant fillies Gold Edition and Samantha Miss, and of course my love, my darling, the mighty Sunline.

The great Danehill (Danzig - Razyana) in 1997

Danehill in 1997. This image was widely published on his death.

Back in those formative years of my career as a racetrack photographer, my early 'favourite boys' were Naturalism, Schillaci, Jeune, March Hare and Danewin. And it is the latter colt that this post is about.

Danewin (Danehill - Cotehele House) was a strongly made bay colt, hailing from the mighty stallion Danehill's first Australian foal crop. He was trained by Bobby Thomsen, who later trained Shogun Lodge to multiple Group 1 successes. Danewin won the Dulcify Quality and the G1 Spring Champion Stakes in October 1994 (with Shane Dye on board from memory), but was then, as a raging favourite, inexplicably defeated by Blevic in the 1994 VRC Derby when his jockey, Jackie Tse from Hong Kong, was perhaps out-muscled by Brett Prebble.

Danewin (centre) is run down by Blevic in the 1994 VRC Derby

In the Autumn of 1995, Danewin and Tse won the Rosehill Guineas. In a little moment of digression, to put Danewin's career achievements into perspective, he was racing in an era of perhaps some of the greatest horses to have graced the Australian Turf, and later breeding barns. The Autumn Carnival of 1995 was when future legends of the turf and breeding barn, Flying Spur (Danehill - Rolls) and Octagonal (Zabeel - Eight Carat), first stepped out as 2 year olds. Flying Spur, a colt from Danehill's 2nd foal crop, won the 1995 Golden Slipper Stakes, and returned at 3 years in 1996 to win the G1 double of the Australian Guineas and the All Aged Stakes, and has since sired a Golden Slipeper winner in Forensics, and was crowned Champion Sire of Australia in 2006-07.

Flying Spur (inside) defeats Octagonal (outside) and Our Maizcay (rail) in the 1995 Golden Slipper

Flying Spur at Arrowfield Stud. One of 'my boys'.

Octagonal of course became an Australian Legend, running an unlucky 2nd to Flying Spur in the Golden Slipper, before winning the G1AJC Sires Stakes, WS Cox Plate, Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas, Mercedes Classic (twice), AJC Derby, Underwood Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and Australian Cup. Octagonal retired, in a fanfare of publicity and public outpouring of love for the horse, to his owner Jack and Bob Ingham's prestigious Woodlands Stud, located just outside the sleepy village of Denman in the NSW Hunter Valley. Apart from the memories he left us as a racehorse, perhaps his greatest legacy will be through siring the mighty champion Lonhro. This near black son of Occy was Australian Racehorse of the Year in 2004 and after only 3 years at stud, Lonhro has just joined the great Vain as the only former Racehorse of the Year to go on to be crowned Champion Sire of Australia, a feat he achieved in 2010/11. Why is Octagonal so important to this story? Because their paths crossed, and because Danewin's dam, Cotehele House (My Swanee - Eight Carat), was a half sister to Octagonal.

Danewin (J Tse) winning the 1995 Rosehill Guineas

But back to Danewin. After his dominant Rosehill Guineas win, Danewin was expected to win the AJC Derby easily, but for the second time Tse was criticised for not having the strength to get the colt home after the colt ran 2nd to Ivory's Irish, trained by the master JB Cummings.

In the Spring of 1995, now a fully furnished and magnificent stallion, Danewin won the G1 Caulfield Stakes, on the same day that Our Maizcay blitzed Octagonal in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. The older Danewin, with Damien Oliver on board, was favourite to win the Cox Plate, but he was sensationaly knocked out of the race by the tiring Our Maizcay who fell back sharply through the field after leading. The other 3 year old in the race, the later to be great Octagonal, circled the field under vigorous riding from Raymond Shane Dye, defeating Mahogany narrowly. Danewin gained some consolation with victory in the G1 MacKinnon Stakes, on the same day that Octagonal, with Shane Scriven on board, ran a controversial second to Shane Dye on the Gai Waterhouse trained Nothin' Leica Dane. That colt then ran a magnificent 2nd to Doriemus in the 1995 Melbourne Cup, and on the same day another great in Saintly was unveiled in the Carbine Club. I missed the Derby and the Cup, as I was studying at ANU, an had an exam on Derby morning, a timing I will always resent having missed those 3 great races, not to mention Doriemus' Melbourne Cup! Danewin then travelled to Japan and Dubai, but was unplaced in the Japan Cup and Dubai World Cup. The Spring of 1995 may have been the last time I'd photographed the horse.

Our Maizcay wins the 1995 Caulfield Guineas


On the same day, Danewin (Damien Oliver) wins the 1995 Caulfield Stakes

Our Maizcay leads the 1995 Cox Plate field. He fell back through the field, severely hampering and taking Danewin out of the race. They later discovered the colt had a virus.

The Octagonal Legend commenced with victory in the Cox Plate of 1995

Danewin was retired to Emirates Park, and has been a very successful stallion, but was unfortunately plagued by fertility issues. His full brother Commands, who was not even a Group 1 winner, has been a phenomenal success at stud, first for Woodlands and now for Darley. Same bloodlines, just better fertility? They were of course very different horses, but still.. Having said that, Danewin has sired 6 Group 1 winners like Excites and Theseo as well as a host of stakeswinners as well.

Theseo

However during September 2011, Trevor Lobb, who I've known for many years now and is now at the helm of Emirates Park Stud, engaged me to photograph his stallions for the first time. So for the 2nd time in a month, I journeyed up the Hume and then New Englang Highway, to a little town about 40kms north of Scone, called Murrurundi. They are a new client, and it's a lovely property and there are big plans in foot for the stud. The staff were wonderful, in particular their stallion manager Ejaz. But the biggest pleasure from the visit was reuniting with my old friend Danewin. He's now 20 years old, but goodness, you'd never guess it. He looks wonderful, does the old boy, and it was with genuine affection that I greeted him. He's still an incredibly powerful and good looking horse, and he still knows how to play for the camera, and he relished his little paddock session. Just as did Danzero, another famous stallion from that first Danehill crop of foals, he pranced around his paddock telling me, and telling me to now tell the world, through these images, that he's still got it, and that he can still do noble stallion. Enjoy....

Still got it..

Of Ponies and Caviar. Black Caviar wins 16 straight

2011-11-11T14:36:00.001+11:00

The last day of the 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival was, unlike the other 3 days, run in hot conditions. Flmeington had tended to be cold, windy and wet for the preceding days, but I've said before that a particular horse tends to bring the good weather with her, and Emirates Stakes Day, on 5 November, was no exception.

