It’s about time I introduced you the newest member of our family, Little Miss Hussy. Today we’re on the road again, but don’t worry only with hand luggage… to travel a short distance to Sandown Racing Club, a pretty racecourse 25 kms from Melbourne’s CBD.
…but before I do so, I must issue the following warning:

Horse Hazard… horses are unpredictable and powerful animals capable of causing serious injury to persons … and extreme damage to their wallets…

Little Miss Hussy kind off snuck into the family…We were on the rebound, still recovering from the last horse (see below) who had all the breeding and loads of potential…but was a crazy nutter, who never quite took the racing seriously…

The psychology behind it was they suspected he had been duffed up in the paddocks by an alpha mare as a youngster. The result of this early years trauma and bullying was that we had a horse that didn’t like to get up alongside the others, let alone pass them and win…. After three years of trying to figure him out, he was sold to new owners who, we hope have the time, patience and money to find out what makes him tick…

Somehow….we ended up with a tiny, weeny “interest” (half a tail) in a 2yo brown or black filly (female) from AUS. We called in one Sunday afternoon to meet her a couple of weekends ago at Michael Kent’s fabulous stables at Cranbourne. If you’ve never been to a racing stables you will be blown away by the facilities. I mean these horses are so well looked after. They have access to a swimming pool, and can train on the beach!

When our horse was led out we were impressed. Our stablehand was very complementary, which was encouraging as this filly already had a bit of a reputation in the yard for her pesky nature… (Here we go again…) Apparently if any horse gets too close, she kicks ’em hard…. “I like to see a bit of grit, they need to have a bit of fight in ’em”…
“Oh Ok… How is she around humans?” we ask, keeping a good distance away…. but. We needn’t have worried, she was calm as all get-out…

I’m telling you there wasn’t a calmer horse in the stalls at Sandown Racecourse today. In fact so laid back and relaxed was she, that we wondered whether we should slip her some ‘Up and Go’ energy drink…
Here she is in number 121, already drawing a crowd from the pack of excited owners, most of all we’d never met before, and all of whom had nicked off for a late lunch at the races….

As our Miss Hussy makes her way out to the starting stalls there is just enough time to pop a quick bet on… she is well down the form guide behind the bookies favourite Bella Arella, so we get decent odds of $8.5 and I treat the kids to a $5 each way bet…
It might not be Royal Ascot or Melbourne Cup but we are pleased to see the TV cameras out for that well know race… the Browns Sawdust and Shavings Handicap…

There is a hold up as a horse is checked for blood in it’s mouth and we don’t even have time for butterflies in the stomach, as the Owners gather over three rows of seats in the Members stand for the Off…

And they’re racing…. And OMG she’s coming up on the outside and double OMG SHE’ PASSING EVERYONE and treble OMG she’s actually won!!!!
There is a frenzy of owner jubilation, we’re all hugging and kissing eachother – well that’s one way of getting to know eachother…!!!

There is a mad scrum around her as she is led into the Winners enclosure, the TV Commentator interviews the trainer and jockey and we’re off to enjoy the replays in the Owners bar. It’s flash in there, party pies and ketchup all round, and a coke or a coffee…but it’s fun to watch and re-watch the replays

Now remind me, why did we go for such an incy, wincy, tiny, weeny share?
Little Wandering Wren

Location:Sandown racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria