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..

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...

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'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.