Black Caviar, or Nelly, or my Famous Pony, was lining up for her 3rd run of her Spring campaign, and going for 16 straight wins. She'd equalled Phar Lap's 14 wins in the Schillaci, and Bernborough and Carbine's 15 in the Moir, and was aiming to win the G1 Patinack VRC Stakes for the 2nd year in a row. I saw my Pony the day before the race, when I visited her and watched her swim. She recognises me now, and searches pockets for carrots. And for all Moody's 'we don't spoil her' talk, I am lead to believe that she's now getting treats like carrots far more regularly. And for a girl like me, that is good to hear.

She won, of course, and the scenes of adulation afterwards were as impressive as ever. She continues to be a quandry to photograph, because it is so hard to catch her in full flight, because she's just so much better than the others. Perhaps for this reason alone I can't wait to see her in the Orr and the Futurity, because like Moody I think she'll handle the distance on her ear, but fingers crossed it will see her stretch out a little more, and give the crowds even more to cheer about, and only serve to add to her legend. The media pressures are growing, and the clamouring for spots when she's about intensifies with every run.

I was actually relieved that she is not making the trip to Perth. In part because (ok, perhaps selfishly) I knew that following her over was basically completely beyond me financially. But also she has a big compaign planned for the autumn, and the hit and run mission to the West had bothered me a little bit, particularly after a G1 race on such a hot day. Her fame is such that Moody has to keep her on the move now whenever she races and she spends a lot of time out in the walking ring to stop the milling crowds getting to the Pony. And Flemington is ruthless in the heat, with those red brick pavers acting like ovens, so the news that she wasn't travelling West was music to my ears. See you in January, my darling Pony....

That 1st Tuesday in November

2011-11-09T11:44:00.000+11:00

Every year, as the Melbourne Cup draws closer, I have two very mixed emotions. The first is an immense excitement and buildup, as the great race approaches. The second is dread, because Melbourne Cup week is, for me, the end of my Spring Carnival. Yes, there is still the Sandown Classic, or now Zipping Classic as it is now known, but having spent 10 of the past 12 weekends on the road and therefore away from home (which means frequently living my children behind), it is never practical for me to extend my stay to include this last meeting. And of course the end of the Spring always fills me with sadness. This is because I love being in Melbourne so much, which is filled with the people who mean so much to me and my kids and all the wonderful ponies I grow so fond of. And the end of Spring means that the weeks between the start of November and the beginning of February stretch endlessly in front of me.

There has been much conjecture about the growing 'internationalisation' of Australia's greatest race, the Melbourne Cup. This years' running saw a record number of horses from overseas, either imported by local trainers such as Mark Kavanagh (December Draw), Lee and Anthony Freedman (Lucas Cranach) and Mr JB Cummings (Illo), or travelling internationals such as Godolphin, the Cumani stable, etc.

In 2010, which was the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup, the French targeted the race for the very first time, with the striking near black stallion Americain. He won the Geelong Cup in fine style, but Bart's champion So You Think, on the back of his undefeated Spring, was expected to win the Cup and give Bart his Baker's Dozen of 13 Cup wins. However, after racing keenly and perhaps not quite getting the trip, So You Think went down in an upset, with Americain running past him in a powerful finish, to give the his French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre his first victory on Australian Soil. Americain was technically Australian owned by the time he won the Cup, having been purchased by Gerry Ryan and Kevin and Colleen Bamford, but prior to arriving in Australia and winning the Geelong Cup, the stallion had done all his racing in the Northern Hemisphere. Nearly all of his wins came in France, which were on either side of an unsuccessful racing stint in America, where the horse was actually foaled.

Roll forwards 12 months, to 2011, and the French were back in force. Americain returned to his Southern Hemisphere base at Werribee, and with him came another French horse, a smaller brown horse called Dunaden. Whilst Americain is regally bred, being a son of successful Americain stallion Dynaformer (himself a son of the great Roberto), and having other luminaries of the turf such as Arazi, Blushing Groom, Green Dancer, Hail to Reason and His Majesty in his pedigree, Dunaden was unfashionably bred. However his form during 2011 had been excellent, having twice finishing in front of Americain in races in France. He followed the Americain path though and like that horse last year, he started in the Geelong Cup and won it most impressively, with the jockey of the Spring, Craig Williams on board. Dunaden received a 0.5kg penalty following this victory, leaving him with saddlecloth number 3 in the great race. His jockey Craig Williams, who had won the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed, and then the Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker, as then suspended for a ride at Bendigo, and despite 2 appeals, he failed in his bid to ride Dunaden in the Cup in an attempt to become the first jockey to ever win the 3 spring 'majors' of the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in one season.

Of the 23 horses to face the starter, following the scratching on race morning of the Lloyd Williams owned Mourayan, 11 horses were from overseas. A further 7 horses had been bred in the northern hemisphere and bought by local connections as tried horses with a view to winning the Melbourne or Caulfield Cup. Dunaden was ridden by French jockey Christophe Lemaire, who's name doesn't even appear in the racebook because of the last minute appeal by Craig Williams. Lemaire received a late call up to travel to Australia in the event that Williams was unsuccessful and then to add to the drama he was then caught up in the fiasco that was Alan Joyce's grounding of the entire Qantas Fleet over Derby Weekend, meaning he arrived in Australia less than 24 hours before riding in the great race.

Lemaire and Dunaden prevailed in a driving finish from another international horse, Red Cadeaux, who was trained by England's Ed Dunlop, of Snow Fairy fame. It was the closest finish in Cup history, with it taking minutes for the judge to determine whether Dunaden or Red Cadeaux had won, and it was about a cm separating the two horses at the finish, with the smaller, but tenancious Dunaden just managing to hold out the much larger chestnut horse on his outside.

French horse Dunaden (inside, yellow with blue stars) and his stand in jockey Christophe Lemaire prevail in the closest finish in Melbourne Cup history, defeating Michael Rodd on Red Cadeaux (outside, blue sleeves, red diamonds).

