Royale Harvest runs out of luck.

After winning three straight at Ascot, Royale Harvest was brought back to earth with a thud on Saturday.

What I considered to be a very winnable race on Saturday, turned out to be a nightmare for smart mare Royale Harvest on Saturday. From the time the horses got to the barriers on Saturday, things started to go wrong.

The race was ten minutes late starting with three unruly mares playing up badly and helping to delay the start. All three have a poor record with their barrier manners and it seems unfair that well educated horses have to stand in the barriers for extra time while these horses continue to hold up starts. Especially in BLACK TYPE races.

After jumping well from an awkward barrier, the mare could not go the early pace of the race as was expected. What I did not expect however was the intense pressure throughout the race dished out by a few other horses and riders who all seemed as though they wanted to be in the same spot. As we all know, eight into five does not go and something had to give.

After racing tightly for the first 800m of the race and being continually buffeted about, "Heidi" eventually said "enough is enough!"

The mare has received a number of cuts and knocks to the legs which will require treatment and hopefully everything settles quickly with her.

She will have a few easy days while we let her get over the race day trauma's.

More little things to think about!

Just when you thought it was safe to read only racing stories on this site, here I go again.

Youth is when you are always hunting greener pastures. Middle age is when you can barely mow the one you've got!

Wise men talk because they have something to say.

Fools talk because they have to say something. (Plato)

You are getting old when you don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go.

The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong but that's the way to bet!

The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in opportunity. (Sir Winston Churchill)

Three down. Four to go.

Royale Harvest makes it three out of three this campaign but she still has a bit of work to do over the coming weeks.



Royale Harvest is eased down on the line by rider Daniel Staeck as she completes a winning hat trick. She looks all class.

Who's a happy girl then?

If ever you needed proof about how happy a winner can make you feel, check out the look on Angie's face.

Secret Vault is led back to scale by a very happy couple of part owners, Angie and Illias Kartsioukas.

Dive at the line.

There is only one place to be in front. Right here!!

Secret Vault dives at the line to get up to win in the last stride at her first race start. It was another typical cool heart stopping ride by the "fish". This won't be her last win!

Which way do you want me to go?

"Heidi" knows where to go. After all she has been here before. Not so for syndicate member Grant (yeah yeah) Devitt and partner Marie who adds some real colour and glamour to the day!

Three out of three and still on the up.

Royale Harvest is on a roll.

Four years old mare Royale Harvest showed by her win yesterday just how far she has come in the past six months. After winning just one race, a Bunbury maiden in her previous eleven starts, Royale Harvest has gone on to win her last three starts in a row, all at Ascot.

Royale Harvest has stepped up from mid week company at her last two starts to take on Saturday company yesterday and win in emphatic style. The mare was ridden for the first time by Daniel Staeck, who rode a very clever race to land the prize.

The plan was to sit just off the pace and hopefully not get caught three deep from her bad barrier. As is the case on most occasions, the jockey has the final say to override instructions. That is exactly what Daniel did yesterday after Royale Harvest jumped quickly and crossed the field in a stride to be on the fence after 75 meters.

Daniel didn't panic and also didn't allow others to dictate to him during the race, rating the mare along superbly. When asked for an effort in the straight the mare sprinted strongly to win in great style. She will now step up to race against the open class mares over the next month or so but I am confident she will hold her own.

On the downside, Dion who rode the mare to her first two wins receiving a suspension on her along the way, had to watch from the stands as his girl was out there winning well. He is looking forward to getting back on board!!

The Secret Is Out!

There is certainly no secret about this young lady anymore.

SECRET VAULT showed by her powerful first up performance yesterday that she is a filly to follow over the coming months of two year old racing.

Secret Vault was having her first race start and was taking on a fairly good field of young horses including some trial winners and some raced placegetters. After landing in a forward position just off the pace, Secret Vault dug very deep in the straight to wear down the favourite in the last stride.

The way the filly finished off her race suggests that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the top two year old races of the autumn. Her main opposition may come from inside the stables!!!

She isn't very big but boy can she run!

La Coureuse.... French for "the flirt" or "the runner" appears to be very well named.

