Glad you're back and hope it was great!

Very excitng reading the plans for Soriano a few days ago (Auckland Breeders’ Stakes (is that this weekend or next?) , Captain Cook, Zabeel Classic, Herbie Dyke Stakes)!

I loved the way The Soultaker fought back to win the Murdoch Newell. I was so sure Manolo Blahniq would beat him, but he refused!

Caellum was very impressive in the Bowl.

Tavy!

And now Vavasour!

Soriano was the best of them all!

"She's an absolute... superstar.."

Yes she is! Haha that was brilliant!

That was insane!

Doesn't Authentic Paddy have such heart though? Beautiful run by Farm Boy too.

VERY nice! Good for The Auld Floozie too!

* * *

Not taking anything away from Silverdale but how unlucky was Tyne Cot? I was surprised at the run or the non-run from Oceania.

Oh and I just read your Soriano piece which I loved, of course. Nice of you to mention the really outstanding runs from both Queens Rose and Kelly O’Reilly. :)

Thanks! It's a relief to hear it wasn't too bad - I had to write that piece in about 20 minutes because we were heading to a Fleetwood Mac concert that evening!

It was really very good (and I hope you had fun)!

Will you be at Ellerslie on Saturday?

Yep! Looking forward to it. The 3yo race (Trevor Eagle Memorial) is always really good - recent winners include Ocean Park, Habibi and Rising Romance!

Wow! I recommend watching the win of Hiflyer at Te Aroha today.

Derby?

What the.. :D

It was like doing a doubletake. I just had to watch that finish three times haha cause man where did THAT even come from?! That was great!

Totally had not realized the recent winners of the Trevor Eagle Memorial. Sounds awesome!

Awww poor Platinum Witness.

Good luck to Tomorrowland on Friday and oh wow just looked at the fields at Wanganui... looks like a fun weekend. :)

Tomorrowland!

Yay!!!!! Feels like we've waited a long time now to see that but oh he remembered how to win! I am thrilled!!! :)

A nice end to Thanksgiving watching that one.

Welcome back, Natuzzi. Maybe next time. :)

Very much enjoyed your piece on Tomorrowland (and thrilled still :)) and love the way you add in things that are interesting like the last part about the sire. :) Well done once again!

Man this is getting hard to keep track of cause it's depressing.

This is Giant Turtles 4th start in HK today... I turned it off after he reared at the start.

So now he has finished 12th twice and 14th twice. Wish he'd go home.:(

http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/...no=07&lang=eng

edit - Keep forgetting to say that was some win by Alamer!

Sorry to hear that. :( Hong Kong is a very different environment. Some horses love it, while a lot of others never get comfortable. I'd like to see him come home too.

Yeah, Alamer was sensational. 60-1! Looking back through her replays, she'd been a bit unlucky in her recent races. But I never thought she could take that step and beat such a good field. She did!

Ed I realize it was never certain but there's a notice on the JRA site that Rising Romance will not run in the Arima Kinen and I was wondering if you have any idea what the plan might be for her (?). Thanks!

Finally watched Tavago (sometimes it take me a while to catch up - very nice!) and Saint Emillion (... how easy was that?). :)

I believe I am all caught up now. :o

Tavago was excellent - that's exactly the sort of performance you want to see over a mile for a horse heading towards the Derby. Exciting times. :) I'll be calling one of his trainers within the next hour, so there should be an update on the website later today.

It sounds like Rising Romance has gone out for a break - http://www.horseracing.com.au/news/n...ising-romance/

Thanks for that.

Exciting field for the Captain Cook Stakes!!! (Hoping for Soriano but oh how I love them all).

Please blow a kiss to Storming the Tower for me at Ellerslie after he wins that first race (he should!). Oooh Selfie and Strata Lady and oh...that field for the Concorde H... gotta root for Durham Town but will be thrilled for whoever wins. That is my kinda field. :)

Lest I forget, godspeed, Locket at Riccarton on Friday.

Beautiful day at Ellerslie at the moment. Can't wait for the races coming up here today!