Jockey Christophe Lemaire and trainer Mikel Delzangles with the Melbourne Cup after Dunaden's victory

Sarah Jessica Parker at Flemington on Ladies Day

2011-11-08T20:52:00.002+11:00

I've taken so many photographs over the past 3 weeks that I am losing track of where I'm up to and what I've finished. As a result, the results of the Spring are a little slow appearing on this Blog. For that I apologise. As part of the catching up regime, I am breaking with the norm, and popping on here some photographs of another type of star. Consistent with the Girl Power theme that has dominated my writing, the individual is, quite rightly a she, but she's not a horse. Yes, she's a person, and she was at Flemington on Thursday 3 November 2011.

Her name? Carrie Bradshaw. Oh... I mean Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City fame. This very famous actress, and style and fashion icon, graced the hallowed turf of Flemington on Ladies Day. She was the special guest of the VRC, and it was with genuine excitement that I read that she would be presenting the trophies to the winning connections after the G1 Oaks. The crowd, predominately female, went just a little bit crazy as she arrived on course, driven up the course proper in a little buggy, and ushered into the mounting yard like royalty. She was flanked by security guards and her many many fans rushed to the fence, crying out and waving. She smiled that famous smile and waved back.

My dear friend Saskia, who's absolutely stunning in her own right, and is these days dressed to the nines in gorgeous outfit after gorgeous outfit, came running up to me in the mounting yard, literally falling over in excitement, saying that she'd just met SJP and that SJP had said she looked gorgeous! I was green with envy! Not that I'd have drawn such a comment, as I was sporting a tremendously bruised and swollen jaw that day thanx to coming off second best in a stoush with my octopus strap whilst fixing my camera bag on its trolley on the way into the course! On Oaks Day of all days!!!!

There were so many cameras in the mounting yard for the presentation, and the shutters were going at fever pitch. It was genuinely exciting, and I really did feel lucky to be there, and posted on my Facebook page shortly afterwards that I'd just photographed Sarah Jessica Parker! Enjoy!

Sepoy. Also a star..

2011-10-30T21:17:00.001+11:00

We seem to be endowed with fabulous horses on wonderful winning streaks at the moment. Deserving of mention here is the super colt Sepoy (Elusive Quality - Watchful). He's a Darley homebred. I actually photographed him as a weanling, much to my delight when I discovered the images following his Blue Diamond Stakes victory. He's only been defeated once, when narrowly beaten by Smart Missile as a 2yo in the 2011 Todman Stakes, which came in between his G1 victories in the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper Stakes. This spring he's gone undefeated, and yesterday he recorded his 2nd G1 for the 2011-2011 Racing Season, and his 4th overall, in the G1 Coolmore Ascot Vale Stakes.

The Darley colt has been up for a long time, and tackled the older horses at his last 2 starts, one of which was the G1 Manikato Stakes, and had to do it the hard way, yet under pressure he still found enough to outlast Foxwedge to win by a head. Sepoy is trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy.

Another treasure? Atlantic Jewel and Black Caviar. It's Girl Power right now..

2011-10-30T21:03:00.000+11:00

We have the undisputed star of the Australian Turf, and my personal darling and favourite, in Black Caviar, or Nelly, or The Famous Pony as I frequently call her. And this spring another jewel has emerged in Atlantic Jewel. She's a member of the fairer sex, or the tougher sex as I like to think of us girls, and she's also unbeaten. She has an eon to go before she matches the deeds of the Famous Pony, but she's clearly a very special horse. Alas, like Nelly, she's also suffered a setback, with the news today that the filly has strained a hamstring and alas and woe, is out of the VRC Oaks. Her name? Atlantic Jewel...

I've only photographed her twice. First in the G1 Thousand Guineas and second was yesterday's Wakeful Stakes. Both races have seen me come away shaking my head, marvelling at what I had just witnessed and fortunately photographed. Every time her lovely trainer Mark Kavanagh has stepped her up, she's risen to the occasion. Like Nelly, she's a star, and I hope to see a lot more of her in the future...

Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock - Regard) wins the G2 Wakeful Stakes on 29 October 2011. She was ridden by Michael Rodd and is trained by Mark Kavanagh, and it was her 5th successive win in her unbeaten career to date.

Shame on you.... and keep fighting

2011-10-30T19:22:00.003+11:00

Those of you who read this Blog regularly will know that I photograph racehorses. I live in Canberra, and always have done, and therefore when I travel to Melbourne or Brisbane, there are times when I have to fly. Typically I would fly to Melbourne on average 5 times per year. This doesn't make me a really really heavy user of air transport, but it's not inconsequential either.

And I like to think that the purpose of my travel is important, because what I am about is creating a lasting legacy, and capturing moments in time that will enable so many people in Australia and throughout the world to remember what is was about the thoroughbred, or an individual thoroughbred, that makes us feel so good.

Last night I learnt that Qantas ground all flights. I was appalled. I fly Qantas. Without fail. I rarely even look at other airline companies. Should I need to fly, I go directly to the Qantas website. Why do I do this? Because of the following reasons:

They have lovely staff
I feel safe on their planes
They have fabulous pilots
Because I feel safe that a Qantas pilot will see me safely to my destination
Because I'm a little bit afraid of flying
Because I think a Qantas plane will get me there
Because they accommodate my camera equipment so well
Because they have lovely staff
Because on the one occasion I stuffed up utterly and missed a plane (because of my mistake), when the Virgin people were utterly bloody and said I could book onto a 5pm flight (little use when the 1st race at Caulfield was around midday!) I went down to the Qantas counter. The man was lovely. He helped me. It cost me money, but he bent over backwards to make it as cheap as possible for me. He was kind. He didn't patronise me. He handed me a tissue and said it was ok when I finally burst into tears, because things were awful at home, because I couldn't bear finally to have a day away, and because of the important horses that I was going to miss, and said it was ok, we'd sort it, and not to worry.
Because they have lovely staff.

The staff of Qantas have, I believe, sought between a 3-4% payrise and asked for job security. One watch of a show such as Aircraft Disaster Investigation will tell you of the things that can go wrong when flying. Yes. I am an anxious flyer. Yes, I have kids that I would like to return home too. I absolutely do not believe that important jobs like aircraft maintenance should be outsourced. I don't want foreign call centre. We fly Qantas because we like Qantas and Qantas is only ever going to be as good as it's staff

The CEO of Qantas received an enormous payrise. I'm astounded. And so utterly disappointed. All I can say is shame on you Alan Joyce. You are a nasty person. A poor CEO, and I don't understand how you sleep at night. I feel so utterly disappointed at what has happened, and think that I nearly elected to fly for Melbourne Cup week. I would hate to miss out on one of Black Caviar's races because Qantas management cancelled my flight. To the Qantas staff, you've always been wonderful, and I thank you for that....

