by Brian Cain
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
In the late afternoon Bob Field's inspected the stabling facilities at Shangri La with Blake impressed with the attention to detail. A state of the art facility nestled in gum trees by a dam in a gully in full sight of the winery complex of both Shangri La and Loudbark, the complex having sleeping quarters with a kitchen and bathroom that could house four when pushed. Bob arranged a visit for Graham Harper to discuss finer details after a race meeting on Friday, Flaxmead was in preparation and Harper would have more time after the race. If Flaxmead was successful they may leave him at Shangri La after the race to avoid attention as it was anticipated things would get worse. Transporting him the few kilometres back to the Field and Harper properties for training and race preparation was thought to be no problem. Bob Fields asked about access for Dylan and Anna but Blake had already anticipated the question. He assured him they were welcome any time as long as they stuck to the horse complex and avoided getting tangled up in any harvesting machinery should it be around. Blake then showed Bob something that he had not noticed, over the back of the winery under the Broken Back range a small but flat running surface some half a kilometre long and two hundred metres wide accessed through the vine rows. The odd gum and wattle tree studded the area but the surface was sound level and regularly cut, it was the only flat area to be found on either of the properties and perfect for Anna and Dylan to ride around. Bob Fields was sold on the idea and left with a pending visit with Harper on Friday afternoon.
It was a Friday meeting at Muswellbrook turf club, attendance was far above normal patronage possibly a record for a weekday meet. By the media interest and attention paid to horse number three in race six the draw card was obvious. Flaxmead ridden by little Lindy Cumberland, a class one race restricted to horses that have not won more than one race on the flat, the race distance was two thousand metres. Flaxmead again carried top weight from barrier three the horse was two to one favourite. Kerry Snow and the Greedy Piggy Creek mob had been joined by several other coal mine personnel from throughout the valley most attending their first meeting. Late heavy betting on Flaxmead saw the odds drop to seven to five. A contingent of staff from Shangri La and Loudbark mingled with the crowd and the atmosphere lifted as Lindy Cumberland struggled to keep Flaxmead in line as he headed for the barriers from the muster area with the nine other mounts in the race. They loaded the stalls came under the starter and with a mass of vocal support the outcome was as predicted. Flaxmead carried little Lindy Cumberland to their second unchallenged win leading from start to finish. A course record Muswellbrook for two thousand metres and a possible world record. Flaxmead was stabled after weigh in and the media went mad, they had found a sleeping giant that sold newspapers. A tidy sum was offered for the first pictures of Flaxmead with the two children who owned the pet, things became very difficult the media waited outside the Fields residence. Local police sergeant Trevor Plod was forced to apply some tactics derived from the secret squirrel club to maintain order. However the waiting throng saw neither children nor horse.
Flaxmead had been loaded into a small float acquired by Bob Fields towed behind his four wheel drive and taken to Shangri La via an alternate route with Lindy Cumberland. Harpers truck float returned to his property past the waiting media and well wishers but it was empty. The gathered throng began to disperse once they realised they had been duped. Harper had parked the truck in full view and walked directly to his house, Lindy Cumberland and Flaxmead were nowhere to be seen.
Bob Fields made his way up the Shangri La winery access road creeping along the dirt track leading down to the stabling facility. Lindy Cumberland unloaded the black stallion using the wash down pad before stabling Flaxmead. Once Anna and Dylan got home from school Harper picked them up on his way to Shangri La. Winston Blake meet Harper at the winery car park and directed him to the facility along the dirt track through the vines. Harper was impressed after looking round the stabling complex made up of mainly simple transportable buildings neatly clad with timber bark slats. This gave it an old settlers appeal blending into the gum studded creek line and adjacent dam, cattle roaming the winery came to see what all the fuss was about.
Blake and Harper walked down to beside the dam standing by the water. "This is surprising," remarked Harper to Blake. "This facility was put in for horses the new owners deal with I hear."
"Yes," replied Blake. "We could hold three or four here as you can see."
"Bobs next door of a day and the holding yard although not real big is fine. The only problem I see with the running area below the range is it's out of sight we would need someone here to supervise while he ran the paddock of a day. The kids will probably come in of an evening and weekend," said Harper.
"It's Friday Bob and the kids can stay the weekend make sure things are okay. Can the girl Lindy look after the area full time?" asked Blake.
"It's a good idea but Lindy is not old enough to have a drivers licence and has duties in Scone track riding not to mention weekend race meetings from four in the morning Saturday and Sunday. You understand the position the horse is in, the less people know of this the better," stated Harper.
"You want to keep it in the family so to speak?" asked Blake.
Harper thought for a few seconds rubbing his chin. "I need to find a female strapper that can be trusted to mind him. I know of a couple but they're terrible gossip merchants, would be a toss op on weather to tell them or a reporter from the Sydney Morning Herald."
Blake chuckled then had an idea. "The owners of this place Wilson Hornswaddle and Bartholomew Fothrington have moved horses through Sydney we used a girl not far from here to help us out seemed to be fairly reliable. You may know her Jessica Flametower."
Harper looked at Blake in surprise. "Gail Flametower's daughter?"
"Yes her mothers name is Gail."
"From Freeman's waterhole?"
"Yes."
"What's your opinion of them?" asked Harper.
"Outstanding horse people, Jessica is fine with a bit of supervision, she has a drives licence."
Harper was hesitant. "Jessica Flametower is excellent with horses I can guarantee that, her mother was one of the leading trainers in the country. This is a delicate subject; perhaps you could explain the situation better than I could. Gail would hold me at arms length but if you're already on first names."
"Can you meet me here at six tomorrow evening and I'll see what I can do. No point in beating around the bush, I can see the situation and don't think this will work unless we can arrange something with someone reliable."
Harper nodded with a look of concentration. "I know of a horse that looks a bit like Flaxmead at a distance, I know the owner well and I'll get it stabled at my place that'll keep them thinking. Try it for a couple of weeks see what happens. I'll see you here tomorrow I can't see Gail Flametower parting with Jessica so I'll keep thinking and share sleepovers with Bob till we find someone."
"Could be surprised Gail and Jessica may jump at it if I explain things the right way." They walked back up the hill towards the stabling area where Dylan and Anna had made their selves at home. They had saddled Flaxmead for a walk to the open paddock below the Broken Back Range thorough the vines. They were far to busy to be concerned about anything else as they both sat on the horse and were led away by Lindy and their father.
