Daily Starters - All Yearling Competitions

There is so much behind a horse's first start, so much planning and passion... which is why today is a massive day for us and our fellow breeders and owners of Auclert who debuts at Pakenham this evening.

Years ago I was lucky enough to make a trip to the Epsom Derby; have only been witness to one running of that Classic but it happened to be the wonderful High Chaparral who a few years later I had the privilege of photographing at Coolmore; gorgeous boy!

Also lucky years ago to be at the Sydney Easter sales watching

Paul Moroney

and

Gavin Beever

at work, a stunning filly from the final crop of Grand Lodge catching their eye... and so I became a tiny part owner of Deraismes who we cheered home to two city wins and a stakes placing.

Fast forward a bit and Deraismes' breeders Tim & Brian Kelly have her back in their care and invite me to check out her daughter by Dylan Thomas... she was at Merlin Park, a plain little thing but as a storm brewed she started to run around and wow could this girl move, we were hooked!

A filly with a terrific turn of foot, we called her The French House and it was a happy group that cheered her onto a Kilmore maiden victory. Twice very unlucky fifths in Listed company before injuring a tendon, she went cheaply through the sales ring and I could not resist!

Some lovely people - including

Nick Lovett

,

Patrick Hines

,

Ryan Butters

,

Amanda Nemaric

and

Felicity Hawker

- joined us on this breeding journey which kicked off with

Adam Sangster

kindly arranging a foal share to Swettenham's very handsome Toronado, son of High Chaparral.

With her stand-out bling, little Maisie was not the foal we were expecting and she has been quite the red-head over the past few years! But the patience of

Rebecca Waymouth

has seen her develop both mentally and physically and on the back of a lovely jump-out at Sandown last week she makes her debut at Pakenham this evening.

I have had a lot of fun with the names with this family - Deraismes (Grand Lodge - Assertive Lady) was named after Marie Deraismes, a renowned feminist who was the first female leader of a grand lodge.

The French House is by Dylan Thomas and that Soho pub was his favourite watering hole; he once famously left there, after one drunken session, his manuscript for Under Milk Wood.

And then we come to tonight's debutant Auclert, named after Marie Deraismes' friend and contemporary Herbertine Auclert.

There is a similar long journey behind every first starter and this one is a pretty special one for us - best of luck to all our fellow owners, go Maisie!