November 5th –NEW RACING STABLES FINALLY APPROVED!
After many unnecessary and ridiculous delays with Wyong Council, approval has been granted for us to build our dream farm, 2 minutes back towards Wyong from the main Limitless Lodge. We are yet to come up with an appropriate name but will do shortly. This farm will have 66 stables in 3 barns, 2 walkers and an aquaciser. The track is 1150m in circumference with 2 good straight gallops and a teriffic surface with very good drainage. The farm has already been fenced with several spelling paddocks and many day turn out paddocks for the gallopers.
November 4th –BART CUMMINGS WINS HIS 12TH MELBOURNE CUP WITH VIEWED
With one of the outsiders of the field, the Cups King has produced one of his most incredible performances to date. Viewed, who ran on Saturday and ran last in the Mackinnon Stakes was hardly considered a chance by anyone today. With the Irish Coolmore raiders setting a lightning fast tempo the result was always going to come down to the best stayer and the fittest horse. Viewed was one of only two horses to have won over 2 miles previously and there would be no fitter horse than one prepared by Bart Cummings. He prevailed by the barest possible margin from one of the international raiders, Bauer, ridden by Corey Brown for Luca Cumani.
November 1st –TIM HAS 3 EXCITING NEW HORSES FOR THE 2009 EVENTING SEASON
Having had quite a lean year, Tim headed to Europe in late July to replenish his team with a view to the London Olympics in 2012. We were very fortunate to find 3 exciting young intermediate horses. They will all arrive over summer and with a period for acclimatisation, should be ready to compete by February 2009. These horses will combine with Grand Armee and Sun Tzu to hopefully form a really good team.
October 29th - HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB PRE EXPORT QUARANTINE COMMENCES
14 horses today safely went into quarantine at Mangrove Mountain, prior to their departure for the Hong Kong International Sale on November 18th. This trip is looked forward to by all the staff and is a good end of season getaway. We will take 8 staff and be away until December 15th. It is hoped, that in these troubled financial times that the sale is as successful as it has been for the last 5 years. This year the club has purchased their best and most expensive bunch of horses with 4 each by Redoute's Choice and Encosta De Lago.
October 28th - MILITARY ROAD HAS BEEN SOLD TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA!
One of the stable favourites has been sold to Belinda Lindh in Adelaide as a school master eventer and showjumper. We wish Belinda and her husband Mark every success with this lovely horse.
October 26th - WALLABY HILL'S INAUGRAL EVENT IS A GREAT SUCCESS
The private venture of popular Southern Highlands based eventing rider Alex Townsend and her husband was the venue for a new competition on the NSW calendar. For their first event they ran a Hunter Trials (ie eventing with no dressage). The numbers were small and the course was tough in all grades, but none the less this venue will hopefully host many good horse trials into the future. The winner of the highest class of the day, 1*, was that grand old campaigner, True Blue Toozac, ridden by Kate Remond. Seal The Deal, ridden by Tim was 2nd and Stuart Tinney was 3rd on Orchard Hill.
October 26th - PAU CCI**** IS WON BY BETTINA HOY AND RINGWOOD COCKATOO
The final 4**** event of the European eventing season has been run and won by Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo for Germany. Bettina led the dressage and was able to fend off all challengers. The highest placed Australian rider was her husband Andrew riding Moonfleet who finished 6th after a disappointing show jumping round with five rails hitting the deck. I am sure 2008 is a year the Hoys won't remember with much fondness so this is some consolation for one of the best eventing operations in the world.
October 19th - GOULBURN CIC*** IS WON BY CHRIS BURTON AND NEWSPRINT
NSW's premier one day event took place with a very large, strong field in the CIC*** class. As always Neil Kennedy produced a terrific track that leaves riders feeling very confident heading towards Adelaide CCI****. The ground was quite firm and it was very hot but still produced a terrific competition. Chris Burton, who has been the leading rider for the last 3 seasons in NSW showed all his class on his top horse, Newsprint, to record a very dominant win. Sam Lyle also had a good weekend finishing 2nd and 3rd in the CIC***. Chris's good form carried over to the CIC** where he won with the impressive young horse, Walk The Line.
