Ridden back...and finished there! Sat 15th Mar at Ascot

We decided to ride Amber from further back today, but she was not up to the job. Roy jumped her out very well, and she settled well back in 2nd last spot. He started to move up before the corner, and for a brief instance I thought she was going to power on strongly. But, she did not. With a closing sectional of 35:30 and the winners time at 1:50:88 (Carbineer), this was performance below expectations.

This was her 9th run this campaign. We may have reached the end for her and she needs the paddock. Or a stallion!

Results here.

Helen's 40th birthday run at Ascot

Today is Helen's 40th birthday. A big party is planned up in Geraldton and Helen is really excited about it all.

Just before her celebrations kicked into full gear, Amber ran at Ascot. We thought everything was lined up right with her. She was working well, we had a good strategy for the race. And we backed her.

Today we decided to change tactics in a race that lacked any real pace. We drew barrier 2, and had no hesitation in deciding to lead and try and win from the front. The favourite and eventual winner Gilded Venom has a very strong closing 600m and we knew that the only way to beat it was to be in front by a few lengths at the corner.

Amber jumped perfectly and took an easy lead. She seemed to fight Roy a little, taking a while to settle down. At the 700m the pack started to group behind her, and around the corner it had turned into a sprint home.

She battled on to finish 4th in her closing time of 35:07. Looking at her last 3 finished at Ascot...35:07, 35:09, 35:07....she ran the race she could.

We questioned again the 3 week break, which may not have favoured her, and we realized that we needed to get her moving further out from the post.We head on with the campaign with the hope of keeping her in for 2 more runs to see her over the 2200m again. The way the planning is going, she may end up battling against the Dog!

We'll get back to the drawing board and decide where to go from here.

Race results here.

After a short let up, a 1600m race at Ascot

After the tough runs in the La Trice and the Geraldton cup, we gave Amber a little break and then got her back too the city in what we hope is another winning campaign. She started today in a 1600m race where we thought she would be a chance to run a place.

She jumped well, and settled just off the pace in 3rd spot. She looked a little awkward coming around the corner, but after setting up straight she came home well making ground on most of the runners.

We were happy with the run and will now press forward to get her running up to 2200-2400m.

Results here.

She ran a very tidy race, coming home strongly and unluck not to have run 3rd.

The Geraldton Cup....a crying matter

This was a very tough pill to swallow. We knew we blew this race. We got out ridden and walked away with that big knot twisting inside us.

Everything was set for a big race. Amber had worked beautifully. She was in top shape, coming off the tough La Trice. We had drawn perfectly. We instructed Roy to go forward in front of the favourite (Friar's Touch) and then take the race from there. If she jumped poorly, we would drop behind him and go earlier to put her in the race.

She jumped beautifully, and unfortunately roy then dropped her back behind Friar's Touch. Heading around the back she was still positioned perfectly to be able to win....then disaster struck.

Shaun O'Donnel on board Solar Impact took off early and locked Amber on his inside. This was exactly the same tactic we had employed the year before with Tapdog. We were crying coming around the bend. It was clear Amber was full of running but had no where to go. She got out late and came home strongly into 4th place just a length away.

We were bitterly disappointed. Enough said.

Results here

There was many moments of fun during the day though. I managed to meet up for the first time with Geoff Whittle who is a regular writer for the popular Perth Turf Talk. Geoff and I shared the day together, a few laughs, couple of beers and departed with warm spirits. Geoff also snapped a couple of pics and here is one with the family and the first jockey of Tapdog, Chris Usher. Chris ride the dog to his first Geraldton cup victory as a 4yo.

I also got to meet up with big Tim Gossage who hosts the Racing Radio program. Tim delighted the crowd through the day with his colourful commentary.

The La Trice Classic listed race for fillies and mares on New Years Day

This was the race that we'd hoped Amber would qualify for and put in a good show. After the exciting win on Dec 19th over 1800m, we went into the race knowing that she was racing very well, but also aware that the competition was "hot".

