Friday, July 28, 2017

Harbinger of Spring and Bingo update


Talya & Bingo curled up together on Talya’s bed

You might think from the above photo that the relationship between the resident cats has improved, but you would be wrong. It’s very rare to see the two of them in such close proximity and fortunately I managed to get photographic proof that such a state of harmony is possible. Note that neither cat is touching the other, a slight gap separates them,  otherwise it would be a different story.

Bingo is now eight months old and just as mischievous as ever, interested in everything we do. He’s been helping pack boxes for the move and would love to lend a paw with the cooking or anything else that’s forbidden to a greedy kitten. He’s my shadow, following me around like a dog inside and outside and my little mate when I’m reading in bed.

He loves food and will eat anything. As mentioned before he doesn’t mind eating zucchini and devours four large zucchinis a week. Unfortunately he has also decided  that dried cat food is edible, but we don’t feed him any and he only gets what he can steal from Talya who is fed a small amount of the stuff as a snack when she’s begging for a handout. She refuses to eat zucchini or any other vegetable, whereas Bingo is fond of broccoli as well as zucchini and eats it with relish.

As winter drags on I’m pleased that the new racing season is almost here.  The old season goes out with the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow, which I am looking forward to attending.  Lankan Rupee, one of my favourite racehorses, is one of the contestants. He has been out of action since last spring, his last races being on Caulfield Cup Day and at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day where he finished third and fourth respectively.

stalls_lankan rupee 1
Lankan Rupee in his stall at Caulfield 2016

Lankan Rupee was named the top sprinter in the 2013/2014 racing year, but has been below his best at more recent outings, injury of one sort or another putting him out of action for lengthy periods. He’s now a rising eight year old and is not expected to win first up in the Bletchingly Stakes, though it wouldn’t be all that much of a surprise if he did win.

He faces 12 other rivals, four others, like him, resuming after a break. Supido, who recently won the John Monash Stakes, is obviously the one to beat. Others in the picture are Keen Array, Dayton Grey, Chocolate Holic, Ability, Duke of Brunswick and sole filly Savanna Amour.

As it’s forecast to be 19° C in Melbourne  tomorrow, it will pleasant to be trackside again, though I’ll take my time getting there as the feature race is scheduled as Race 8, later in the afternoon. 

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