Melboure (Saturday)

I was amazed last night, just how good it felt to be in Melbourne. I was so sick of Melbourne when I left, so happy to get away from the city, but driving into the city yesterday, it almost felt like home. It was so good to drive familiar roads, to not have to be constantly checking the map to see where I have to go. And I suddenly had a new appreciation for how pretty the city is at night..
Today Des and I went to Caulfield to the races. I though we had decided to go to Pakenham, so I was a bit confused when he started driving off into the suburbs. At least I had put on a nice top, or i would have been a bit under dressed. I had a great day, catching up with people I hadn't seen for a few months.
I did a talk last year to the first year apprentice jockeys about being an elite athlete, and looking after your body. One of the kids I spoke to then, Jake, was riding yesterday. It was good to know that he remembered me and my talk, and that I had made some kind of impact. Jake's a great kid. The first time I met him, I thought he was carrying his dad's gear- he only looks like he is twelve... I had to google him before I believed Des he was a rider!
Walter McShane is a trainer from Tassie who has had a couple of runners in Melbourne over the last few months. He had a runner in yesterday again, so it was good to see him again.
After the last race, Des introduced me to another couple of people on the way out, one of which was Peter The Trainer. After we left the races, I found out Peter The Trainer, was Peter Moody!! Blasted Des!! I had only been thinking half an our before that of all the people Des has introduced me too, Peter Moody wasn't one of them. Then when I did, I completely missed the opportunity to pick his brain!! Devastated!
Des introduced me to another trainer earlier in the day with the line, 'between him and Bart Cummings, they have won thirteen Melbourne Cups. (For those of you who missed that, Bart Cummings has won thirteen Melbourne Cups by himself). I did pick up on that one..
After the races we went to see friend of Des's, then we went and met up with Walter and some of his family at Zagame's, which was really good.
Again, I was impressed with how pretty the city is.....
Well, that's it for me today...