Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

'Winning at the Melbourne Cup has always been a dream' M.J. Payne Watching the race from the rails  'Once the Melbourne Cup starts it is hard to explain,  it is not like any other race... Watching the presentation of the Jockeys from Members Then at the 300m I thought, I don't think anything can beat me now' M.J. Payne Flemington magic Our Melbourne Cup morning starts at the iconic downtown Windsor Hotel. We enter the lobby and are offered a glass of champagne . Mr Wren starts to explain we are not hotel guests ' Sir, you are in the Windsor now' he is told. Hats off to that service! Table display in the foyer at the Windsor Hotel along with my hat! 'The race that stops the nation' and catapults one Michelle Payne  into the limelight  as the first female jockey to win the Cup, is six hours away. Our breakfast with friends at the Windsor Hotel is lovely and relaxed. It would have been a ve...

I'm done chasing summers! Time to regroup, reconnect with family, friends and life back in Australia. Of course he remembered me. His little heart beating so strong and his tail wagging so fast, he was practically in orbit! Here he is, the Crazy Poodle, slightly more unkempt than when I left but still as adoring as ever! Mind you, I've noticed some new habits that have crept in whilst I was off on my wanderings... He seems to have forgotten all manners,  to upgrade himself at every opportunity in my absence. Seeking out any elusive sunshine  on the once forbidden spots  like the lounge sofas .   Or abandoning his doggy day bed in the garden,  for the strictly ' off limits for dogs ' garden chairs. Just a few ways he let's me know  he's not impressed by my gallivanting. But I'm obviously going  to have to lay down the law  BIG time to get him back on track! It's been ra...

With the footy Grand Final behind us  Melbourne turns her attention, with a nod of a stylish fascinator, to the start of the  Victorian   Spring Racing Carnival. Today was the Thousand Guineas, one of the big horse races of the season, but I didn't go. I am hatless  and we are horseless ! For the past five years   we have enjoyed life at the races as a bit part Owner. We never had more than a hoof and a tail... Twelve months ago  our horse  was even entered for  the Caulfield Thousand Guineas  at one point. What a difference a year makes! Today are at home watching the race on the television. The crazy poodle goes bananas barking at the horses. He had an unfortunate experience as a youngster when he  disgraced himself with excitement  originally over a chicken on the run, but the whole moment turned completely sour when he realised he also had the attention of ...

It's the first race of the season and Geez Louise, how exciting to be at Moonee Valley... ...we rather like it here!   Moonee Valley Racing Club is one of four Melbourne metropolitan racetracks. ( Woo hoo pinching ourselves! The aim was to have a share in a horse that could run in the city. Here we are rocking up to our third Melbourne racecourse, having watched our Little Miss Hussy win as a two year old at Sandown and Caulfield .) We arrive to be waved into an owners car parking space in the middle of the course. From here, it's a short totter, for those in heels, up a surprisingly grand entrance, lined with huge galloping winners into Members. I mean let's be honest Valley (as the locals call it) does not have the cachet as Flemington or Caulfield, but we love how easy everything is here, plus the staff are super friendly...   The lady at the Raceday Office tells us, 'Oh yes, we already have quite a few owners for your horse... Here are...

It's shoes on, let's go!  As our Little Miss Hussey returns to work for the first Barrier Trial since her recent hols... Following her last run at Morphettville , our Miss Hussy has been on her hols. It was always going to be just a quick spell enjoying some rich grazing, winter sun on her back, and a well earned rest. Time and preparation for the Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival doesn't allow for any more than a three week break at this stage. Our lass has a big schedule ahead of her, but if all goes to plan, she'll get a longer break over the summer months before the autumn racing season.   Barrier Trial at Cranbourne Training Complex There is no doubt we are an extremely keen and interested group of owners. There can't be many other horses present with such a big fan club at a barrier trial. Today we have come from all over Melbourne, to catch up on her news, to see how she has developed over winter and to watch her in action... For less than a...