It has been a relatively easy week. The tempo of the quarantine facilities is far calmer than the busy stable at home where 15 to 20 of us exercise as a group each morning. Here I work with my galloping companion, Sea King. We normally walk for half an hour before going for a canter, although last Thursday we did some fast work over 1600m and I will do the same today (Wednesday) before getting on the plane to travel to Melbourne.
The trip to Melbourne will take about 30 hours and I travel in a wide, comfortable stall. I will stand all the way. I’ll have plenty of food and water and a vet will be on hand should I get nervous or air sick. I believe that rarely happens when horses are flying.
The good news from Melbourne is that Blake Shinn will ride me in the Cox Plate. No doubt he will gallop me at Werribee beforehand and when I get to have a look around Moonee Valley, a week or so before the Cox Plate.
Docklands
We are thrilled to secure @blake_shinn to don the OTI silks in the @CoxPlate on October 26 @TheValley – he is booked to ride the @H_Eustace trained Docklands. pic.twitter.com/pUEOuiJqNA
— OTI Racing (@OTIRacing) September 23, 2024