Friday 29 June 2012

Melbourne-perth-adelaide-Melbourne!

Well hey guys, I'm over in Perth with a friend Rhian Rodgers!!!!! She's welsh...she's my buddy from my home town! I flew over last night and I'm planning of going to see ascot races and see how things are done over here. Peter and I planned that I'm going to fly back to Adelaide to a yard over there, I'm going to stay there for a week and work. Hopefully ride out maybe I'm really exited to see how different things are done there! Chat soon! I'm spending loads of money:-( but it's all good fun and I'm learning!

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Feeling weak!!

Hey guys, sorry it's been a while! It's Thursday 28th of june!! Nothing exiting has happend really, only that black caviar is still unbeaten!!! Well done girl...well done team! It was rather close but take nothing away from the mare!!! True champion! We had a great night- was a long night- but was well worth it! Myself and few friends went out to the city Saturday night!! Food,drinks...few more drinks watched the mare win then few more drinks...:-) was a heavy one but I think we deserved it! I stayed over flemington sat and Sunday night! Was great! Work has been the same really, nothing major to report! Was up the tower Tuesday helping clocking again and watched the trials! Few horses been turned out in the paddock after their trials for a short break, few more came in!! Wednesday I went to the races at caulfield where we had 8 runners, we had a nice winner in the first and few placings along the way! We had lovely lunch in the owners and trainers!! Peter and tony still haven't returned from England, but I'm sure they will be back soon!! Luke Nolan was back yesterday and rode the winner! Thursday I felt weak and tired! I rode 5 this morning. Things didn't go my way this morning. I was tired and feeling weak as it was and then I rode grace which Ive ridden before and found her a nice ride, but today she took off with me, I couldn't hold one side of her! I was cross with myself that she got the better of me. But what could I do I tried to hold her. Anyway she was ok and so was I after I got my breath back. ( bet your all laughing) ha ha!! Another horse got wound up and started playing up because we had to wait for a few to finish galloping on the grass before we could cross it! It wasn't too bad, he just got exited and wanted to get on with his work!! He's actually a nice ride! Then my third wanted company but I was on my own with her, not ideal but I survived!! I just had to keep kicking! My fault I suppose I didn't have a stick! I was glad to ride my last one let me tell you. I then went up the tower to watch a few work and we had a horse schooling, he was schooling for the first time. Joe was riding him, he's a very good, quiet and experienced rider! He walked him over few tyres first then he jumped the baby hurdles before going up the shoot to jump the proper hurdles! After a while he was very good at it. It's just to sharpen him up. He's running on sat/sun I think!! You remember the filly I like...beach! Well she ran on Monday and came second not beaten far at all!! She will win races for sure! The jockey said she's still green! ( babyish ) Rip the guys that's sadly lost their lives back home. Thinking of all their families! Very sad!! Chat soon! Bed time!!!

Friday 22 June 2012

Ascot 2012 black caviar- will she win??

