[Ugly Mare]

oooh, dont know that one, but then looking back over this thread I seem to be only familiar with ‘The Professionals’

age is a wonderful thing…

[Ugly Mare]

Did anyone watch ‘The Dinner Party’ last night [Sunday BBC1] ? if that was supposed to be a modern take of ‘Abigail’s Party’ then it sadly missed it’s mark. Most disappointing considering the excellent cast.

Any other ‘Abigail’ fans on here? I watch that once a year and yet to tire of it. Demis Roussos anyone?

[Ugly Mare]

you’re opening up a can of worms here aren’t you – NH v Flat ?

1. Royal Ascot
2. Cheltenham
3. Glorious Goodwood

rest don’t count. sorry.

[Ugly Mare]

Ive watched it and hes talking garbage

Even if this was a "stepping stone" , does anyone expect him to improve siginificantly from this?

..I’m not sure he needs to improve significantly other than a different jockey which he’ll get, which fits in nicely, and with a different tactic applied which should see him regain the authority with back to back wins in the QEII and sets him up for a return to the Breeders Cup. Surely this must be their object to have kept him in training another year from having fertility problems which may resolve itself in time.

Plenty more opportunities for George with the real big ones, the most important, still to play for.

[Ugly Mare]

Not much chance of that! 445 posts in under three months! Prolific is the word.

…and what’s wrong with that? so why the ??

[Ugly Mare]

I look at it this way, if I had a breeding empire and needed to win just one race, which of these 4 would it be:

Prix du Moulin
QEII
Champion Stakes
BCClassic

I would put the Prix du Moulin as least important of the quartet, a nice stepping stone to one of the others, in the same vein as we now see the Prix Foy/Niel used for the Arc, in effect virtual non events and cannot be taken at face value.

[Ugly Mare]

I thought that was a great run by George Washington and a top job done by the jockey,

QEII and Champion Stakes sewn up…maybe even BC Classic.

[Ugly Mare]

I love that tekkenking site, i’m always on it. Racing from all over the world, he’s very good and quick to put them up I find. Recently I watched last years top Cheltenham races on it, if you can put up with French audio

[Ugly Mare]

lol….well I hope you don’t get hung for sending me that dvd

[Ugly Mare]

Ugly Mare – I was in the States but now have a job in London and I do too many political things for my own good, hence not as much time to watch racing (esp with no RUK subscription), or post on here.

oh right, well I hope you enjoy your new job, exciting times ahead for you Would you like to be a politician later on perhaps, do you think?

[Ugly Mare]

Yep it’s Aussie! A term for a jockey who’s not afraid to let fly with the stick a thousand times in the run home. Personally I think it should be banned completely – that’d sort the men from the boys

yeah, that’ll be the day…although I’m not totally against it I do find the most ‘slather and whack’ comes from the U.S jockeys in their home country. Sometimes makes uncomfortable viewing.

[Ugly Mare]

Are you two falling in love???

Colin

lol…I don’t think my husband would care for that somehow Colin…..oh hang on then again he might

hi KT,
your summing up of Hugh and Kerrin is what I imagined. I thought you would know them and be familiar with their styles. You’ll have to enlighten me on ‘slather and whack’ though… that’s really made me chuckle, I’ve never heard of such a term…..is it Aussie?

[Ugly Mare]

hey KT, thank you so much
are you at work today?

by the way, do you know jockeys Hugh Bowman and Kerrin McEvoy?, they’re both riding over here now. I prefer Kerrin as I think he’s stronger in a finish, if I’m having a bet. Just wondered what you thought. I don’t know if they’ve ever ridden in Singapore, they usually do don’t they?

[Ugly Mare]

There’s a brilliant DVD out called The King and The Man – both were huge crowd favourites when they raced. Like Northerly and Sunline and to a lesser extent Lonhro – who was a champion WFA horse but couldn’t win a decent handicap.
I remember Northerly and Freemason cut throating at each for 2400m (BMW Stakes at Randwick) and it went down to the wire. I was standing next to Fred Kerlsey (Northerly’s trainer) at the winning post at the time and didn’t know what to say to him. He was devastated but by heck it was a good race!
Les Carlyon said of Northerly; ‘He fools you every time he races. He has the body language of a loser and a heart as big as the Nullarbor.’
He was a plain looking paddock pony, thin as a rake but all steel and gristle.
He would have rivalled Kingston Town anyday.

