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.

Nanna Murphy's 90th Birthday celebration, Amber runs 2nd, and Labor sweep to victory.

This weekend was a big celebration of life. Ella Murphy, my grandmother turned 90. Nanna said to me "looking back to when I was 9, who ever thought i would have seen what I've seen and be here at 90". Nanna is an amazing woman, and great example of life and joy. She is a competition bridge player, still drives herself around town, and lives alone as she has since her 3 daughters, Barbara, Jeanette, and Lorraine left to make lives of their own.


Nanna has lived to see changes in the world that few Australians or people on the planet have witnessed. She was born with the 1st world war raging in Europe, and Billy Hughes was 7th Prime Minister of Australia. Nanna just saw the 27th one elected this weekend in Kevin Rudd.

The week has been a memorable celebration of the life of our beloved Nanna, who was born Lucella Murphy to parents in Chapman Valley on 21st Nov 1917. Her childhood house still remains as does her first marriage house. Her husband, Ray Murphy, died early in their marriage leaving Ella to care for her three young daughters.

My first memories of Nanna are eating at her house in Gregory St as a kid. She had this lovely piano with the candle stick holders still in tact and we'd be able to play a little. Nanna has a very sharp mind, as evidence that she still holds her own in competition bridge. We've all been privileged to have her in our lives this long. A true Australian icon for us all and if anyone wanted advise that made sense I'd send them straight to her, including Prime Minister Rudd.

And that brings me back to this weekend, where the family came from near and far to pay tribute. Around her were 3 further generations, the youngest being Joseph Hart the son of Janine (Allen) and Bernard.

Oh, and Amber ran 2nd!!

Winning the XXXX Sprint on Melbourne Cup day

On the day that stops our nation and Efficient surged back to his brilliant best in winning the Melbourne Cup, we had our own little moment of joy and glory too.

Amber won the 1400m XXXX Sprint in stylish fashion as the $2.50 favourite in a small field of 7 runners. She jumped very well and then settled one back on the fence (her favourite spot) until just before the corner. Roy moved up around the pace maker, Enter The Sandman and then skipped away to win comfortably by 2 lengths from Twig Gold.

We had to race her in Open company, as there was just nothing else available in her class for a first up run. She drew well in barrier 3, and after nominations the field fell away to just 7 runners. There was a very speedy front runner in Our Fuji Mak who had won 5 of 7 first up and managed to do so in a 1MW in Feb 2007. We figured it would go forward and make the pace, and if fit could prove hard for Amber to run down. As it happened, Our Fuji Mak reared when the gates opened and lost the chance to get to the front easily. So, we ended up with the sit at a comfortable pace and she always looked full of running going out the back.

Clive had her looking a million dollars and we hope this is the start of a super campaign. See here for the results.

Photos courtesy of Lou Checker Photography

Black Amber video of win on 6 Nov 2007

Back from the spell - Sep 1st 2007

Amber enjoyed her first real spell since racing as a 3YO. She let up in the lush surroundings at Muchea and by all accounts relaxed more than she has previously. We brought her back into Geraldton at beginning of Sep, and she settled in pretty quickly into the stables.

Last run for the campaign over 1650m

For her last run this campaign we stepped her up to 165om in a 1MW. Pike went on board and we were hoping she would get a nice run. She was forced to lead again, and raced well up till the corner where it was obvious she was going to struggle to stay in it. This race was always planned to be her last, so we packed her up and sent her back to the paddock for a well earned rest.

Jammed again finishing 4th at Bel over 1600m

This was the day that really disappointed us this campaign. We'd left Amber in the capable hands of Kevin Lever after her last start, so minimize the traveling back and forward from Geraldton. We drew gate 1, and with her good speed we were confident of a super showing. We had a real mix up with the jockeys though. Roy had returned from break and although Pike wanted the ride, we opted for Roy. Unfortunately he could not make the 53kg and by the time we found out, Pike had chosen the eventual winner in Swishy. Jason Whiting who does a good deal of work for Kevin got the ride and we were happy with the choice. After a top start, Amber took a position on the rail (this is proving to be a habbit of her racing style) and was in the perfect position coming to the corner. Sweet Boots, the leader, had hung off the fence coming around the corner at last start and our plan was to hug the rail and take the gap. Well, it didn't work out that way and Sweet Boots stayed her line. Jason had a gap at the top of the straight, but it was quickly closed by Pike on Swishy who then locked Amber in. She never got a crack, and finished close up in 4th behind the leader. A race to forget.

1600m F&M on 9th of May

With the campaign back on, Amber was back at the top again. We stepped her up to the 1600m and moved to Bel for her first start. She drew gate 7 and Roy was back on board. She jumped well, and with nothing else wanting to lead, she stayed at the front setting the pace. She ran a game 2nd, getting run down by Luskin Dancer. We were happy with the run and she proved her ability in her own class over the mile.

First crack back in the city over 1400m

We felt a little unluck for this run, because we had set Amber for a 1400m country challenge race but she came down with a virus and had to take a break. Clive gave her a break and after recovering and heading back to work, we set her for a start in the city with William Pike was on board. She jumped well again from gate 2 and got covered up a bit in the back. She dropped back a bit and coming to the corner was still getting into stride. She ran on well into 3rd place, but we thought the effects of the virus and traveling had taken their toll.

Winning over 1300m as $1.8 fav

After the disappointment of the last run over 1600m, we dropped Amber back over the 1300m. This campaign was more about giving her a chance to enjoy racing by giving her a light prep, and only in sprints up to the mile. We wanted to boost her confidence, and let her build strength without a lot of racing. We still had a question regarding her ability to win over the sprints, as she'd proven in the Oaks as a 3yo that she had ample ability over distance.

We wanted to continue letting her jump and then take a position just off the speed and keep her coming from behind as she was doing. She was sent out a hot fav at $1.8. She jumped beautifully again and by the 800m was camped on the fence one back. The caller, David Wrensted, nailed it when he said "I hope it's not a repeat of last start" when it was obvious she needed an opening to be able to get through. All looked hopeless until the 300m when Roy pushed through the tiring horse outside him, and around the leader who itself laid out for the final 200m. It was a desperate piece of riding from McKay, but he just got up in the final stride. It landed him in the stewards room and he copped a 3 week suspension. See here the result. We were happy with the win, but we were lucky to get the win but it cost us Roy. As were to discover, this went on to play a further part later on in the preparation.

Trapped at 2nd run for stable over 1600m

After the brilliant 1UP win, we set Amber for a 1600m race at Geraldton. She jumped like a shot, positioned well...then got caught as other horses peeled wide at the corner her move came too late. She got blocked behind a wall of horses, with a split coming late...but too late for her. She finished on a game 4th. Click here for race results.

First start new stable...getting the chocolates - Feb 2nd 2007 1300m

After a nice prep, Amber stepped into her first trial on 20th Jan. She won the trial in nice form. She then stepped out in her first race in a CL5 over 1300m with Roy McKay on board. We were very confident going into the race, especially after the solid trial and her further improvement heading into the race. We backed her accordingly.

She jumped well, positioned perfectly and Roy hit the front coming around the bend. She came away a comfortable 2 1/4 length winner.

It was ladies day out, so further to the thrill of nailing the win was the enjoyment on track with part-owner Jeanette Day out with a group of jolly good friends. They celebrated back at the stables with champagne.