Hey guys- it's Saturday morning 23rd of June! The day has come!! Ascot!!!! Black caviar!!! Hope she goes and wins.....easy!!!!! It's 9.30 and I'm home from work. Another good day! We got done early, 8.45! Its very cold this morning but no need to complain because the rain stayed away! But it did rain during the night!! I was up the tower this morning with Tom clocking the horses! The track is in bad condition due to the amount of rain wev had this week! As a result to this we couldn't really work the horses like Pete would like them to be worked! Tom changed the work to make it safer for the horse and rider! Anyway 4am came and up the tower with our binocularS and stop watches! The workers had to work on the 'A' sand this morning instead of the visco! I'd never clocked from the A sand before, all the markers were different and they were further away from us! Ment it was harder to see the riders and the markers! After a few I fingered it out- I was away!! They all worked good. Some of the riders get they're times smack on!!! Some work should take a minute and this young lad does it every time! He's only young and he wants to be a jockey! Hopefully he will read this and will be a happy lad!! Few of the new babies that came in yesterday we're a little keen this morning- different track and different place! We did have one rider fall off, but he was ok and the horse didn't gallop off which was good. Just a little fresh! Soon after the last pair finished we walked back to the yard. Gemma had made 25 cupcakes last night and brought them in for us- very kind of her. Then next thing Marie and dani had been to the shop to get me a green tea and a chocolate brownie!!!! My fav!!! That's really kind of them, such nice people and good team of people too! I went and swept the whole yard and we all finished early! I'm now home going to chill out for the day and hopefully sleep because black caviar is running tonight (our time ) at 12.45am!!!!! There is a big party happening in Melbourne city centre tonight- at federation square! I can't wait! I'm going with few friends meeting at 7 ish and there's free food and free drinks for us!! Hopefully I'll make her race:-)!!!! really kind of Lisa to ask me to join them tonight! Where I'm staying they don't have a tv!!!!! Strange so I couldn't watch it at home, great excuse to go out!!:-) But it should be a great atmosphere tonight. There will be thousands of people watching her tonight! Come on nelly!!!! Hope the rain stays away!! Oh yes, yesterday I rode 5 nice horses from 4-6.30 and then I went with Peter Courtney in the lorry picking horses up from the water farm and taking one colt to a pre training yard to have a spell out on grass and the other 5 back to caulfield!!! It was another intresting day- meeting new people and seeing different yards! He took me on a detour to see few studs- I saw darley stud, very impressive!!! So much money involved in horse over here!!! We got back to the yard at caulfield at 2pm where I went home and went shopping!:-) Right guys- chat soon !!!

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Horrible weather!!

I was woken up at 2am by the rain- it was hammering it down! I was hoping it would stop by 3.30 but no.....it's still raining at its 10am!!! Anyway mucked out a few and rode out 5 this morning! I rode blue- she's new to me, never riden her before, nice filly! My second horse was beach, when I got back in from riding blue she was waiting for me at the tie ups! Beach is feeling well at the min, which is great I think she's due to race soon!! Hope she wins:-) Fred was my third horse- I really don't get on with this colt- I'm not sure why but I dont think I should ride him! I did tell Tom that we didn't get on..... He said I could see that! Ha ha he was obviously watching through his binoculars! Brim was my 4th horse, I'd never riden him either! He was lovely! We went on our own in the heavy rain- he was good as gold! My final one was big bear... I like him too! He's so big and really playful! He would buck and kick out! No harm in him though! Soon after I finished I changed my clothes and ran up the tower to see Tom. I watched one school over hurdles this morning! Joe was riding him, he jumped well! They only school them to sharpen them up a little bit! I'm sure they said he's running on Saturday! Will be intresting to see how he goes! Then back to the yard and I went sweeping in the rain! Got wet again! We were done early this morning! 8.40!! Ideal back home in the dry!! I'm reading Paul nicolls autobiography at the min, I can't stop reading it! It's very good! Chat soon!

Monday 18 June 2012

Righto..........!!!!!!

3.30 start this morning again, it's getting colder!!! I need to go and buy warmer clothes!!!its a Tuesday, which means its a work day and the trials!! Busy busy busy!! I mucked out 2 boxes and then I had the call to go up the tower!! I had to do some clocking this morning because the boss Peter and Jeff the racing manager have gone to England and I was helping Tom out! The morning flew by. All the horses worked well, everybody was happy! Great result! I clocked a few, but I also had to clock two pairs that weren't that far apart!! Had two stop watches....!!:-) its not that difficult really once you get the hang of it! I'm still stressing- when you've got 4/5 pairs working and you need to clock them all! We did miss a few but never mind- not the end of the world! I got taking to the new English girl this morning, she's been there a week. Natalie I think here name is- she use to work for Nikky Richards! She's now working for Moody! She's got her year visa! We had 21 in the trials this morning! There was 8 trials! A few were my having a soft educational trial while some were having a hard one to see where they're at, fitness wise! I hear them talking up the tower saying that caulfields horses are all very fit. I'm not sure why they would be fitter than flemingtons horses! We did have a few on the vets list this morning! Scope, trot up, bloods!! off to bed now before going back to work! I'm off out tonight with friends to chapel street! Lovely place! Need my sleep! Night guys! X

Sunday 17 June 2012

Great weekend!

