Flaxmead

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  For the majority of people Flaxmead had become a ray of sunshine in their lives. Scheduled to return to local races for a few meetings his entry in the JJ Liston Steaks a group two race at Flemington in Victoria some weeks away had been assured. This raised some logistic problems for Blake, Flemington was a long way away. For a meagre few, Flaxmead had become a nightmare. Unfortunately one in particular was strained beyond rationalism.

  Theo Delores, the smiling assassin, his head crashed down on his desk, he had just taken a dose of pure cocaine sucked up his nose with a hundred dollar bill rolled into a tube. He was trying to muster the strength to visit Taggart as his Wyong stable facility. He had waited for a message from someone watching the property for days, he had been up all night. He received the message Taggart had just slipped into the stable facility as he was about to get some rest. He had been up all night with Middle Eastern horse racing enthusiasts and cleverly conned them into putting a few more million into his racing operations with the assistance of a few bottles of quality bourbon. He planned to use a million to get the casinos off his back and the rest to continue his plans for the Melbourne cup. He hadn't been able to find Taggart for some time and couldn't let the opportunity pass him by. The drug entered his cardio vascular system and he became wide eyed and focused, euphoria gripped his feelings and he climbed in his BMW and darted off to Wyong.

  The gates at the stable complex were open with no guard, a rear entrance was open to back streets on the opposite side of the complex. Taggart was petrified of Stanton and feared his return, he wanted to be able to get out of the place should the need arise. The assassin jerked to a stop running up the kerb in front of Taggart's office complex, he fell on the ground when he opened the door picked himself up and walked inside. Taggart had watched Delores roll up and meet him in the foyer. The place had been deserted for ages and Taggart was busy trying to get his staff to return especially his secretary. Taggart said nothing and Delores followed him to his office and slumped down on the lounge while Roy Taggart prepared him a drink.

  "You're a mess Theo,"

  The assassin's eyes were wide open and had a fixed sparkle and glaze. "Find Jimmy Cotton Roy, my horses are running backwards."

  "He's in the hunter valley somewhere; I tried to find out where he was. I sent one of my blokes to a race meeting in Newcastle and Stanton jumped him. I'm not going near the joint."

  "Stanton, I checked the bloke out. He doesn't even have a Medicare number or a passport, drivers licence, nothing. What are you worried about he doesn't exist."

  Roy handed Theo a Jack Daniels and sat behind his desk. "You keep going like you are and you'll meet him mark my words."

  "I need Jimmy Roy."

  "We've been threatening to dob him in and get him locked up for the last ten years, I think he's had enough. He's an old man Theo, how brave are we, if you want to meet a brave bloke run into Stanton."

  "Stanton, Smanton, whatever I'm sick of hearing his name from you. I've got some new friends that can sort this out, Jib Habib."

  Taggart jumped in. "Habib, are you nuts, does the name Wu Farr ring a bell."

  "Yeah, I've had dinner with him a couple of times, handy bloke to know if you have problems in the Chinese underworld."

  "He hates Habib, honour among thieves Theo. Look, get a horse that wins races or your gonna run into deeper water than you can swim in."

  "I have to find Jimmy Roy."

  "Maybe Gail knows where he is, she gets around. She's been seen with that Blake bloke who helps Harper out with his horses."

  "Harper, that's becoming a name like scratching your nails down a blackboard to me."

  "He knows horses and how to run them Theo, he's never sold cars or spent part of his life in a casino. He's a dedicated man."

  "You're staring to make me sick Roy. Gail, yeah, she might know something. I'll pay her a visit while I'm here she's only just down the road."

  "I think you better have a spell Theo, you look a bit under the weather mate."

  "Nah, I'm just starting to party Roy. You want to come to Gail's with me?"

  "Id be the last bloke Gail would want coming down her driveway, believe me."

  The assassin got up and put his hair back in place by running both his hands across his head from his forehead to the lower part of his neck. "I'll be back shortly then we'll go get Jimmy." He wandered out found his car and roared off. Taggart watched him leave on the surveillance system and got back to work mustering his staff.

  Delores skidded to a halt in Gail Flametower's driveway. He climbed out of his black BMW seven series. Gail came out of the stable to see who it was. Theo saw her and met half way across the yard between the house and stable. "Gail I'm looking for Jimmy."

