By Request?

I’m interested in hearing from regular readers (and there must be a few of you because in just over a year I’ve had 30,500 hits on this site). I would like to know if there are any topics on which you would particularly like me to write a blog post. I think it’s a symptom of the fact that I am doing half my usual university study load this semester, and would like to take advantage of the extra time to perhaps write a few short blog posts on up to 5 requested topics.

Please use the comments box to add your (genuine) suggestions. If you are reading this on facebook.com, please follow the provided link to the WordPress Blog and add your comments there.

Suggested topics might include:

– Australian culture.

– Thoroughbred horse pedigrees (maybe there’s a particular horse you’re interested in and want to know a bit about its family). Australian horses preferred.

– Christianity and Apologetics. Have you got any questions about a particular area of apologetics? I may be able to dig up some information for you (as an interested layperson).

– Art! This is primarily an art blog, so I should probably write on art at least once in a while!

– Maybe you have some suggested ideas for my RedBubble Online Store and Gallery, where I sell some of my art designs as t-shirts and art prints.

– Vegetarianism. Do you have any questions about vegetarianism?

– Environmentalism issues.

– Books! I read a lot of books… so I might have some suggested reading ideas for you.

I really hope my readers can help me with this! Be creative.  🙂

Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival Race 2 Bloodstock Musings

As I write, the Flemington Melbourne Cup Day racing is on the tv in the background. I have always had a soft spot for Thoroughbreds, and while it’s been less frequent in the recent past, I spent a lot of time during the last decade studying the bloodlines of Australian Thoroughbred Horses. The best location for this is the Australian Thoroughbred Studbook.

I’m not particularly interested in gambling, nor in the inane vanity of the fashions and ‘celebrities’ that make up the between-race chatter. But the bloodlines of certain Australian lines of horses have been of interest to me – especially those of Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Standardbred lines. Perhaps its just convenient that each of these breeds are involved in racing! More information available, you see! And they’re beautiful creatures, that does help.

I looked up the winners of the previous two races just out of curiosity. Watching the horses in the mounting yard before Race 2, the mare Origami Miss caught my eye. Lean, beautiful, lovely walking action. I tipped her as one of the two horses most likely to win the 1700 m – which she did. After that I announced that I absolutely must check out her pedigree for more information. An animal that beautiful must be from a quality family, right?! Her immediate family does throw up some significant and high quality names.

ORIGAMI MISS, Winner Race 1700 m handicap, Flemington, Victoria, Australia – Tuesday, 4 November 2008.

Origami Miss (AUS) 2004 is by Helissio (FR b. h. 1993) out of Royal Isolt (AUS ch. m. 1998), by Royal Academy (USA b. h. 1987). Helissio is by Fairy King (USA b. h. 1982) from Helice (USA 1988). He is an attractive 16.2hh stallion who won several Group 1 and 2 races in France during his racing career, as well as a place in the Japan Cup, Tokyo.

Helissio‘s sire is Fairy King (by Northern Dancer [CAN 1961] from Fairy Bridge [USA 1975], by Bold Reason [USA 1968]. Interestingly about Fairy King, he is a full brother to the legendary Sadler’s Wells (USA b. h. 1981) whose progeny are extremely successful in top class European racing. Sadler’s Wells is a horseracing icon, with his great success at racing and stud. His daughter Playful Act set an astounding world record price for a Thoroughbred broodmare, sold for USD$10.5 million at the 2007 November Keeneland breeding stock sale.

References (all accessed 4 November 2008):
Australian Stud Book
http://www.studbook.org.au/

Racing Victoria Limited
http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/rvl/

Stud Information on Helissio:
http://www.scarvagh.com/horses/stallions/helissio/

All-Breed Database
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/fairy+king

Coolmore Stud
http://www.coolmore.com/stallions/ireland/sadlers_wells/

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadler%27s_Wells_(horse)

New.Bloodhorse.Com
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/41904.htm?id=41904