 | Cannonball heading to Gai's stable
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Newsflash: Cannonball trained by the brilliant American trainer Wesley Ward arrived today at my Flemington stable. Rob, Wesley and I got to know each other when we travelled to Miami to study his training methods in December. Cannonball will be floated to Sydney so I can have a good look at him and prepare him for the G1 Newmarket. The 5yo has raced 21 times for four wins and eight placings including an eye-catching 2nd in the G1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June last year. I'm very flattered that Wesley entrusted the horse into my care. Due to the wet weather the trials at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury were both abandoned. Warwick Farm has decided to add a set of trials on Friday but I have elected to wait till Monday so the whole team can trial at their home base of Randwick. Frustrating day on Saturday; I can't stand when my horses are not racing well as I take pride in what I do but when you hit a flat spot as every stable does you just have to roll up your sleeves and get back to basics. There is absolutely no truth Blake Shinn is no longer my stable rider. TVN mentioned Blake did not ride for my stable on Saturday. I chose Chris Munce for Kontiki Park as we have had a long association and I thought he would suit the horse. Jockeys are like trainers - they can hit a flat spot and once they've worked out what they are doing wrong they just need to tune themselves and get back to basics, just like me. There seems to be a multitude of birthdays including Kate's boyfriend Luke and Tom's girlfriend Hoda. We are all going for tea starting at 5.30pm to 7pm for pre-theatre dinner. Rob and I will catch the ferry in and then get a water taxi home. Such fun as I've said once before we always feel like James Bond and his bird. Can't wait for the Pink Stiletto day! Great photo of Blake and me in the paper on Sunday. Wait till you see the next one - such a hoot.  | 