Thank you Nelly. 15 in a row for Black Caviar

2011-10-23T19:44:00.006+11:00

There aren't any words. Just pictures, and a little thankyou to my Famous Pony..... See you on the next visit, with carrots on board...

"Nelly", aka Black Caviar, begins to round the home bend.

Sheer grace, speed and power. That is the Famous Pony..

The race where Legends are Made

2011-10-23T19:34:00.002+11:00

Yesterday at Moonee Valley they ran a little race called the WS Cox Plate. It's not a terribly important race. It's only normally won by the very best horse racing in the country at the time it is held in late October. There are the odd exceptions to this rule, when a horse that you can't say is an outstanding champion wins it. Ok, so I'm being a little bit tongue in cheek. To me, the Cox Plate is the be all and the end all of Australian Racing, the pinnacle of the turf calendar. And because of this, the purist in me can at times feel slightly disappointed when a horse who is perhaps not of the calibre of a Kingston Town, Sunline, So You Think, Northerly, Phar Lap or Tulloch walks away with their name against the trophy. Having said that, you often cannot tell what a horse will go on to achieve at the time you might take a photograph of them winning a race. For example, I first photographed Sunline winning the Furious Stakes, and on the day I had no idea as to the heights this great champion would scale. It was the same with Black Caviar to begin with, even though you might have an inkling that they might go on to greatness.

So in fairness to the game and extremely consistent mare Pinker Pinker, who prevailed in the 2011 WS Cox Plate yesterday, perhaps she will now go on to great things. Yesterday was her first Group 1 win, although she's had a couple of G1 placings in the AJC Oaks and the Epsom Handicap, and her 6th career win. It's not the record of Sunline or So You Think, but she was the best on the day and perhaps it is me still feeling sad about the fact that it would have been nice to have had Black Caviar going for her 15th victory and So You Think trying to emulate my hero Kingston Town in the Cox Plate. Having said that, the wonderful Pony that is Black Caviar makes up for any other disappointment you might otherwise be feeling and I should be seeing her again when I return to Melbourne next week when Dan and I set out on the highway for Melbourne Cup Week.

The race was drama packed. The MVRC decided last year to run the Cox Plate at 5.35pm, which is late, and problematic when it comes to light. Running the race that late means the light is weaker and also that if the sun is out that a huge shadow is cast across the last 50 odd metres of the racetrack. We avoided the shadow because of it was an overcast day, however the closer we came to racetime, the closer moved an enormous thunderstorm. In the press room we were all watching the radar, and consulting each other as to when we thought it would hit. With growing pessimism the raincoats and camera covers came out, and when we all worked out to photograph this great race, the light was fading by the minute, and the clouds grew darker and darker. I ended up having to push the D3s out to ISO 2500 and was struggling to maintain a sufficient shutter speed. We all kept looking skywards in our anxiety that the race be run before the rain that we knew to be approaching hit in earnest. Amazingly, after beginning to rain just as the field came out onto the track, the rain held off for those next crucial 20 minutes. Of course by the time the presentation was being held, it was well and truly pouring.

The ill-fated Lion Hunter heads out to the track for the last time.

Jimmy Choux bursts through the barrier before the sta

Glass Harmonium rears and misses the start

When Nelly met Jessica and Heath - the soft side of Black Caviar.

2011-10-20T21:56:00.000+11:00

In this house we call her the Famous Pony. To the Moody family and staff, she's Nelly. To the Clarke's, at Murchison, she's "The Princess". Black Caviar has many titles. Fastest and best racehorse in the world. Unbeaten superstar. Queen of the Turf. And contrary to what some believe, she's got a soft side. She nuzzles up for treats. Lets you kiss her eyelids, and rub her ears. And eagerly looks for more offerings. Her fame is such that the green grocer that my sister uses in North Fitzroy, refused to charge us for her tidbits once he heard that they were being bought for the great mare.

Moody is generous in giving me access to his Nelly. For that I am forever grateful. And last week, his generosity extended to letting me take my two children to see her. There's no need for words to describe their joy and wonder. Just gaze upon the images of this truly wonderful racehorse, and see for yourself.

It's all about the Famous Pony - aka Black Caviar

2011-10-13T21:52:00.002+11:00

We were back at Caulfield today. And yes, I did go to trackwork at Moonee Valley this morning and therefore have images of Helmet, Americain, etc, to process and post, but someone, it all seems to be about one Pony this spring.....

In good company... The famed Pinkie meets Black Caviar... And works her magic again!

Climbing back aboard the Caviar Express

2011-10-09T18:32:00.000+11:00

Saturday 8 October 2011. Caulfield Racecourse. The occasion? The 2011 Caulfield Cup Carnival, and Caulfield Guineas Day. Or, perhaps a better name for the day should be Black Caviar's Return Day. There has been a long build up to the Famous Pony's racetrack return. She hadn't raced since winning the G1 BTC Cup at Doomben Racecourse on 14 May. The media hype and public interest in her has increased, and must now be described as being at fever pitch.

Personally, I've been counting down the sleeps, and been restless and impatient as the months and then weeks passed. And this despite the fact that I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of private sessions with the Pony at both Eagle Farm and Murchison. Somehow though, when it comes to Black Caviar it is never enough, and the quest for the perfect image continues to hound me.

As I've often said, I love being in Melbourne, and feel like I come back alive when I'm back here. It is full of family, and friends and there's a relaxed and happy atmosphere here at my sister's house where I always stay. The kids are with me this week, with school holidays falling beautifully in the ACT over Caulfield Cup week, so they are happy as they just love spending time at their cousins house. And the calming atmosphere is so good for them right now.

As always, I was nervous before Black Caviar raced. My heart did it's usual pounding as the field left the barrier. I was anxious as well, because apart from being desperate for the fairytale that is this truly remarkable racehorse's unbeaten streak continuing, I wanted my other little favourite filly, Karuta Queen to run well, and most importantly, not have her heart broken by the great mare.

Karuta Queen bounced straight to the front, and actually opened up a lead of 3 lengths approaching the home turn. She's pure speed and grit this little filly, and I love her, but no one wants the magic that has been Black Caviar to end. And approaching the turn, with Nolen still sitting still on the Famous Pony, Black Caviar strode up to Karuta Queen. I was standing around the 200m mark, in a little posy with my v good friend Gary Wild. In an instant Black Caviar bounded clear and thundered past us in all her glory. It was wonderful, wonderful stuff.

