I'm back from holiday. I would say tanned and refreshed, but I smeared sunblock on like it was going out of fashion, and I seemed to come back from the States with more ailments than I left with.
Some form of jellyfish rash (that's the best guess) on my hand and knee, and the remnants of a 24-hour illness our group picked up in Las Vegas which left us bedridden for a day or so.
Yes, my last full day in Las Vegas was spent in my Caesar's Palace hotel room, watching a marathon screening of some obscure crime documentary series called Forensic Files.
P. A. R. T. Y. time. Still, I wouldn't swap the trip for the world, and it also confirmed I have some great friends - many of whom I met during in dark, dingy flats in North Dunedin a decade or so ago.
But what have I missed while I've been away?
... it's good to be back
- The Solitaire gained some well-deserved top-level black type with her third in the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa. Couple that with her second in the Coupland's Mile in November and it's been a great year for the daughter of O'Reilly.
- The Interdominion heat in New Zealand was once again a yawnfest.
Ricky May stacked his rivals up brilliantly and pulled away from them in the straight, and as predictable as night follows day, the horse in the trail - Smolda - simply chased him up the lane. I might be impatient in giving this format some time to bed in, but please pass me the caffeine. And I don't even drink coffee.
- Franco Ledger might have not got much of a go in the Interdominion heat but the rest of his February was great with wins in the Waikouaiti and Wyndham cups. He's taking a well-earned break and we will no doubt see him defending his Hannon Memorial crown at Oamaru in September.
- Reports from Sydney suggest It's A Dundeel is looking cherry-ripe for his autumn campaign. Dare we dream of a clean sweep of his Sydney engagements?
- The guaranteed amount for the Triple Trio pool has gone up and down like Justin Beiber's behaviour in 2014. Is this really the racing industry's best answer to Lotto?
And is there anyone out there who never took a Pick6 but has jumped on board with the Triple Trio?
- And fresh off the press, the Murray Brown-trained Awesum Teddy is set to head to Western Australia after being sold to clients of the trainer of Interdominion finalist I'm Victorious through bloodstock agents Knight Exports.
He's won 10 of his 25 starts and is likely to team up with Perth trainer Michael Brennan after he heads to Tim Butt's stable with a view to competing in the Harness Jewels before travelling to his new home.
Lazy Fiver
It was that long ago that I had to look it up, but Better Not Knowing was scratched three weeks ago. The $10 quoted for Sovereignty yesterday seemed too good to be true, so throw a couple each way on him in race 5 at Alexandra Park tonight.
