Sunday, August 21, 2005

Another Pleasant Valley Sundaaaay...

I dont know why I have that song in my head... from the Monkeys - obviously my subconscious dragged it out of one of the filing cabinets and felt that it wanted to be heard again? Actually today has been a glorious day, even though I got up out of bed at 6.50am and headed straight to clean and wash the floors, the bathroom, the toilet and the kitchen... not to mention Evan's office desk (the dining room table) that was chockablock full of industry papers, magazines, receipts and the like.

Then it was into the kitchen to whip up something yummy for morning tea, put a pot of coffee on and to eat some breakfast all before our visitors arrived. (Just call me Superwoman!!)

Today we had a visit from Paul and Cannington's owners who wanted to see their boy, doing what he does the best - just being a horse! Canno has certainly wound down since being here... and has relaxed (mentally) down 100% with his mate, Little Jo and of course, Charliefarley. Next it was off to the local pub, The Darling Downs Hotel, for a quick bite to eat and a few drinkies and then back to business.

Business of course was spending some time down the back paddock with the preggie girls... have some stomach watching time and give my Nanna a bit of a brush (as she is malting!). I am happy to say that all stomachs were very active this morning, especially Sweetie's... I actually put my hand under Nanna's tummy and had some contact with bubs... who was very receptive when I rubbed mum's tummy. Nanna of course was not bothered with this and remained asleep (since there was nothing to eat). Maddie's tum is nice and active with an ETA of 24 September. It was good to see them all doing flip flops - makes me feel good to know that all Bubs' are alive and well .

Stallion "X"

I found a little bit more information regarding Stallion "X" who was shuttled out in the guise of Dubai Excellence. I am fascinated to know how this could happen? Surely the owners and the people who put Stallion "X" on the plane knew that the stallion was Stallion "X" and not Dubai Excellence?

Courtesy of AAP Racing and Breeding, Chris Stoltz posted this last Saturday:-

Saturday, 13 August 2005:
Hair samples will be DNA tested in a bid to establish the identity of the stallion imported to Australia under the name of Dubai Excellence.

A Sydney laboratory will carry out DNA testing on 30 hair samples from the "unknown" horse who has been at stud in Western Australia for six months under the name of Dubai Excellence.

The horse was imported by Western Australia Turf Club chairman Ted van Heemst to begin stud duty at Evergreen Lodge near Bunbury in WA this spring but it has now become apparent the wrong stallion was sent from England.

"We are 99.9 percent sure that he is not Dubai Excellence," van Heemst admitted after the news broke that the import may be a "ring in".The "real" Dubai Excellence is by High Honour from Colorado Dancer and is a half brother to ill-fated Godolphin champion Dubai Millenium.

Heemst said it has become apparent a similar looking horse to Dubai Excellence went into quarantine last December and was then shipped to Australia.

Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers was the first to alert van Heemst to his doubts about the identity of the new stallion at Evergreen Lodge.

Chalmers had negotiated the deal to import Dubai Excellence and was concerned that when the stallion arrived in WA he was a bigger individual than the "original" and also carried no signs of tendon damage evident when inspected in the UK.

Further concerns arose when a scan could not detect the arrival's microchip identification implant.

The Australian Stud Book has advised van Heemst that blood tests confirmed that the horse residing at Evergreen Lodge, while probably by Highest Honour, could not be a son of the mare Colorado Dancer.

Van Heemst had accepted 80 bookings to his new stallion at fee of $3850 for the coming season.


Sorry but I do find this situation, while serious really, most amusing as surely there are many checks and balances that something like this should never happen? Surely the people who packed Stallion "X" up to be shipped over knew who the horse was?

I somehow think that there is more to this than meets the eye! Surely all shuttlers are checked and double checked before they are put on a plane? And, if this has happened once, who says that it hasnt happened before and wont happen again for that matter? I will wait with baited breath to find out the latest installment!

Well its 4pm and time to go and feed the hooved ones... who are impatiently walking up and down their fences wondering what the hell has happened to their meal!!




A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your step as you walk the tightrope of life
--William Arthur Ward


Helen.

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