Hey there !! Sorry I've taken so long to write this but I've been busy! I have to think now what I've been up too the last week though. We had a great weekend, Peter is over in Newmarket at the min but the yard is still going strong even though he's thousands of miles away! Tom and I went to flemington on Saturday after a busy morning with 7 runners, out of the 7 runners we had 3 winners and few placings which was great! We had three races with two runners ! We also had a winner in Adelaide-Fred!!! The 7 runners at flemington were: flamberge, king krovanh, storm burst, club command and dayita. It was busy enough really, but it was worth it when we had the results! Soon after the races we left. I went home to get ready to go and meet few friends. We went for a really nice meal and then went to watch the rugby game!! It was a really good day/evening till the last minute of the game when we lost! Gutted!! Never mind! Last tuesday I didn't ride I went up to the tower with Peter which was really good! He gave me the chance to clock few horses and explained a lot to me. I felt like I'd learnt a lot that morning! Wednesday I was riding, I rode 5 I think. It's nice to do different things now and again! On Wednesday night I went to the cinema with friends, it was a great night. Really enjoying it out here. Everyone is kind, helpful and pleasure to be with. I do miss home but you soon get into a routine and get on with it after being away for certain amount of time! Thursday I had a busy day leading the horses out for the ponies! That's non stop for three hours! Walking, swimming, walking, picking feet out, walking, washing off! But at least the time goes quick! I rode 5 nice ones Friday, I flew though them because once I finished working them Nelia was there ready with the next horse. That's all I had to do was jump on and work them. Ideal!! I rode bear, I'm sure I've mentioned him before, he's a big colt. He's so big and playfull! He was trying to get me off by bucking and twisting. It was fun, there's no harm in his playing. He's well in himself! But now he's moved down to B barn, I'm not sure why that is. Must be a reason. I also went racing on Tuesday, to sandown! We had three runners. Grace won and we also had a third in the same race. Great day! Saturday I didn't ride because it's a work day and I like to go up to the tower to see them work and clock them! It's intresting seeing them work against each other. I also try and listen and watch the other trainers that are up there. I'd love to be a fly on the wall up the tower everyday! It's all men and they do make me laugh, they apologies sometimes because of what they say! I don't mind:-)! I find it really intresting! I was dressing a horse the other day and I didn't like the look of his leg! I got Tom to check it, he didn't like it either so he out him down on the vet list for 8.30 that morning. Well it wasn't a good news once the vet saw him. She's now gone. She will need 12 months off! This weekend they started clipping the horses. The guy clipped 10 on Saturday. Once they are clipped they go for a bath with anti fungal shampoo and get a hooded rug put on! Keep them nice and warm!:-) Monday morning was a busy morning, I rode 5 this morning, 5 nice ones, grace was my first horse, she won last week. Nice filly. She trotted around the warm up sand 2 times and then we went onto the A sand and trotted half way around and then cantered 1 1/2 times around. She was relaxed and didn't take too much grip! My second horse was Winnie, never ridden her before. She done the same, nice ride when she settled. A horse came cantering past us which wound her up a little! Beach was my third, I think shes my favourite....big white face and big ears!! I can't wait for her to run, she was suppose to run on Friday but her blood wasn't right. Crop was next, I like her too but she hangs real bad to the left. They do know about it. My last one was spirit , he's nice too but gets exited now and again passing horses. I took him for a swim after his gallop. Then back on the yard to dress some horses! We finished at 8.50 this morning. Great mornings work. Now I'm sat at home eating my breakfast! Iv been keeping up to date with nelly over in Newmarket, hope you guys have too. She looks well and keen to get on with things. Luke had a great boost on Saturday ridding a double at flemington before flying to England! I hope she wins and comes home safe and sound! True champion ! Pete is very happy with her and I'm sure tony and paddy have done a great job over there whilst Pete was here, but now the A team are all together. She's going for a nice gallop tomorrow! I'm not sure where I'll watch her race yet, I might go into the square in the city where they've got a massive screen up for all her followers!! It should be a great night!! Right- chat soon! I'll put some pictures up on Facebook now too:-) xx

Sunday 10 June 2012

My birthday!!

