HOT off the Press

Parade at the Ekka
(Patria Jannides)

Yes, even though he’s in Australia the boss is sending through articles for the blog. His judging experience was a very memorable and stimulating one and he reports that it was a valuable experience which he considers a privilege to have been part of. “The Royal Queensland Show is up there with the best in the world” he said.

He reported there were over 190 entries in the Thoroughbred classes alone and the “EkkA” is the biggest Thoroughbred show in the world. Among the talented people he shared the day with was fellow judge, Her Royal Highness Princess Teresa de Borbon of Spain (world expert on Arabian horses), who judged the non-Thoroughbred classes.

The Chief Steward was David Chester (CEO of Magic Millions) who was especially magnanimous in his praise of Summerhill as one of the world’s great breeding institutions, and for its ambassadorial role in international breeding and racing. Other luminaries were Terry Spargo, one of racing’s best known voices who called the World Cup in Dubai last year, and Bart Sinclair, Australia’s leading racing journalist and a celebrated international raconteur.

Ironically, the horse which won the Champion Thoroughbred Gelding, was a grey, Argentinian-bred son of Ringaro, by the name of Karacola. This horse once raced for Geoff Woodruff in South Africa, and made his way to Australia via a racing career in Hong Kong, where he raced for Tony Millard.