Black Caviar puts on a space on "Lilly" (Karuta Queen), who battled on so bravely for 2nd, after really setting the race alive in the early stages. The little filly was tired, but kept holding for 2nd, and goodness I was proud of her, and in complete awe of the superstar who strode so boldly away from the field in all her glory.

The Darley Stallion Parade 2011

2011-09-25T18:05:00.000+10:00

There's been a myriad of factors which have kept me from keeping this Blog as up to date as I usually do. Mostly things of a personal nature, which meant I just didn't have the heart to write in what can best be described as a difficult past 4 weeks. It's also been the sheer amount of work to get through, following my return from the Hunter Valley, then the Golden Rose, then the George Main, with another trip up to the Hunter tacked on to that. And the kids have both been sick as well, and that never helps.

So in an effort to put things back on track, with the Spring Carnival now well and truly upon us, I will start with the first of the Stallion Parades I photographed for the major studs whom are valued clients of mine. I have now photographed Darley's Stallion Parade for them for the past 2 years. As I've often said, the relationship with Darley is a special one, particularly with the boys on the farm, and of course, their wonderful, wonderful horses, who have rendered me speechless when laying eyes on them. They have a particularly wonderful stallion manager, in Stuart McKay, who apart from being a terrific person and fantastic horseman, is warm and welcoming as well. He trusts me with his precious horses, and for that I am very grateful.

The first horse out was the great Lonhro. This horse has the great distinction of joining the mighty racehorse and stallion Vain as the winner of both the Australian Racehorse of the Year (2004) and Champion Stallion of the Year (2010-2011). He has let down into a fine looking stallion and as one of my 'favourites boys' at the track, it is always wonderful to catch up with them at the farms.

I threw these couple of images in, from the Darley Staff Parade the day before, because it was such a gorgeous day with lovely light and he gleams in light like this. Unfortunately for the main parade it clouded right over, and even rained lightly during the first couple of horses, and that was a real shame.

Next out was Lonhro's son, the G1 Golden Rose winning colt Denman. He was a little stirry, and played up a little bit, so did only two laps of the parade ring. He's thickened up and strengthened since I photographed him last year, as he continues to let down as a stallion.

Ad Valorem was next, and the way this horse has settled down now that he stays at Darley 100% of the time, instead of shuttling back to Ireland is remarkable. I commented to Stuart that I'd never previously photographed the horse on all four legs and that usually you can look forward to some dazzling rearing photographs from the horse, but he walked around like a child's pony, and is a happy and contented horse these days.

The great Commands was lead out next. He's quite a heavy and dark son of Danehill and he's incredibly different looking to his full brother Danewin, whom I photographed last week for Emirates Park.

After Commands they brought out the prancing stallion Authorized. He's always on his toes, bursting with energy, and every time I've seen him he is resplendent in glorious dapples.

Time Thief, the young stallion by Redoute's Choice followed, and he's developing into a nice looking stallion.

Exceed and Excel, the sire of the very exciting, brilliant but extremely naughty 3-yo Helmet, looked fabulous. He's doing fantastically well, and has just been leading sire in both the UK and in Australia. He didn't catch my eye at last year's parade so much, but this year, perhaps because Helmet has put him squarely back in my mind, I was very pleased with the images of him, and I thought he looked gorgeous.

Henny Hughes, the powerhouse chestnut followed. I have to admit it. I'm taken by this horse, and from time to time think he's exactly the sort of horse I'd have loved fanging around a paddock bareback on when I was about 16 years old. He's explosively fast, and I can't wait to see the foals on the track, and like to hope he'll be a horse who'll do well over here.

Shaft, Nadeem and Canny Lad followed, with the latter getting on in years but losing none of his brilliance as a sire. His influence is profound, particularly as a broodmare sire, with the great Redoute's Choice being out of a Canny Lad mare.

Dear old Canny Lad.

Nadeem

Then we came to a couple of my favourite stallions on the Darley roster, in Street Sense and Bernardini. I love both of these, who are very different in type and personality, but they exude personality and presence, and were just so brilliant on the racetrack you like to think they will do well as stallions over here. Berni is doing brilliantly as a sire in America, and I think Street Sense is getting very good early results too, so fingers crossed as the first of the Bernardini and Street Sense 2 year olds hit the racetracks, this year I think.

Street Sense

Bernardini! Here's a horse!!!!

love him....

Finally, we had Teofilo, Street Cry and Medaglia d'Oro. The latter we dub the showpony, he has movie star good looks, he exudes presence, he dances and shows off, floats over the ground, and is also, importantly, proving to be an incredibly good sire. I truly hope his ability as a stallion that he's demonstrated so well in the northern hemisphere translates over here. I realise that there are horses that do well over there, and make no impact here in Australia.. Please, please, let this horse not be one of those individuals...... I did photograph one of his foals, and was very taken with it.

Street Cry. It's a thrill to photograph the sire of Zenyatta. Again...

Teofilo

Medaglia d'Oro - he's glorious. The poor boy got very stirred up because of the audio playing one of his racetrack wins.

Vale Crystal Lily

2011-09-24T19:17:00.001+10:00

I hate it when a racehorse dies. This one is a tragedy. She was a brilliant filly, no doubt about that. She cut a swath through her 2yo season, culminating in a jaw droppingly brilliant, albeit wayward, display to win the G1 Golden Slipper in 2010. She had some problems as a spring 3yo, but returned to her best in the autumn of 2011, only to run into the juggernaut that was Black Caviar. I speak of the just turned 4 year old mare Crystal Lily (Stratum - Crystal Snip), who collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack yesterday (Friday) morning at trackwork. Her jockey, Glen Boss, was thrown from her as she collapsed, suffering a broken collarbone.

Crystal Lily winning the 2010 Golden Slipper Stakes (Brett Prebble).

It's a balancing act...

2011-09-16T19:07:00.001+10:00

I'm here in Sydney. Today's not been a total loss. I did manage to get out of the house with the kids on time, although it became fraught with tension due to Jessica's continuing temper tantrums and refusing to get ready, but the little conversation with the school counsellor yesterday did help me use some of the 'calming down' tactics, and they did actually work.