Bank holiday Monday Morning all, I've just come home from being out for breakfast with a friend. It was lovely! I'm sat at home now with Kay, Kay was with me in school and he's over in Australia for a year! He drove from Perth to Melbourne last week and got to me on satureday! We met up and went for dinner and went to watch the rugby, not a good result as we lost!! But we had a good night. It's great to meet up with someone I know and be able to speak welsh!! This morning I mucked out and then I went up to the tower with mr moody, I told them I wanted to go and spend some time With the boss before he goes to England!! It was great. It was a quiet morning, we couldnt see much because the fog was so bad! I had all morning to pick with his brain, ask him loads of things! I probably annoyed him but if you don't ask you don't know!! He's a great man to be involved with, he's so so funny! He got us all laughing this morning. Teasing and messing around. I was with him from 4-8.30 after that we went to both yards to see if everything was in order. We had a great weekend, three big winners!!! He's broken his record of group ones in a season. He's had 10 and he's won the group one championship !! I told him we should have a party....!!!! few horses didn't run so well....so this morning they are going out to the paddock for a break! Big movements happening this afternoon, horses moving around everywhere because loads has gone out!! back to wrk at 2-4 to swim a few and then I don't know what's happening later! Might go out for dinner as its my birthday:-) Chat soon!!

Saturday 9 June 2012

My first time riding a yearling !

Hey guys, black caviar and the team are on their way to England!! It's all exiting, she had more bags than the queen I recon!! Hope they get there safe and sound and I really hope she goes and wins!! Good luck team. The days are the same here, work as usual, this morning Tom was in charge, the boss is away up brisbourne and tony has gone to England! I rode 7 this morning and I rode a yearling which was nice, very green and very babyish as you can imaging! Emma was with me on another yearling and they were working upsides! They done a piece of work and was timed!! We had to ride leg long and encourage them along, they didn't really know what to do. But they will stay in training for about 4 weeks then they will be turned away, out in the paddock to develope and come back in for a proper training! They've been in caulfield a week, they came from a pre training yard where they were there for 3weeks. The filly I was riding was very very big for a yearling - she had big bone and was around 16.3h!! Hope she sticks training being so big! Yesterday I went to flemington racecourse- its very nice, I was impressed!! We had three runners but no winners! It was very cold by the end of the day! We sat in the weighing room between our races, they have a room for trainers, with free drink all day and free food. I don't think they get this in England. I know they have an owners and trainers bar in England. Another thing Ive learnt that if a horse needs a bandage on his leg because it's got a cut or an old scar they need to sow the bandage with needle and thread!! ( I'm not sure if I've put this in a blog before!!) just to be sure it doesn't come off during the race! It's my birthday next Monday so I'm going to go and watch Wales v Australia rugby in Melbourne! Can't wait! The game is on the 16th of June! Weve had a filly that won last week taken to the vets clinic because her back leg had blown up real bad day after she ran and she had four jabs of antibiotics but it's not made any difference! I would be keen to go to the clinic to see what goes on there. Chat soon ! Need a kip!

Sunday 3 June 2012

Wet Monday morning!

