STOP THE PRESSES!!! WEE JIMMY BREAKS HIS MAIDEN.... STOP THE PRESSES...

Massie Lodge favourite son, Jimmy (aka Private James) finally won his maiden today (1400M)at Ingham on Ingham Cup Day! In a dead heat for first, wee Jimmy jumped with the group and came up on the inside of the leader and it was neck and neck all the way to the finish line.

Lots of congratulations to our other syndicate members - and to wee Jimmy - what a boy!!

Jimmy and Max (Circuit City) who lived most of their baby lives together are now out their doing a fantastic job.

You know, I think the secret ingredient to a successful horse is simple. Love.

Go Max Go!

I walked in the front door yesterday at lunchtime (one of the few perks working close to home) to hear from Evan that Max (pictured above with his mate, Jimmy) had run 3rd at Eagle Farm over 1800m. WooHoo Max !!!

I remember the night that he was born. And I remember Max and Jimmy growing up together! I cant remember two nicer colts (hmm sorry about that Harry!) and both boys are now doing us proud and having a great racing career. Max is by Dantibes out of Madely Miss (Madey).

Hearty Congratulations to Greg, Max's owner - well done! You certainly have been very patient and your faith in Maxwell has never faltered.

A Sign of the Summer to Come...

Scary ....

Fat Girls ... Update

Continue to keep us guessing. Credentials (pictured above)moved to Beaudesert las week so that she could be at Valentine Park where Felix the Cat stands. Dirty has moved in with Gossy and TMSMOTP and assumed leadership of the 2 elder ladies - much to their chagrin.

Dirty has just about reached her due date and is right to pop at any moment. I could see her today struggling a bit with the size of her tummy.

TMSMOTP looks a bit like a beached whale ... but she is in good fettle and her leg doesnt seem to be bothering her - so we're both happy.

The 2 grey girl's tummies are starting to pop with Nottie not quite sure what to do about her tummy. I think she is feeling it abit.

As Iam now working in Warwick I get to drive down Lyndhurst Lane each day - how sweet is it to see the mares and their babies out in the morning sun - certainly makes me smile every day.

Like previous years, the ladies will keep up guessing and will foal when they're ready.

Scarpetta ... The Continuing Saga

I am up to re-reading the 15th (or some may say the 14th) book in the Kay Scarpetta series.

This is a very different book than all the other Kay Scarpetta novels as it is told in the third person and is a stand alone book (meaning that it doesn't require reading previous novels in the series).

All the book reviews rave about this book ... I dont know ... in my mind this is where the series goes a bit haywire. There never seems to be any relationship resolution between the main characters (Kay, Benton, Lucy and Pete) and Kay and Benton continue to conduct the most bizarre relationship between them.

Thank goodness Im on the homeward stretch with these books!

Oink Oink

No my sore throat from last Sunday didnt turn out to be the swine flu, thank goodness. What it turned out to be was a raging 38.8 temp with the chills and hots, some sneezing and coughing. Im still coughing abit, hopefully that will all be gone soon.

Jimmy - Update

Picture of Wee Jimmy at the stables last Sunday after his race on Saturday. Here he is with headless strapper, Rob Koch. He pulled up well after his run last week - didnt miss a morsel of food Saturday night. He looks like he has grown since leaving Massie Lodge - mind you my memories of Jim start from just a wee lad peeking out from behind his mum's tail.

Fat Girls - Update

Today we swapped Creds and Dirty Girl with TMSMOTP and Gossy. Dirty and Creds are now right next to the house (right next to our bedroom in fact) and Pip and Gossy (she did today ask me to stop referring to her as TMSMOTP, or Heffalump or Fat Girl) have moved next door to them - still within close distance of the house..

Dirty has started to bag up and now its up to Mother Nature to do her thing.

I'm thinking a little colt (for Dirty) ... but I have been wrong before.

Anyone want to start a book?

No, just kidding, as long as both Dirty and bubs are well and healthy - who cares what it will be (after all you have a 50 - 50 chance dont you?).

Here Comes The Sun

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling,it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun,here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

(Lennon / McCartney - The Beatles)

When I woke up this morning, I swear it must of been -3 - and it was. However, the day turned into a beauty and I had forgotten how all encompassing the sun and warm weather really is (bring it on I say!).

After doing all the work, including TMSMOTP's leg (who was by no means impressed with either the warm weather or me jetting her leg) - it was time for morning tea - and to sit out on the side of the house where there was not even a speck of breeze. How delightful it was to sit there with Bessie Merle and just continue to read my book (yes *sigh* - still going through the Scarpetta series, although I'm now on the homeward trail now as I have started "Predator"). I was in heaven until ......... " Aaaaaaaaahchooooooo".

Ok I sneezed once. Means nowt - back to my book and my cuppa. "AAAAAhhhhhchoooooo". And again. Must be the dust! Nothing was going to spoil my morning and my soujoun on my favourite chair sitting in the sun reading.

By lunchtime the throat had become a little more than an irritated throat.

By mid afternoon (now - 3.35pm) I want some sorbet to kill the soreness.

I am not impressed - nor am I going to give into this.

SO THERE!!!

WhooooHoooo Wee Jimmy!

Finally, we think that the penny has dropped with Wee Jimmy and he now understands what this racing caper is all about.

Today at Cairns, not only did he jump out of the barrier with the rest of the horses, but he seemed to track straight. He got caught behind at the turn into the straight but after he got out, he managed a very credible 2nd place.

You know, how proud do I feel of this boy, knowing that Evan and I were there when he was born, looked after him and his mum after foaling, weaned him, and taught him to lead.

He was broken in with Paul Moody and had a good education and then thrown back into the paddock to think about his education and to be a horse for a good while.

Lucky Wee Jim, he then became a syndicate horse and we joined forces to get him out on the racetrack. Fred Wieland trains him at Cairns, Shoie does most of his riding and my goodness look what a country boy can do.

So what if it not Randwick. He has shown that he now understands what he needs to know and he wants to be a racehorse and it doesnt matter where he does it.

We're very proud of wee Jimmy. He done good.

GO PRIVATE JAMES!!!

Fat Girls are Doing It For Themselves...

The girls are getting ready to go into the homeward straight. Dirty (pictured below) is now starting to bag up - not long to go there. Creds is next on the list, following by TMSMOTP - otherwise known as Heffalump. Cant wait to see what she thinks of being called "Fat Girl". Have a look at her Twitter to find out!

Its a pretty exciting time of the year ... just think we are now to start Foalwatch... I cant wait to be sitting up until midnight. I just cant wait!!!

Pip (aka TMSMOTP, Heffalump or Fat Girl!!) - Not a very good photo... but you get the size of the tummy?

Creds


Dirty (not far away now)