I had wanted to be on the road by about 9am. However Jessica's teacher had told me that Jessica was going to get her very 1st Principal's Award at the assembly that morning, and that it would be really good for me to be there for that. So I dropped them off, raced to feed the mare, but didn't have enough time to get back home to get Heath's yellow shirt, which naturally he'd forgotten to wear for the Walkathon later in the day. I did arrive just at the start of the assembly though, with the camera on board, and Jessica's name was duly called out, and up she bounced, beaming from ear to ear, and collected her award.

Then, because I was on a deadine and wanting to get to Sydney to hopefully catch More Joyous in the pool, I raced home to get Heath's shirt, not staying to watch the older kids getting their awards, because no one had said a word about Heath. I arrived back, and went down to Heath's class to see him holding an award. I was stricken, thinking 'oh god, I didn't see it', but also so proud and pleased for him. He's a sensitive boy and I'd been worried about him feeling down because Jessica had gotten an award, and he hadn't. Thankfully he didn't seem to have noticed me taking pics of Jessica getting hers, and was just v pleased about his own award, and the fact that he'd bought a jelly cup from the canteen (understanding that such things are absolute treats for a little diabetic boy who's been that way since before he was 2 years old). So we raced outside and took some photographs, then I took him back to class, and kissed him goodbye to head on my way.

A quick call to Gai Waterhouse's stables, which solved nothing of the arrangements I'd been trying to put in place all week, and I was on the road, with an undertaking from Jane that she would call me back. I heard from her at 12.20pm, when I was still onroute and a good 40 mins from Randwick, saying that More Joyous was heading across to the pool. My heart sank, and then sank even further when she said 'and she won't be going to the beach tomorrow, and you can't come to the stables, it needs to be cleared with Gai'. I had of course doing my best to set this up all week, but there was no point complaining, because clearly I could have been clearer in the phone calls during the week, so said not to worry, and of course thank you for trying so hard on my behalf. I almost didn't bother going to the pool, however in a 'pull yourself together' moment, I drove first to the beach to sus it out, so I could find it if there turns out to be a next time, and then around to the Randwick Pool, which I can't believe I haven't been to before.

As I pulled up, who should I see, and then run into? Gai Waterhouse. She recognised me, and stopped me to say hello. We had a little chat, I said I'd been trying to get here from Canberra early enough to photograph More Joyous in the pool, but had missed her because of the thing with the kids. She was instantly sympathetic, and then said 'go to the stables and do her there', and immediately jumped onto her iPhone (with nice pink cover, it is of course a brand new iPhone, not like my worn but lovely - thanx Tom - handmedown iPhone...), phoned her stable staff, and within a minute I had a 2.15pm photo session lined up, and no longer felt inconsequential.

Thank you Gai...... So the moment with the kids' awards, and with the Special Pony this afternoon, has perhaps helped ease the pain of what has otherwise been a tense and anxious 7 days.......

Setting off again...

2011-09-16T08:13:00.003+10:00

Dan and I are off again today.. Just on our own this time, Angela can't come. That's a shame. She's not only great company, and a great friend, but a wonderful assistant too. On the way there, our journey is broken into 2 more manageable legs when driving on one's own. This morning, after dropping the kids to school and feeding Freelance, Dan and I drive to Sydney. The get away has been hampered slightly by Jessica getting her 1st Principal's Award at school at Assembly at 9.30am.. Of course I will go for that, but be anxious about missing out on a Special Pony having a swim in the pool, but fingers crossed I will slide in just in time. You can only hope.

Tomorrow morning I hope to have another special little session with the Special Pony. Then back for breakfast and a shower, to make myself presentable, and then off to Rosehill (did I say that right?), it's George Main Stakes day. Odd, sure that's usually at Randwick! Oh, that's right, Randwick is undergoing major surgery, and will hopefully be ok in time for Epsom Day.

On Sunday morning I am supposed to be heading for the green and peaceful paddocks of Scone, or Murrurundi to be exact, as I have another stallion shoot on. This one's pleasing, at Emirates, who are a new client, and I'll stay on the farm, and the weather outlook is great. Hot, but great! The heat (28) will come as a shock, this Canberra Gal hasn't endured more than 16 degrees for more than a handful of days for the past 4 months, Canberra has been v cold!!!

So, in addition to the 1900km Dan, Angela and I travelled at the end of August, and the 600 odd kms we travelled last weekend, this weekend Dan and I are doing another 1500km I expect. It's a long way, his speakers are getting more and more worn, but there are ponies at the end of it. And mostly they are the thing that sustains me at the moment.

And I did check my oil and water this morning. I am sure someone would be pleased about that.

Just what has been before the lens?

2011-09-14T18:37:00.000+10:00

I seem to have lost the will to write for a little while. It's been party due to feeling well and truly down about various aspects of my life. Some of those are on the improve, but others are mired still in uncertainty and potential sadness, which, when prone to fits of anxiety, doesn't help my mood or ability to keep the workflow going.

However, in a concerted attempt to stay busy and to stay focused I am trying wholeheartedly to process all of the work I have done in the past 3 weeks as well as catching up on writing. And in all honesty, it's been reassuring to see that, as I go through the work, there's some really good material in there. As usual, ponies usually come to my rescue, no matter how grim other aspects of life appear to be.

So what has been before the lens? Well, on 25 April, my friend Angela and I set off in the trusty Dan, bound for the green fields of Scone in the Hunter Valley. The purpose of the trip was to be in the Hunter Valley during Stallion Parade Week for 2011, and consisted of a mixture of both commissioned shoots and editorial work. This being a summary rundown of what's been happening, I'm only including a couple of images from each shoot, with more detailed posts from each assignment to follow.

Our first stop on the way to Scone was at John Singleton's picturesque "Strawberry Hills Stud" at Mount White, where the incredibly lovely Bridie Sparkes took us around the farm. We spent a good 2 hours there, before regretfully saying that we really should set off again, because we still had a decent number of kilometres ahead of us before we reached our destination.

This is Bridie Sparkes with Joy of Bridie. She's an unraced filly, who is priceless due to her breeding. She's by the great stallion and my Prince, More Than Ready, and was the last foal of the great broodmare Joie Denise. She's therefore very closely related to the champion racehorse More Joyous, who of course is by More Than Ready out of Sunday Joy who is a Sunday Silence daughter of Joie Denise. Joy of Bridie has had a wind operation. It would be fabulous to see her race, but one suspects her realworth will be as a broodmare down the track. She's so like More Joyous though, that I desperately would love to see her race!