We drew well in barrier 6, and decided to press forward again and have her just off the pace. That is exactly how Roy did it, and boy did they run it at a good clip. Coming to the corner it was clear she had done too much work staying in touch with the pace, and the very smart Russian Playmate from the Durant stable came home with a blistering run to win from Danecay who had done all the work out in front.

We had a big family day out in the heat of Ascot on cup day. No chocolates, but we thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Results here

Amber in wining style

Amber stamped her mark today in the biggest win of her career racing in an 1800m 0-90 handicap at Ascot. She jumped at $12 and we landed the chocolates in a memorable day where three of the owners were on track. Monique and I had just flown in from Paris, and Jeanette had just driven down from Geraldton. Hans was up in Norway with his family for the Christmas break.


The family was in strong support with Suzanne, John, Kate, and Janine all track side to witness the win. Gavin and Lia watched the race on the way to the hospital, where Lia is due to give birth tomorrow! David jumped into a TAB on his way back from work, but Helen and Raelene could not see it live.

"It doesn't get any better than that" was the call of Mum as Roy brought Amber back to the winners circle. I was lost for words as the long standing voodoo was broken. I witnessed my first live winner. Putting win 37 on the board after a long partnership with Dad and Clive, I had never seen one of those winners live. The spell was broken today and all lingering doubts have been cast aside about feeling the thrill of a live winner.

The lads of PTT were on track with us today in Chris, Della, Craig, Matt, and Neil. Pity Geoff could not make it up. They joined us in the winners circle where we drank champagne and watched the replay of the great win. I'll never forget that feeling as she crossed the line. I looked around and saw the joy bursting out of everyone. Clive too. We'd laid plans these plans with dad before he passed away and it touched us all.

All credit for this win goes to the astute Clive and a masterful ride again by Roy. Clive had her in picture perfect condition on track. Looking a million dollars, Roy said she felt strong underneath him as he jumped on in the mounting yard. The lead up to this race was beautifully planned and executed and Clive is such a master at his trade that you know you've got the best possible chance when he brings them to the city. She had 3 races and a trial under her in Geraldton, and we knew she had the toughness to handle a city race.

Roy jumped her from barrier 2 and had her perfectly positioned from the start, taking up a spot one out from the fence. Roy made his move just before the corner moving 3 wide, and Amber sprinted over the top of Royal Cobra who had led them up. She rounded the corner in front and then dug deep to hold out the fast finishing challengers. It really was a great ride by Roy, who kept her off the fence in the moving lane. When she railed around the corner, my heart must have doubled its rate to keep up with the adrenalin burst I was experiencing. What a rush!

Of course all thoughts went quickly to Dad as i walked down to the mounting yard. I recalled all those times when at this stage, Dad would be taking my in-coming phone call as we landed another winner. I think Mum and Clive felt that emotion again too. I know that Dad was close by to us all again today, and felt his presence strong. He would have been tickled pink by this win I am sure.

We think Amber has proven she has the class to contest the upcoming La Trice Classic over 1800m on New Years day at Ascot. Whatever happens then, today will always reign as the day the voodoo was broken and I saw that first win. I was happy to share the victory with Monique and Mum.

Watch below the great win, and thanks to PTT for the pics and for the article on the win here.

Late Mail : Gavin and Lia had a baby girl, Madison!

Superb training performance see's Amber land an 1800m trophy

Clive put in a superb training performance in getting Amber up from 1200m last start to win over 1800m. It's not an easy thing to do and in fact, it is rarely pulled off. It was a very gutsy win and a ripper of a ride from Roy. She jumped from gate 4 and Roy put her right behind the leaders (Trib). It was the first time she has raced off the fence and at the 700m mark Roy started to move forward and was 3 wide around the corner with Trib in sight. She got over the top of him about 200m out and then dug deep to hold out a late challenge from Little Mac.

Mum collected the prize that will find it's way to Monique in Paris as her very first owner trophy. We'll eating tarts off it and savoring each bite.

We are pretty excited about the next few weeks. This has been our game plan all along. Our plan since we purchased Amber was to get her up to the 1800m mark as we think this is about her pet distance. We'll be heading to Perth now that she is fit and ready for the road.

Should be an exciting Christmas time ahead. You can watch the video below.