Flying filly La Coureuse looks the part as she cruises to an easy win at Ascot when making her debut performance. There should be many more.

(Photo courtesy of Hollands Photographics.)

La Coureuse all the way!

Brilliant start for flying filly.

Two year old debutant filly La Coureuse showed she could be a star in the making with a brilliant all the way win at Ascot yesterday. The filly was coming off a 600m trial at Belmont only five days earlier when ridden by my son Dion, however a suspension received on Cup Day prevented him taking the ride yesterday. We were lucky to gain the services of a guy called Paul Harvey who did a great job steering the filly to an easy win.

La Coureuse was a cheap purchase at the Magic Millions second sale and the way she won yesterday suggests that there are many more wins in store for her. The filly is a half sister to promising 3yo, Egomaniac however I am confident that she will not live in his shadow for very long.

The filly is likely to have one more run before she has a short spell or she may go straight to the paddock so that she can get a few extra weeks spelling before a campaign aimed at the Magic Millions 2yo race then on to the Karrakatta Plate. The filly looks to have a very bright future.

The 'Royale" lead in

Royale Harvest, "Diamond Dion" and Amelia Park Club member Shirley Piper all look very pleased with themselves after the great win.


I'm not sure what Dion has just whispered in Shirley's ear but they both look very happy with the result. Dion never misses the chance to impress, especially when it comes to the young ladies!!

All four off the ground.

When I say that this mare is "flying", I mean it!

Royale Harvest shows just how easy her last win was as she sprints to the line on Cup day with all four feet off the ground.

I have to say that even though I expected her to win yesterday, the ease and authority of Royale Harvest's win had to be seen to be believed. Racing second up off a six day break is not the norm for me to do with my horses. Royale Harvest however gave every indication that her first up win was little more than a trial for her and I was confident that she would be improved by the run.

The mare is starting to show the form that we expected of her last preparation and providing she can remain sound ,there looks like being many more wins in store for her. I will toss up between a Saturday race with her next start or perhaps one more midweek run before taking on the Saturday company.

On the down side to the race, Dion was suspended for twelve days for causing interference early in the race and may not be available to ride her at her next outing. There is no doubting his desire to win!!!

Royale Harvest for Cup Day.

Royale Harvest to be given a chance to make it two from two.

When the going gets tough, the tough fly down the outside and blow away the opposition with a finishing burst rarely seen in this company. Another ten out of ten ride by Dion!! (Photo courtesy of Hollands Photographics)

Check out the score board!!!

It was all pretty easy really appears to be what Dion is thinking.



Royale Harvest jogs back towards the enclosure after an easy first up win. The background tells the story. (Photo courtesy of Hollands Photographics.)

Go you good thing!

Royale Harvest makes a brilliant return to the track.

When the going gets tough, the tough fly down the outside and blow away the opposition with a finishing burst rarely seen in this company. Another ten out of ten ride by Dion!! (Photo courtesy of Hollands Photographics)

Royale Harvest Is Back

Promising four year old mare Royale Harvest blows away the opposition.

After having a long slow preparation, Royale Harvest showed she could be a horse to follow over the next few months with a brilliant first up win at Ascot yesterday. The mare has always shown above average ability, however being a very gross type of horse, she has taken a bit longer than usual to mature into a complete race horse.

Royale Harvest is the last horse retained by the Amelia Park Club out of the six original purchases. She was originally raced in partnership with The Keith Biggs Group and Rod Russel, however when they decided to relinquish their share, Peter Walsh was keen to keep her for stud and so purchased the other 50%. I am sure that Keith and Rod will both be pleased to see the mare go on and become a good winner for the new connections.

There was also another new name amongst the list of owners yesterday. The other name was that of a certain Ms G Robbins. For those of you not familiar with Ms Robbins, perhaps the name Grace may shed more light on the scene. That’s right. Peter gifted a share of the horse to the gorgeous lady in his life, the divine Ms Grace. If Grace proves to be a lucky owner, Peter may have to put Grace into more horses.

Meanwhile Royale Harvest has pulled up well and may go around again in another fillies and mares race on Melbourne Cup day on her way to bigger and better things during the carnival.