Oh yes I love my job – not really a job when you actually like going to work and miss it when you’re on holidays and to top it all once a month a load of dosh arrives in the bank!

PS – UM If you’d like a copy of the dvd let me know – it’s brilliant, really well put together.

I’d love to see the DVD. I see it’s selling on Ebay for 31 Adollars plus postage making it 46, I wouldn’t want to spend that amount though. If you can get me a copy sometime, whenever, I’d be delighted and of course would reimburse you. Perhaps when you next come back to Blighty?

I was in Melbourne when Manikato won the CF Orr stakes, I think it was, in a photo. The crowd went berserk.
I remember Northerly and Sunline, that was quite recent, she was a great mare going on till 7 I think. I love the Australian racing scene, my favourite track was Eagle Farm in Brisbane where I’ve been quite a few times, and Rosehill in Sydney, that was nice too. I always used to find that you could back 100-1 shots each way and they often ran into a place..lol..especially 2 year old maidens for some reason…just an impression I was left with.
That quote from my book in my previous post was from Les Carlyon by the way, not that I know him. Freemason I don’t remember, but going back still further there was a famous mare in the 70’s called Leilani who I used to love following.
I’ve only picked the winner of the Melbourne Cup once, when Kiwi won it….I expect you remember.

quick message to Meshaheer,
I’ve noticed you’ve not been around too much, but thought it was because you were in the States?? if that was so I hope you enjoyed your stay there.

[Ugly Mare]

hey KT, thanks for all that info, and the photo. I think the team in question is ‘Hearts’ so my husband has just told me….lol. I’ve heard about all the shenanigans regarding their players etc. Best not go into that..lol. Funnily enough I have a coffee mug with the clubs name on it!! Not that I know much about it mind, but I do watch a Scottish radio station, now on the t.v. called Real Radio and they often talk about all this [ I got a crush on the host Ewan Cameron – yeah I got problems… ].

Regarding KT, I was in Australia in 1981 and hoped to see him race but missed him. I know he won the Cox plate 3 times and in one year won from sprints to 2 miles, he was that good, one that Aidan O’Brien might describe today as ‘a serious racehorse’, the like of which I’m not sure he’s ever had to be honest.
I’ve always admired that about Australian racing in that they run them over a variety of trips without question. In fact the old definition of a champion, and I’m quoting from one of my books now is :
"a horse who can win sprinting or staying, wet or dry, from in front or behind. This is a better test than stake money because the currency has been so debased".

I think that’s true and Kingston Town was one of those rare greats who achieved just that.

I did see Manikato during that time though, he was more of a 7f horse. Don’t know if you remember him at all, but he was another that the public got behind.

Hope you like your job

message to Insomniac:-
.I hope at least you do the gardening, or clean the car?? I’m hoping…

[Ugly Mare]

Hi Ugly Mare! It can just be a wee bit intimidating but it’s OK us racing folk are tough and so long as I don’t mention the Jambos winning last weekend I think I’m safe…………….. oops
Yes it is raining here surprise, surprise! I’m used to it now and me and my 5 umbrellas get along really well, if only I can remember where I’ve left them all.
We raced last night on the sand and it resembled American dirt racing, most of the jocks came back in 2kgs over weight after each race
Mind you it’s still about 90% humidity and the pool is looking inviting

I’d love to know who the Jambos are!..lol….
is Kranji the only track in Singapore? is this where you go and if you don’t mind me asking and if you’ve not already mentioned it elsewhere which I’ve missed, what do you do in connection with racing? do you miss dear old Blighty?

actually, with a name Kingston Town I’m wondering if you’re Australian? I remember that horse, he was so good.

[Ugly Mare]

be interesting to see Finsceal Beo over 10f, but what a race to try it out on. The trouble with Irish Gr. 1’s is it’s general failure to attract runners from France, you hardly ever see any these days over there.
I think taking the race over the last few years, it’s a worthy Group 1 though, even if it’s a disappointing turnout this year.

[Author]

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