  "Theo what an earth is wrong with you, you stink of liquor. Your clothes are a mess and you're unshaven. I've never seen you like this. Pull yourself together."

  "I'm looking for Jimmy Cotton."

  "So am I. So is half the racing industry. Id thought you'd know where he was."

  The assassin shook his head. "No, if I knew where he was I wouldn't be asking you would I Gail," he said reinstating his permanent but somewhat dwindling smile.

  "Ask your friend Taggart, he should know."

  "I just came from Roy's place he can't find him."

  "He may have finally had enough of you people. Persons who associate with Roy Taggart are not welcome here, so if you don't mind could you please leave."

  The assassin looked into space for a few moments and wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "If you see Jimmy tell him I need him please."

  "There was a time I thought you would change. What have you ever done for horses with you're position and money. You're blinded by self importance and greed Theo. Get out of here and don't come back."

  "I think you're husband left you because you're a bitch Gail."

  "My husband was a wonderful man, when he left no one knew he was dying of cancer least of all me. He took it far away where Jessica and I would not have to watch him die. How dare you speak of him like that. Now get out or I'll call the police!" The assassin turned around and walked away. He backed into a fence around the yard as he reversed his vehicle to leave damaging his car and the fence, he was unaware it had happened. He sped off, his car drifting sideways on the gravel surface.

  Upon his return to Taggart's he slumped down on the lounge in his office next to the bar and Taggart handed him a glass of bourbon.

  "Where is he then?" asked Roy Taggart.

  "She doesn't know, or if she does she won't tell me."

  "How is she I haven't seen her for ages?"

  The assassin seemed to drift off. "It didn't go well, I mentioned you and she asked me to leave."

  Taggart stood over the assassin. "I've asked you to keep my name out of things, whey did you do that?" The assassins head slumped to one side, he seemed to drop off to sleep. "Theo!" yelled Taggart. He grabbed his chin and held his head up straight but the assassin just groaned. He let go and the assassin slumped over to one side spilling his drink all over himself, the lounge and the floor and began to snore. "Jesus you're flaming hopeless mate."

  The assassin's opposition were applying a vastly different approach. Blake was busy organising a transit path for the float to Flemington. They had no contacts that Harper considered suitable to house Meadow and Flaxmead in Melbourne. The first trip at least would be totally facilitated with the use of the float. Flaxmead and Meadow ran at Scone, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, and Newcastle taking group two victories with ease pleasing locals with record crowds. Flaxmead continued to run down track records at Coffs Harbour and Gosford, he was running out of records to break. Celtic Storm worked out of a Sydney stable, a small concern on the edge of Sydney just below the Blue Mountains. The titans had not clashed but at a Saturday meeting two weeks away form the JJ Liston stakes had the pair run against each other again. Harper didn't think the horses would meet again until the Liston but Celtic Storm mis
sed the draw for the Blenchingly Stakes, Flaxmead had not been entered for this event although invited. Harper found it odd Celtic Storm had not been invited to run the Blenchingly Stakes; she was undefeated with six group one and two wins except the Sydney Cup where she came up against Flaxmead.

  The Canberra meeting was always a target for Flaxmead as the feature event a group two handicap over twelve hundred metres was sponsored by hunter valley wineries. Flaxmead was there to fly the flag for the valley and so was the crowd. A hoard of politicians passed by wanting a close view of the champion, parliament was in session and there were plenty of them around. Flaxmead carried top weight yet again from barrier six and Celtic Storm had drawn barrier one. Canberra's Thoroughbred Park gives horses with an inside barrier advantage over twelve hundred metre runs but Harper was not concerned. He knew Flaxmead could run Celtic Storm down over any distance anywhere. Ross Hildebrand and Graham Harper passed each other on occasions in the stable complex and nodded to each other politely without talking, the talking would be done on the track.