Joy of Bridie

We arrived in Scone just after 7pm, so it had been a long day on the road, and checked into where the lovely Kirsten at Darley had booked us into, The Canter. We then wandered up the road to the Royal Hotel for dinner and a glass of red wine. The end of the trip was highlighted by lots of laughing as some good dancy music came across the iPod, causing one friend to comment that our taste in music was questionable, but largely that was forgiven as we were nearly at our destination!

It was later to bed that we anticipated, because we started watching a Sandra Bullock movie (ok, who doesn't love her!) and so it was 11pm by the time we collapsed into bed, despite the fact we had to get up at 4.30am to get to Coolmore in time for the paddock session we'd organised with the lovely Peter O'Brien the next morning (small groan).

Amusingly it wasn't until we were halfway to Aberdeen that I suddenly said 'oh, Happy Birthday to Me!" because I suddenly remembered that Friday was my birthday. I had a day in front of me with one of my best friends in the whole world, and lots of ponies to photograph, there are few better ways to spend one's birthday really, although I did have a tinge of regret that my kids weren't there with me. We'd been out and had a family dinner though already, so that was ok.

As we approached Jerry's Plains, which is about 40 minutes from Scone, we began to hesitantly think that perhaps the valley wouldn't be blanketed in fog, like it always had been for previous visits, but hardly dared to hope. And to our delight, the new day was dawning clear, and the sunrise was full of glorious light that bathed High Chaparral, who's devine anyway, in sublime colours.

High Chaparral

Encosta de Lago

High Chaparral comes through the morning sunrise to his paddock. He's a show pony and thanx to Jerry, full of fun!

Oh Encosta! I've been wanting to capture you properly for several years now... Good pony....

A special horse. Spending the day with Black Caviar.

2011-09-03T15:07:00.001+10:00

I spent the weekend of 20th August in Melbourne, because my Dad, Terry, had that "The Number That Shall Not be Named" Birthday during the week, which meant that we had to have a Birthday Party for him on Sunday. I flew in on Friday, and just spent the afternoon pottering about. Then on Saturday, because I can't help myself and have to spend time with the ponies, I got up early, and, after thanking Peter Moody profusely for allowing me the privilege of spending more time with the mare, I began my journey to Murchison, which is on the Golden Valley Highway about 2 hours north of Melbourne, to reunite with my Famous Pony, Black Caviar.

Black Caviar begins her morning's work with Peter Clarke at 8.30am sharp. She spends 15 mins on the treadmill, and then she is taken into the water walker. I watched Peter put several horses into the water walker. Some of them get hysterical, some are nervous, and others, like the Famous Pony, just stroll in, because they are in a happy place, and they have learnt to enjoy it. She spends 30 mins, changing directions every 5 minutes, in the water walker. She walks, and then surges forward to her front gate, and then relaxes to a walk, before commencing her next surge forward. She then comes out of the walker, for a horse and a rub down, and then is popped into her paddock that she shares with Billy the Goat and the pony whose name escapes me! We gave her an hour to drive, then Marg (Peter's gorgeous wife) and Kendall (his equally lovely daughter) came with me to her paddock, where we fussed over her, and created lovely images.

I had the most glorious day. The trainer, when showed the photographs later that day at Moonee Valley, was slightly dismissive of the absolutely beautiful apparel I put on her head. The leather bridle she's looking so regal looking in is my darling Freelance's good bridle, and I'd bought the most beautiful browband with pearls on it, and yes, I bridled her! When we did her little private photo session it was 3 girls getting together to create lovely images. It was the most wonderful 4 hours spent with truly fantastic people, one of whom is an incredible horseman, in gorgeous surrounds, with the most wonderful horse in the world.

Horse heaven! Thank you Peter, and Peter..... And thank you Marg and Kendall. And to my darling pony, the beautiful Black Caviar, thank you for spending your morning with me.

I of course now need to spend serious time getting my own mare Freelance's winter coat out, then she needs bath, and then she puts her own bridle back on, for her own little photo session, and I will whisper in her ear that she looks just as beautiful in the same bridle that the best racehorse in the world was wearing. I know that Freelance will not be jealous, that she will say she knows that.

Someone special

2011-08-17T14:53:00.001+10:00

Seeing someone very special this weekend. Photos to follow......

On all things horses

2011-08-13T08:33:00.001+10:00

The Image is Everything by Bronwen Healy Photography | Make Your Own Book

Making a stand

2011-08-10T10:38:00.001+10:00

There comes a time when enough is enough, and you realise that you have to take a stand, and not do what you've been doing for longer than you care to remember, which is to just give in and keep accepting things the way they are. Usually having the strength to take such a stand accompanies some sort of event, or realisation that it just cannot continue, no matter what the short term pain might be.

However the only urge I'm giving in to this morning is the one which causes me to sit on the floor of my kitchen, and drink my cup of tea there. Then I'm going to square my shoulders again and resolve to be strong. And I shall go and play with ponies to again and naturally the camera will be coming along for the ride.

Goodbye Dan

2011-08-09T23:42:00.000+10:00

Whilst on the subject of black horses, it would be remiss of me to not comment on champion stallion Danzero's departure from Arrowfield Stud last week. I've photographed 'Dan', as I call him seeing as his namesake is my dear old Subaru car, who despite his increasing rattles, continues to see that I reach my various pony related destinations in one piece, for Arrowfield Stud since 2008. I've loved photographing him, he's a grand old boy, and in both 2009 and 2011 he stamped all four of his feet, telling me he bloody well still had it!

Danzero heads to Rosemont Stud in Victoria. He will be well looked after there, and well received. I hope to visit him there, but will certainly miss him when I am back at Arrowfield at the end of this month. It's been a slice of heaven Dan, and the pleasure has been all mine..

All the Pretty Ponies

2011-08-09T23:29:00.000+10:00

Black horses. There's just something VERY special about them. My favourite fictional horse was a black horse (yes, and of course a stallion to boot), his name was "The Black", from the popular "The Black Stallion" book series. I lived on it, and every now and again I get one of the books out and re-read them. My favourite racehorse was black, the legendary Kingston Town. Octagonal was very nearly black, and my other special boy, Lonhro, well, he was about as close to being black as they come! One of my favourite racehorses of recent times was black, the grand mare Hot Danish. Black Caviar is technically brown, but in the middle of summer on a sunny day, her coat can actually appear towards the black end of the brown scale. So it is little doubt that I'm becoming very fond of this particular pony, my good friend Angela's second horse, Rhonda. He's gorgeous!!!

