One of my favourite photos- Atalanta Miss as a foal – she is set to resume on 19 December at Flemington.

I really enjoyed getting around the seeing our horses in South East Queensland on Monday and Tuesday.  They are a nice group of horses with the current star of our Queensland team being Annaman.  We have some nice youngsters in the state going through our system

We are so lucky to have our horses spelling and pre-training at Washpool Lodge near Aratula.  The team at Washpool Lodge headed up by Kevin Thomas is simply outstanding with Kevin being in a class of his own when it comes to dealing with horses.  I have had horses at the farm since 1998 and in that time I have never had an issue with a horse spelling there which says a lot for the high quality of care and high level of professionalism offered by the whole operation.

On the way back to the Gold Coast Airport I decided to stop off at a coffee shop in Canungra.  I was posted to the Land Warfare Centre at Canungra from 1987 until the end of 1990 and have great memories of my time there.  While I was at the coffee shop I had one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me occur.  A lady who works in the kitchen came out with a serviette and asked me to autograph it for her.  She had two of the kitchen hands with her.  I was a bit stunned but when she said ‘you are Buddah Handy aren’t you’.  Considering I have lost about 15kg I was a bit taken back but I suppose to be mistaken as being a former Wallaby isn’t that bad, particularly as he is a Queenslander!!!

NATIONAL JOCKEY’S TRUST

Recently I was lucky enough to be able to play in the National Jockeys Trust golf day at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne.  One of my team mates for the day was David Taggart who was badly injured in a race fall at Stoney Creek about eight years ago.  David wasn’t a ‘headline’ jockey but had worked hard and made a nice living as a professional rider.  His biggest thrill was riding Hollow Bullet to win the VRC Oaks.Since his fall in which he badly broke both ankles David has had several operations with his ankles being permanently fused.  My heart went out to him as he described the struggles he has had since his accident which ended his career. 

David is typical of many jockeys who are forced to stop riding due to injury or weight problems.  These men and women often leave school early to take up a position in a stable where they hope to be apprenticed and in David’s case go on to be a jockey.

Once their career is taken from them many struggle to find a niche and lack the education required to move into a worthwhile alternative career path.  In David’s case the injuries he has make it difficult for him to get around.  He is a cheerful little fellow and I wish him well.  The National Jockey’s Trust raises money to help ex-riders like David move forward in their lives but for many they face a difficult journey.

In 1976 I had an interest in a mare named Young Ruby.  I had a lot of fun with her and she was good to me winning three of the five races she contested while I was connected with her.  Sadly at her 5th start for us she had a collision with another horse turning into the straight at Gatton.  She lost her balance and careered through the outside rail with her rider Michael Lucas being very badly injured.  I was only 20 at the time and visited Michael in hospital where he was in a poor state.  He never really got over the injuries he received on that day and I lost contact with him when I moved from Toowoomba in 1977.

I intend getting involved with the National jockey’s trust and help raise funds for them.  The jockeys and riders who get on our horses each day risk their lives for us so we can enjoy our involvement in the racing industry.  When the National jockey’s trust has functions on that I feel we should support I will advertise them through this medium and I’m sure we can provide some help for this worthwhile cause.    

WORDSMITH

A few weeks ago I highlighted the great results the progeny of Wordsmith were achieving in Tasmania.  I have a big wrap on the stallion and I am pleased to write the amazing results his progeny have been getting seem to be getting better. Last Sunday he won four of the races on the card and had several placed horses as well. 

I was pleased to see the Paul and Elizabeth Geard who own Wordsmith are considering sending the outstanding two years old Gee Gee Double Dee to the mainland to have a couple of starts.  I hope they do as I’m certain the filly will raise a few eyebrows when the public see her. The Geard’s are great supporters of Tasmanian racing and raced the best horse I have seen in the state in Geegees Blackflash.  He was a super horse and I’m sure had he raced on the mainland could well have won at Group 1 level, and a serious Group 1 at that. 

ON THE TRACK

The performance Annaman put in to finish 3rd at Doomben on Saturday was exceptional.  A horse broke down in front of him coming to the turn and he copped most of the interference and was lucky to stay on his feet.  He is ok and will head back to Doomben on Saturday week.

This Saturday we are likely to have two runners at Randwick with Awasita resuming and Makeadane stepping out to his preferred distance.  These two horses will start a run of metropolitan runners which may include Raido and Naranja at Canterbury on 11 December, Savoureux at Randwick and

Annaman at Doomben on 12 December and then Husson Eagle and Atalanta Miss at Flemington on 19 December.  As well as these high profile runners we have several other horses heading to the provincials.  We have plenty happening.

I Am Invincible filly out of Belle Amici 2014- Darren Weir to train in Victoria, 10 shares @ $10,500

The filly pictured above is a terrific filly by the outstanding young sire I Am Invincible from the well related Catbird mare Belle Amici.  I have inspected her four times at Yarraman Park since May and was keen to purchase her.  She is a very good type of filly with a good hindquarter, great walk. She vetted out without any issues and was reared at Yarraman Park one of Australia’s most well

The filly is an October foal and will be broken in in February/ March of 2016 with a view to giving her every chance to run as a two year old.  She comes from a very precocious family with Belle Amici’s ½ brother Restless winning as a two year old and being stakes placed as well.  He was placed in six of his seven starts as a two year old and went on to win 10 races including four at Group or stakes level and $578,305 in stakes money.

The first three dams have had 17 to race with 15 individual winners which is exceptional.  To me this looks Belle Amici’s best mating. I am thrilled to have this filly join our team and look forward to her wearing our colours.