  Problem; Lorraine mounted Flaxmead and paraded with the other runners, Flaxmead carried on in his usual manner until he caught scent and sight of Celtic Storm. He began to act very strangely, walking behind the bay mare like a little puppy. He trotted along side her as they made there way to the barriers Flaxmead only putting on a show in front of the grandstand area, the more the crowd shouted the more he carried on. He walked aimlessly around the rear of the stalls loading last with ease. The barriers opened and Lorraine knew Flaxmead let Celtic Storm run on and tucked in behind her. At six hundred metres the pair were six length's clear out of the only turn Flaxmead running well below his normal pace heard the crowd and sensed the presence of Anna and Dylan standing on the rail surrounded by the media. He darted to the outside rail and took off like a rocket, with four hundred to go he took the lead and pulled six lengths on Celtic Storm well ahead of the rest of the field by ten lengths. Lindy Cumberland's eyes looked like daggers as she watched the bay mare in full flight take second. "Keep away from him you bitch!" shouted Lindy as she watched from the stable complex rail attending the meeting to ride Meadow, she stormed off toward the float.

  Ross Hildebrand standing next to Lindy watched the pint size dynamo storm off and cracked a wee smile as he looked back towards his horse. "Well done lassie, well get there," he mumbled.

  Lorraine looked down as Flaxmead slowed shaking her head puzzled, Flaxmead had not reached full pace at any time during the race, this was a first. Lorraine weighed in returning to the winners circle in time to find Lindy Cumberland storm into the ring and confront Flaxmead, she stood nose to nose with her hands o her hips. "What was that!?" she shouted. Flaxmead dropped his head low avoiding her gaze piercing his heart like a dagger. The ring and crowd fell silent as she continued. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." Flaxmead grunted and looked up at her. Anna and Dylan came and stood behind Lindy as she shouted. Cameras clicked everywhere. "You keep away from that bitch!" she turned around and kicked up stones from the ground looking at Anna and Dylan, swung back around, her eyes filled with fire looking Flaxmead straight in the face. "Shell break your spirit! Stop It! How will you feel if you fail Anna and Dylan?" She dropped her voice to a whisper and held Flaxmead's head in her arms whispering in his ear. "God I love you Flaxy, please don't let her do this." She walked away in tears, Flaxmead tried to follow.

  "Flaxy you have to stay here," said Jessica. Flaxmead reared up trying to go with Lindy then nodded his head up and down grunting as she walked into the crowd. Jessica frowned and looked sideways at Celtic Storm a few metres away as Flaxmead continued to play up looking a bit his old self.

  Hildebrand was on the edge of the winners circle when Lindy blew up and hung back watching. A grandly dressed woman in loud dress and overly ornate hat was next to him and commented as Lindy left the circle. "What an eccentric performance, wanting of manners I think," she said.

  Hildebrand smiled at her chuckling at the same time and looking her way. "Wanting of manners maybe, but good with horses, if those two pair up again we won't see which way they went."

  Graham Harper caught Lindy on her way through the crowd, the media were all over them. "Lindy," he caught her arm from behind and stopped her. She turned and wiped her eyes. "That's really not called for, if a horse was ever guilty of breaking another's spirit it's Flaxmead. All's fair in love and war."

  "I know you respect and are fond of Flaxy, it's different for Jessica, Anna, Dylan and I. We love him."

  "I understand that, this is a sport. I see the tactics of another trainer, another thing we have to deal with. I agree Flaxmead's spirit is being affected by another horse. If we could ask all the horses Flaxmead has demoralised they probably say bring it on."

  Lindy looked back towards the winners circle. "If that bitch keeps on with this, I'll ride Flaxy and run her down like she's never been run down before! Please excuse me Graham I'm a bit upset and have to ride Meadow." Lindy turned walked away.

  Jessica led Flaxmead to the south western end of Thoroughbred Park next to the stable complex, where a widespread grass paddock facilitated float parking. She was hosing Flaxmead down listening to the call of Lindy's ride on Flushing Meadow, a group two race over twelve hundred metres. The field went under the starter and Meadow with Lindy aboard broke from gate six late clashing with Devils Thorn and Wolf Sheppard both from the assassins stable either side of her. Lindy's left boot was dislodged from the stirrup by the glance against Devils Thorn and Meadow lost footing and stumbled trying to pull back as the two stable mate's jockeys then glanced elbows directly in front of Meadow. Lindy could not recover in time as Meadow regained footing and she fell. The race caller was the bearer of the bad news. "And the field is away Devils Thorn and Wolf Sheppard gets the jump, oh and they've clashed with Flushing Meadow half way between the pair forcing her back and Lindy Cumberland appears to have lost her stirrup, Flushing Meadow stumbling from the encounter. Oh dear and she's gone down, Lindy Cumberland has fallen. And the race has been stopped. Stewards rush to her assistance just clear of the gates by around fifty metres no one behind her luckily when she fell."

