Rain washes

HELLO, folks. Evening Press here.

I've had an up and down week and, unfortunately, most of the downs have come on the racetrack.

I didn't enjoy my run at Newcastle on Monday as the pace was too slow, which didn't suit me. Granted, I was too eager and pulled so hard I ran out of steam, but I just wanted a faster pace and maybe had I been allowed to up the tempo it might have been a different result.

Still, we learn as we live. We'll know what to do next time, which leads me onto my next low point of the week.

I was supposed to be racing again today at Thirsk, to make up for Monday's disappointment, but the good old English weather has put paid to that. The recent heavy rain not only made the ground unsuitably soft for me so that my trainer Tim withdrew me from the race but the whole day's racing today at Thirsk was abandoned, with the course waterlogged.

Never mind. At least the rain didn't completely wash out the Commonwealth Games, though there was a lot of rain in Manchester too. Haven't the Games been great?

I know what my favourite moment was - blagging my way into the City of Manchester Stadium by pretending to be two humans wearing fancy dress. I even got two seats to myself.

And what a great stadium it is. I know the athletes want it to remain an athletics venue but I for one am happy that it will become a football ground after the Games.

It will mean Manchester City have a better stadium that their neighbours and, as we horses don't get on with donkeys, anything that annoys United is a good thing.

Only kidding, Fergie. I wouldn't want you to send Rock Of Gibraltar round and sort me out.

Regards,

Evening Press

Updated: 12:20 Friday, August 02, 2002