I actually picked Salford Art in the first race - 5th in the Counties Cup last time, and this should be easier than that. But we'll see. :)

Busy day ahead, covering Trentham as well. But it should be really good racing at both venues.

Wow, Lisa Allpress. Eight days after that bad spill at Otaki, she's back and winning races again.

Sofia Rosa!

Beautiful result in the Concorde, and Julinsky Prince does it again in the Captain Cook!

Great pick with Salford Art and yes, well done covering both.

I especially loved your Julinsky Prince piece. Really fine work as usual. I did not even know / remember he had won it three years ago!

Fantastic race.What a move he made!

Authentic Paddy... what a star is right!

Oh Soriano... great run once again. Cannot be disappointed in my gutsy fav ever.

:tro:

Love her!

Stratham! Haha wasn't expecting that and VERY nice! LIked that late move by Riding Shotgun. :) I will now have to go back and watch some of his races.

Oh Durham Town.... just not his day. Well my favorite last place performance is a tie between him and Nashville and I will continue to be a huge fan of both. :)

Good luck to Amun Ra (it's been a while!) at Ellerslie on Wednesday!

Just saw your piece on Xtravagant. Very exciting!!!

Just saw the noms for the Waikato Cup (the other stakes race and the sprint as well)... cannot wait!!! :)

Yeah, that's always a great day. :)

It might be worth having a look at the Salver at Ellerslie on Sunday too. It's not a huge race, but the winner last year was some horse called Mongolian Khan.

Have much to catch up on and it will have to wait a couple more days BUT the one thing I did see when glancing at the Informant just now for all of a fraction of a second was the Natuzzi headline.

Ed... if I weren't so rushed and stressed I might be weeping right now. (A tear or two anyway... YOU Know what I mean!). How stunningly miraculous it is that he won! Some days this sport is so completely breathtaking and wonderful... these are the moments that make the sometimes horror of it all balanced out and fine!

More midweek... please let me know which was the greatest of the great race(s) of the weekend if you have time!

Yeah, it was so great to see Natuzzi do that after everything he's been through this year.

Vavasour was so brave under her big weight, and Stolen Dance is a sensation! Eight wins from 12 starts now. What a stunning horse she is.

I'm enjoying the racing at Ellerslie so far today. Hasselhoof was amazing again, Kingsman was VERY nice in the 2yo race and Gravano was really good in his race. The Salver is only an hour away now.

Thunder Down Under!

Stunning fields for Boxing Day at Ellerslie. I can't wait.

Oh wow I have only looked at Ellerslie so far and that is sensational!

(Hey it's the first time ever I have seen a horsie with my name haha). :D

Cannot quite remember... is this the swansong for Soriano?

Three more races for her - Zabeel Classic, Thorndon Mile (Jan 23), Herbie Dyke Stakes (Feb 13).

Might be a pretty good horse too - won a trial by 9 lengths!

I have no idea who's going to win the Eight Carat. For my preview in the newspaper I focused on Sofia Rosa, but I'm really not sure. Saavoya won it at 30-1 last year and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a similar longshot result here.

Oh that's awesome!

Thanks for that and for the Soriano reminder as I cannot keep such things straight.

Have not yet read the preview but am looking forward to it. Much to catch up on!

Just watched both of her trials... she looks VERY nice!

Merry Christmas, Ed. :)

Same to you. :)

I've arrived at Ellerslie and it's a beautiful day. I can't wait for this.

That was such a good win from Sacred Master.

Stunning wins by Kawi, Capella, Xtravagant, Gasoline, Seventh Up and others. But the two spills (luckily horses and riders all okay!) and the Newmarket DQ really marred the day for me and took away some of the joy.

I hope New Year's Day will be perfect.

Have only watched Kawi so far and wow... and what a ride by Leith!

Oh Soriano.... such a wonderful horse. Good Lord Authentic Paddy has such heart.

That win though... that was really spectacular.

Will watch the rest on and off throughout the day. Not looking forward to the spills but extremely happy to know all are safe.