The difference 3 minutes can make

2011-08-08T14:29:00.001+10:00

In the process of trying to distract myself from various realities, I'm in the process of putting a book together. It's reminded me, yet again, of the rapidly changing nature of the working conditions that we photographers operate under, and the swiftness with which a situation can go from being perfectly workable to completely atrocious. It's a bit like life sometimes I guess...

This series of images, of the 2011 Todman Stakes, where Smart Missile inflicted the only defeat Sepoy has suffered to date, were taken less than 3 minutes apart.

Sepoy

Smart Missile

Smart Missile (outside) runs down Sepoy (centre) in the G2 Todman Stakes, on 19 March 2011

Lonhro. Now a champion in two stratospheres

2011-08-07T15:28:00.002+10:00

The great racehorse, and now stallion Lonhro (Octagonal - Shadea) has joined rare company. In the 2010-2011 Racing Season, Lonhro, with only 5 crops to race, joined Vain as the only Champion Racehorse of the Year to also win a Champion Stallion of the Year. Lonhro was Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2004. I will be photographing him for Darley Australia at the end of this month, and will make sure we take the prerequisite 20kg bag of carrots along for all the boys to share.

Lonhro - 2003 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Darren Beadman)

Lonhro - 2004 George Ryder Stakes (Darren Beadman)

2002 Chelmsford Stakes (Darren Beadman)

Of Upturned Buckets

2011-08-04T13:54:00.000+10:00

Today I sat on my upturned feed bucket. For almost 2 hours. And cried. Freelance ate quietly next to me. Finally I picked both myself and my bucket up, squared my shoulders, dusted myself off, and, vowing to hold my head high, resolved to move forward with my Spring.

Birthdays

2011-08-01T07:46:00.001+10:00

Well, there's just a lot of special birthdays today, aren't there! 1st August. The Horse's Birthday! I have always loved August the 1st!

First and foremost, happy birthday Freelance! She's enjoyed the top layer of a brand new box of sugar cubes this morning and is currently still eating her nice warm brekky. She's also had a little beauty session as well, just for good measure!

To the famous pony, 'Nelly' (Black Caviar), Happy Birthday and I can't wait to see you soon! Happy Birthday to my two other favourites girls, 'Lilly' (Karuta Queen) and More Joyous. Happy Birthday Hay List, I hope your leg is gradually getting better. To 'my boys', Redoute's, Spur, More Than Ready, Medaglia, Testa, Dan, Lonhro, Occy, Denman, Berni, Street Cry, and all the others, Happy Birthday and have a great day, wherever in the world you currently are. I will see you in the last week of August! And finally, to my other famous pony, the great So You Think, Happy Birthday, and yes, I still miss you!

Happy Birthday Ponies!!!!

Black Caviar

Karuta Queen

Champion Stallion for 2010-2011: The great champion Lonhro.

Medaglia d'Oro

More Joyous

Her Dad, the great More Than Ready

Redoute's Choice

Starcraft

The Right to Choose

2011-07-28T20:46:00.000+10:00

I have chosen, over the past 15 years, to concentrate my photographic activities as a professional freelance photographer to the Australian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Industry. I've been told, both directly and indirectly, that I'm one of the best out there. That the images leap out at you, and can on occasions take people's breath away. And that people can feel the connection I have with each horse I photograph, and that they love the way my love of the sport and the horse comes through in each image.

So here's a tricky little issue.

Question: Say you, either as:

a member of the public that either liked racing in general, or had a real fondness for a particular horse, jockey or trainer; or
a member of the industry, be it trainer, jockey, horse stud, etc; or
the owner of a horse that you paid good money to race

were told that you were only allowed to purchase an image from one photographic source. What would you feel about this? And what if, say you had a particular horse or race you were after, and you carried out an exhaustive search on images available, including those provided by the 'approved' source. What is, during the course of this search for an image you like, you came across my work, and my images leapt out at you? What if you found an image that was exactly what you were after? And what if no other photographer had an image that you liked as much, or wanted as badly?

The question is - AND I'VE LOVE TO INVITE COMMENTS HERE FROM MY READERS - should you be allowed to buy that photograph? Either as a print to hang on your wall for personal purposes, or to put in your stud's annual stallion book, or on your training website, etc?

And if you said yes to the above questions - AGAIN, COMMENTS WOULD BE TERRIFIC - what would your response be if you were told that you HAD to purchase a different image from the 'approved' photographer, even if you didn't like it as much?

And, final question, again, as either an occasional or regular visitor to either this Blog or my website: would the Racing and Breeding Industry be worse off if it was no longer viable for a photographer such as myself to continue to work within the industry?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.......

So You Think. 2010 WS Cox Plate.

Looking back at 2010-2011

2011-07-04T11:16:00.000+10:00

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.

No Hay this spring

2011-06-28T12:58:00.000+10:00

In a sad note though, champion sprinter Hay List continues to battle against a career threatening leg infection, and has now been ruled out of the entire Spring Carnival. Come on big horse. Keep fighting..

Of Spring Caviar

2011-06-28T12:56:00.000+10:00

Despite the fact that winter is still yet to enter it's second month, there are murmurings that spring is around the corner. Here in Canberra it is still devilishly cold. It was minus 4.5 degrees last night. The pony Freelance is wearing up to 3 rugs at night, and holds more than a passing resemblance to "Manny, the Mmooody Mmmmammoth" out of Ice Age. However, there was a very nice little phone call yesterday, and the promise of good photographs to come...

Hay List fighting leg infection

2011-06-25T16:11:00.000+10:00

In a worrying twist, Hay List, the giant gelding who has run so gallantly behind the champion Black Caviar, was rushed to the Randwick Equine Centre on Friday 24 June. The horse has been battling a severe infection for over a month now. It is worrying that the horse cannot shake the infection, and it is hoped that a different course of antibiotics will assist him in his recovery. Hay List was profoundly lame (trainer John McNair rated it a 4 out of 5) when he was taken onto the float, but the leg apparently improved somewhat on route, as the lameness came down to a 1 out of 5 when he was unloaded.

Hay List and Glen Boss winning the All Aged Stakes

Hay List shortly before being run down by champion Black Caviar in the TJ Smith

In full flight - the All Aged Stakes

They CUT his forelock!!!!!

2011-06-15T08:01:00.000+10:00

They've cut and thinned the trademark forelock! Sometimes there are just no words!

So You Think - the day before the 150th Melbourne Cup, with THAT forelock...

And alas and woe, where's it all gone??? Photo by Caroline Searcy.