Flying along . . .
All sorts of theories were bouncing around Twittersphere and everywhere else last week about race 1 at Forbury Park on the club's feature night of the year.
What was special about race 1, other than it being the traditional non-winners' trot to get the programme started? Well, commentator Jason Teaz called a race he'd care to forget but would be easy to remember and I was part of the story
. . . . the home straight . . .
My Wednesday was spent at a lovely winery in Kumeu, northwest of Auckland, celebrating my cousin Alana's wedding to an Aussie named Shaun. Thursday was moving along quite leisurely, until I learnt my flight from Auckland to Christchurch was delayed by half an hour, placing my transfer to my Christchurch to Dunedin flight under pressure.
This is manageable, I thought. I spoke to an Air New Zealand staff member and got my Christchurch flight to Dunedin transferred to the next flight.
Canny move, as my flight from Auckland missed the first connecting flight. That is, until the flight to Dunedin started running late and we boarded 15 minutes late. As I wander along the plane, I spot Jason - on his way back from Auckland - and have a quick chat to him.
. . . at a rate of knots
Anyway, the flight lands about 4.25pm. First race at Forbury is at 5.02pm. Tight, but we'll still make it. Jason's luggage took forever to come through, and we eventually get his bags, jump in our respective vehicles at 4.40pm or so and hit the road. From there, we went up through Corstorphine and down the hill to St Clair. In Bedford St, I pulled over and waved Jason on, knowing that in the scheme of things, the commentator is more important than the reporter.
Jason gets there, runs up the grandstand stairs [there are a few of them] and calls the race. He says the shortness of breath was soon overtaken by the panic that had set in on the drive, all adding up to a mentally spent commentator at the end of the race. So your other questionable theories can be tossed out the window, thanks.
Hitting the road
By the time you read this, I'll be on my way to Lake Rotoiti for yet another cousin's wedding - this time, Cam is getting married to Emma. I'm taking my time coming home via Nelson, the West Coast and Wanaka. If I have any moments of inspiration, I'll send through a column next week; otherwise, see you in two weeks. And never fear, Hec Anderton, I have plenty of annual leave owing.
Lazy Fiver
Once again, I proved I'm not a bookie. I thought Wild Bill would pay a lot more than $2.10 in a 13-horse field. A win will do. Hopefully, Rub Of The Green can overcome Prince Of Pops in race 4 at Alexandra Park tonight.