Hey guys, it's 10.30 and I'm home just having breakfast! We were late this morning! The rain woke me up at 2am and it didn't stop raining till 7.30 ish!!! Not so good! I got up at 3 and had my morning chat with Ben on my way to work. I mucked nelly ( black caviar) and zippy this morning and then I went to tack my first horse up. Non slip, towel, pad, saddle, girth and over girth and picked her feet out. Non slip and towels get washed everyday and the girths get washed in the machine once a week. All the gear is looked after well! The Washing machine doesn't stop, between all the towels and rugs it's on all day everyday!! I rode 7 this morning: Needles Lethal Crop Beach Club Bear and Stranger!! I was busy enough, needles was a little keen and she throws her head around a little bit, lethal is a bus of a ride, really nice, big galloping stride! Crop is a lovely mare, hangs a little left but a really nice ride keeps her head down and she's nicely on the bit. Beach is very temperamental but I seem to be getting on fine with her. She's actually really nice, tony did comment about how well we get on,which was nice of him. I rode her Saturday too! Club is nice, he's the lad that's on my profile picture on my Facebook. He won week last Saturday! Bear was a little monkey, he's a big colt and he's full of excitement!! He tried to get me off four times this morning, just being fresh!!it was all good, I kept laugh at him. It was good to see him happy!! Last of all stranger, he was nice too, he only gone 1 1/2 on the A sand where as all the others trotted 2/3 times on the trotting/warm up sand before going out on the A sand to do either 1 and 1/2 or just one full circle!! I need to find out how long the A sand is!! Think it's 1600 or 1800 meters! I could be wrong. After every work we go back onto the trotting sand to cool off, I think this has a lot to do how relaxed Moody's horses are after work, because the learn to chill/relax on the trotting sand before walking home. I see few other trainers horses going home straight after they gallop and they are really buzzy walking home! This took me till 8 am- then I dressed 5/6 horses before I helped the vet do a few X-rays! I love helping the vet and asking loads of questions! Never stop learning!! Once all the horses were dressed and rugged up we all swept up and went around putting mud on all the horses from the knees down! But at 2pm all the mud will have to get washed off for them to go swimming! We were a little late this morning because 5 people had today off. Everybody has a day and half off a week! But it normally falls on one weekend and then the other day will be during the week! But toms as always given me sat pm and Sunday off! Tom is in charge of the days off!! I saw Peter for about 10 min today, he was busy up the tower and then he went into the office!! The tracks are very well looked after! They're in good condition.....I think there's around 800-900 horses galloping on it everyday!! And 400-600 horses swimming everyday! Moody would have 100 horses at caulfield and nearly all of them would swim twice a day! I might have a sleep before work this afternoon! Chat soon guys!

Staff tree

Peter moody(trainer) Tony haydon (assistant) Tom brideoake( 2nd assistant) Jeff o'connor ( racing manager) Donna ( foreman) Justin( foreman ) Venessa ( foreman) Nick ( foreman) Neil ( feedman) Nick and George (2/3 feed men) Peter Courtney ( 1st driver) Mark, Vanessa and Tom ( 2nd drivers) marni Kelly, Sarah moody and Emma loftus ( office work) Luke nolen jockey Linda meech jockey Jake jockey Daniel jockey Jason bembow jockey Murray pony rider Paul pony rider Mark pony rider. track riders: paddy, dave, joe, copper, emma, lisa, marie, gemma, slim, show, justin, bones, natalie.....me!! there is a few others but they are either on holiday or up in the other yards!

Friday 1 June 2012

One month gone!!!

Hey guys, sorry for not keeping up to date everyday, I've been busy, if I'm not working, eating, sleeping I'm out:-)! Anyway, it's Saturday the 2nd of June ( where has that month gone) and I'm ready to go racing. It's a mixed card today so that should be intresting. I haven't seen any jump racing in Australia before. Today I rode 5 horses, few nice ones but I had a horrible one too....!! Keen!! But what didn't help was its a Saturday which means its a work morning for most yards, including us. There's about 15 trainers training at caulfield..!? Horses everywhere, when I was working on the inside track there's horses working both sides of me!! Going flat out!! No wonder the horses get keen. They want to go flat out too! Anyway it was all ok in the end, didn't like it at the time! Yesterday I went over to the stalls where they have a jump out, they were babies that hadn't run before so they weren't too sure. We had 7 in total just for them to get use to jumping out and working to the line! I had a go, I walked 2 into the stalls, then before I had chance to go under,tony shouted 'ready'......!?!?! I screamed 'hang on' but he was only joking. I soon ran out of the way! I noticed a lame horse last night after swimming, so I went to the office to get tony to check him. It was intresting what he said and done. He was questioning me which was good, then he showed me few things. He's very good at his job, tony has been working for Pete from the start! 15 years I'm sure. Thursday afternoon, paddy and I went to the zoo after morning stables. Paddy is black caviars rider, he always rides her unless Luke is it! We got the train and made a day of it, it was good. I love seeing all the animals but I did think majority of them looked unhappy!, We went into the city on the way home and went into the casino to see what that was like. It's massive!! Unreal! Soon after we went back to chapel street for a few drinks before heading back home. I enjoyed it! We've had a load of winners since the weekend and few placings. Always running well but if they don't they go! Remember the horse I took racing Monday.....?? He didn't run very good, well he's gone! And his box was filled up within hours! Right, I'm off to the races! Got the weekend off so I'm off to flemington tonight to stay with friends! Chat soon!