  There was a loud scream in the crowd by the finishing post "God no please!" as her mother Susan Cumberland slumped into the arms of her father Glen Cumberland. Glen handed Susan to Marie Fields standing next to them on the rail with Anna and Dylan. He cleared the rail and safety fence and headed directly across the course onto the infield and towards the staring gates. A horse mounted steward on the infield recognised Glen and raced to his assistance helping onto the back of his mount and then galloping to the scene.

  Glen slid from the horse dived under the rail and just beat a breathless Graham Harper who had run all the way from the stable complex to Lindy's side. Lindy was sitting up with the course doctor in attendance. Glen Cumberland wrapped his arms around his daughter grimacing in pain. "Thank good you're okay," said her father. "Ring Maries mobile and let Susan know Graham." Harper fumbled with his phone.

  "Bring the ambulance in, she's broken her left wrist," said the doctor. "She'll have to go straight to the hospital."

  "I use it to break my fall," whimpered Lindy. "I felt it go when I hit the ground, look I'm okay it's just my wrist."

  The doctor gave some pain relief and checked the rest of her out but she seemed okay."

  The stewards and starter met behind the stalls whilst Lindy was loaded into and ambulance. "Runner seven and runner five boxed number six in clashing and causing number six's rider to loose stirrup, the mount six stumbled clipped heavily by number seven. Sixes rider was unable to recover and fell," said the starter.

  "Exactly as I saw it," said a steward.

  "I've got the same notes," remarked a second.

  "The jockeys of mounts number seven and number five to the steward's office immediately for a hearing. That's Robby Belmont riding Wolf Sheppard and Karl Saxton riding Devils Thorn both from the Delores stables. I'll look at the video footage but l
ooked like clear interference from where I was. I'll take this to the chief steward immediately they can sort it out," stated a steward.

  Meadow stood next to Lindy making all kinds of noises and trying to get close to her. Graham led her back to the float; she was unscathed and scheduled Lorraine to ride her from the event rerun. The event was rescheduled to extra time at the end of the meet. Wolf Sheppard and Devils Thorn also fronted with different riders, jockeys Belmont and Saxton had been suspended for interference. Theo Delores was not present and a letter to attend a hearing was forwarded to him via his trainer. The assassin was busy attending the Blenchingly Stakes at Caulfield in Victoria and received the news by phone. He was furious that Lindy Cumberland had not been completely incapacitated, two of his star jockey's suspended for little outcome. The assassin was busy earning some serious money and had been having some luck. Avoiding Flushing Meadow and Flaxmead he was notching up a few wins group one and two. He also learnt to avoid Celtic Storm when possible; he had lost every encounter with Flaxmead, Flushing Meadow and Celtic Storm. He had succeeded in delaying the wolves at the door paying off a considerable sum. The time for confrontation drew closer and he worked on a plan to sideline the thunderbolt. Canberra just wasn't his meeting, in the late restart of the twelve hundred group two event that claimed Lindy, Flushing Meadow led from start to finish, Wolf Sheppard was second but couldn't catch the flying mare run down by six lengths.

  Little Lindy Cumberland was released from hospital with a cast on her writs, a hairline fracture of her left scaphoid bone, she would be out for several weeks. Her mother just short of a heart attack held silence but yearned for her daughter to stop racing. Freelance race reporter Lee Hayford along with ABC reporter Gerard Moyse followed Lindy and waited for the outcome of her hospital visit before relaying the story to media groups. Flaxmead's Canberra encounter with Celtic Storm and Lindy Cumberland's fall from Flushing Meadow graced the entire back page of every newspaper in the country.

  Kerry Snow had to work but the coal mine staff of the hunter valley had hands on updates as the day progressed. A notable inclusion to the ranks was Rutland and Wesley moving freely amongst the gathered workers from every mine, winery and horse stud in the valley enjoying the Canberra meet. They spent time with a host of people living and working next door they had never had the chance to meet before. Happy with their reinstatements and continued management at GPCC they even mixed with Wilson and Bartholomew, not a single mention of a coal mine was to be heard. Flaxmead and his expected winning margin at the Melbourne cup seemed to be the main topic.