Paddock for Nelly.. The Pony has suffered 2 muscles tears, and severe bruising to her hindquarters during her Royal Ascot triumph last night. She has entered quarantine, and will arrive home in Australia in approximately 2 weeks, and then head to the paddock..  I was so proud watching her race.  And win.  She is my love..  My darling...

Who else on this side of the world will be staying up late to watch the Famous Pony race at Ascot tonight?  I sure as hell will be.  I usually can't keep track of where all my images are published, as their use is getting reasonably prolific, but my lovely editor, Ed, of the time honoured Owner & Breeder magazine in the UK, sent me a lovely little email saying one of my beach images was gracing the back page of The Times over there and he'd been delighted to see it.  I thought that was nice of him, as was going to the effort of scanning the back page at my request and sending it across to me.  Thanx Ed... Good luck tonight Pony.  Show them what you've got.  xxx

One more sleep.  My heart still breaks because I am not over with my Famous Pony..  But thinking of her constantly. Let her run Lukey, keep her safe and bring her home to me in one piece, but let them see how special she is.  Go Pony.....

I sat up and watched the opening race of the 2012 Royal Ascot Carnival last night.  The very first race had the unbeaten UK superhorse, Frankel, running in it.  I've never sat up and watched Frankel live before.  He was breathtaking.  He made me sit up, and think 'oh goodness' to myself (because I was the only one in the room!).  He didn't just win.. He annihilated the rest of the field, with a complete display of brilliance and arrogance, setting sail for the post with ruthless determination.   I will never be one to compare Frankel with Black Caviar, as I believe they are two totally different animals.  But if watching him has done anything, it has made me think ' Please Pete, just this once, let Lukey ride her out, let him say, let's show them what this baby can really do.  Turn her loose and ask her to run.... '  That's all I want to see now.  Even if I can't be there to photograph her in all her glory, with all her flags flying!

Dear Nelly I'm sitting here, at my new little house, home in Canberra.  I've just finished watching Australian Story.  There was lots of footage of you of course, as well as Mum and Rick out at Gilgai Farm.  I'm missing you terribly, and it's hard to be home in Canberra, instead of in England with you.  I see that Tony and Paddy are keeping the carrots up to you, and I'm pleased to see that.  I like to think I've had a little role to play in the whole " Nelly loves carrots " thing.  Sigh.. As a way of keeping myself busy, you'll probably be pleased to know that I have popped Freelance back in to work.  She's going well, and touch wood, is sound so far.  She's of course wearing her bridle, which I popped on you last August, and you looked so gorgeous in.  Heath and Jessica are well, and we talk about you, and Ascot, all the time.  They drew some gorgeous pictures of you, with Black Caviar signs, in your colours, and of course,

I remember growing up, as an avid ABBA fan, the line that a journalist once used with Agnetha, telling her she had the most famous bottom in the world.  That honour probably shifted, in the modern era to either Kylie Minogue, when at the height of her gold hot pants fame, or Beyonce Knowles. I think that there is one girl though who has just blown these beauties away in terms of interest in the famous female bottom.  And this girl is a Pony, or thoroughbred racehorse to be more precise.  She is known on this Blog as "The Famous Pony" (or "My Pony"!), or Nelly, Princess (to the Clarke's at Murchison) or purely and simply under her racing and registered name, which is Black Caviar. Mark Knight cartoon.  It is absolutely and truly v clever!

Black Magic: Black Caviar cover photograph and feature story in the highly regarded UK Racing Magazine, Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker. The online feature story: "Black Beauty"

This is the new artwork released by Arrowfield Stud.  They appreciate the value of a great image, and are a delight to work for, as are My Boys..