Day 12, Level 1: (Saturday 20th June 2020) Market, racing, IPPF colleagues, and top jocks

Lovely morning. Warm temperature.

Went to Matakana Market late morning. Got a fluke park nearby (not easy). 

Was surprised, market not too busy. Upon talking to a market stallholder I know, it appears it was seething earlier. Lots of stalls had sold out. He was pretty much sold out (delicious honey). 

It's always that fine line between going earlier or later to the market. Never know which is going to be best. Not being an earlybird, I tend to go later, which is kinda ideal - the rabble has been and gone.

I did get a few bits of produce, bread, fresh eggs and whatnot, although stalls were very low on stock.

The market is a lovely riverside setting and there is always live music which is very cool, easy to watch and listen to. Today was a duo - from South America I suspect. Laid back and lovely. 

 

I watched the duo for a while and then wandered around and browsed the shops - I haven't done that for a very long time. 

Today is the first - and long-awaited - gallops racing meeting to be held in NZ post-Covid lockdown - at Counties (Pukekohe), south of Auckland. Obviously I wasn't on course - but I decided to call into the local Sports Bar in Matakana to watch a race or two. Ended up linking up with a few racing enthusiasts from the area who are often there when I've called in in the past, and we've kinda got to know each other through racing banter and passion. I don't even know these guys' names, but I know them. Thing is, our names don't matter - it's the horses' names that do, haha! 

We were chatting away and exchanging race-talk and tips and insights ... great fun. If you like that sort of thing. Which I do! I stayed rather longer than intended. 

Back home at Omaha I got a roast pork dinner under way - including Yorkshire Puddings (a story there, about trying to locate my preferred recipe, easier said than done!). Pottered about in nice new kitchen as the night closed in; very enjoyable. 

Brett arrived up around 7pm after his game of golf back in Auckland. 

Oh, there's nothing better than roast kumara! And the Yorkshire Puds were yummy!

Brett heads for bed (yawn), I head for the computer to do some work; put on some cool music. 

Enjoyed a lovely chat with friend Lyn in Dorset - with her dog Smartie popping in and out of things - looking very smart having been freshly clipped and groomed. We catch up regularly via Facetime - but wish we could catch up in person more. Haven't done too badly over the years - but not sure when/where next catch up might be ... We used to work together in London at IPPF.

Here's a photo of the IPPF Europe Region team in 1989 that I came across ... 

OMG, this was 31 years ago ...!

Lyn 2nd from left, me on right.
On far left - Hannah Eno (Brian Eno's daughter).
Between Lyn and I is Angela Spinelli, lovely Italian colleague.
We were a productive team back in the 1980s. And we had lots of fun!

LUNCH: Croissant - just plain, that's perfect!

DINNER: Roast pork with kumara, pumpkin, potato, broccoli, carrots - AND Yorkshire Puddings!

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Jockeys ...

We watched a young jockey called Callum Jones win two races. He also came second in another. This was his first race-day riding. Go Callum! 

I think we may have a new up-and-coming James McDonald (top international jockey) in the ranks! I remember feeling/thinking the same when I first saw James ride back in 2007 when he started out - he couldn't stop winning! James rode one of my horses for a win as a young 15yo apprentice in 2008. 

James is now based in Sydney, rides for the top stables, has ridden for the Queen at Ascot, ridden all round the world - and comes back to ride in NZ every so often. He's magic in the saddle. Jockey extraordinaire. (We know his dad!) 

You heard it here first - I think Callum Jones (17yo) may have similar magic within ... it's a long and difficult road to be a top world-class jockey but I think young Callum may have what it takes.

The athleticism, strength (mind and body), discipline and gumption required to ride racing thoroughbreds cannot be under-estimated.  

The best jockeys come from a family of talented jockeys. It's in the breeding. 

Breeding is also the basis of a great thoroughbred - racehorses are bred to want to run fast and beat their competitors. And I can guarantee that a thoroughbred who doesn't want to be a racehorse, won't run fast. It will come last, and last again ... and then be retired - and go off to be a nice hack or dressage horse. It does not go off to become dogmeat or jimbos!

Go Callum - you can ride! I'll be watching your progress up the jockey ranks!

And James - you're a real racing legend!