Easter at Newmarket

I've spent a very enjoyable three days at the Inglis Newmarket Sales complex.  I have to say, while others are lauding the planned move from Newmarket to Warwick Farm, that personally I'll be devastated to see the Easter Sale no longer held at these historic grounds.  There is real harmony to the grounds.  It's horse territory, despite the fact that it's nestled right in the heart of a bustling part of Sydney.  It borders the University of NSW, and is just down the road from Royal Randwick.  There is real beauty to the sales ring, and the old elm tree, under which everyone gathers, is the most lovely spot.  There are ponies galore, the stables are gorgeous, and those hosting the marquees and kind and welcoming.

I was able to attend Day 1, on Tuesday, unencumbered.  Yesterday and today were far more difficult, as I had no choice but to take Heath and Jessica along with me.  So armed with a huge carrot that I tied enticingly on a danging stick, they had the offer of behaving beautifully and being rewarded (sounds better than bribe, right?) with a trip to Target and JB HiFi.  Heath set his heart on a Doctor Who DVD, and Jessica wanted something girly.  She's easy to please.  I couldn't believe how good they were.  I would plant them in a corner, or a table, and say stay here, and they did.  Quietly drawing, or just waiting for me.  Mostly I was able to have them in the marquee of good clients, such as Vinery, or Arrowfield, Darley or Coolmore.  There were chocolates galore (problem yesterday, as Heath came home with sugars over 20!), and lots of lovely food, and I was able to get a coffee.  I'm hardly drinking coffee these days, but it was nice, and helped to keep me going, as the days were pretty hard work.

So below are some sights and sounds from the three days.



 





Lot 277:  Casino Prince - Helsinge.  1/2 brother to champion Black Caviar, who topped the sale, selling for $1,000,025.






















 









Lot 341:  Street Sense - Maria di Castiglia


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Legacy of Eight Carat: From the Vault Volume I

Image
We have been back in lockdown here in Victoria. Lockdown 5.0 to be precise and as a result it made us go back to feeling like sad sacks.  After having seen off Lockdown 4.0 a teeny tiny bit triumphantly, where we saw off both Delta and Kappa variants (evil beasts that they are - curse you stinky COVID - curse you), we had literally only just gotten back to work before being very suddenly plunged back into Lockdown 5.0 after the visit of those very nice removalists.   'Thanks very much!!!!' we all shouted indignantly!!!!  A key difference with Lockdown 5.0 was that half the country also into lockdown at the same time which made us feel slightly less sad.  The Victorian Government doesn't muck about anymore when it comes to outbreaks.  Their reaction is swift and severe and not at all namby pamby.  I just wish the same logic would be applied to Sydney which continues to deteriorate, much to my dismay.  This week we took our first tentative steps out of Lockdown 5.0, hurrah f
Read more

Vale Sadler's Wells - champion stallion dies in Ireland.

Image
One of the most important racehorses, and later stallions of our time, the great Sadler's Wells died in Ireland on the evening of Tuesday 26 April 2011.  He died at Coolmore's Tipperary Stud in Ireland, his home since his retirement in 1984.  The stallion was retired from breeding in 2008. His legacy worldwide is immense.  He has left sons and daughters,  and three of his stallion sons, in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, are leading stallions in the Northern Hemisphere.  In Australia, Galileo and Montjeu had less success, however the impact of High Chaparral was immediate, and immense.  While the horse still has to repeat the success he achieved with his New Zealand bred runners, from which the Group 1 winners, and champion So You Think, were conceived, High Chaparral is still leading the Australian General Sires Title with only a couple of months of racing left. In Europe, Montjeu and Galileo have both sired Epsom Derby winners, in Authorized and New Approach respective
Read more

The physical drain of riding horses

Image
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
Read more