CHAPTER THIRTY
The Cumberland's arrived at Shangri La. They meet with Graham Harper, Bob Fields and Winston Blake standing under the trees adjacent to the stables next to the dam. Lindy could the late blooming roses on the breeze, she would never forget it. Lindy tried to explain but became upset, her father finished the story. Bob Fields was devastated but Harper and Blake picked it up and ran with it.
Graham gave Lindy a hug looking down at the top of her head as she sobbed her face buried in his chest. "So now Flaxmead has two jockeys I hope," said Graham.
Lindy looked up at him her pretty bloodshot eyes told a story. "What do you mean," she asked as she gathered herself.
"Flaxmead needs a second rider, what if you were sick. We don't have one at the moment. No need to be so upset about a good idea," added Graham.
"Agreed," said Winston. "Commendable character from an exemplary girl might I add. Both ride but keep this Lorraine I think you said one step ahead and everyone's happy."
Lindy stopped crying and cracked a smile "Wow I thought I'd be in trouble."
"Lorraine Wills," said Graham. "That's a curly one, leading female jockey in the state. Rides a lot for Taggart and Delores the smiling assassin. They won't take to this to kindly, let's see what she thinks. You better handle this Winston I'm liable to get a bit emotional,"
"You have a contact for her?" asked Winston. Graham fiddled with his phone then handed it to Winston. Winston punched in the displayed number, a women's voice answered after a few rings.
"Hello Lorraine speaking."
"Lorraine Wills?" asked Winston.
"Yes."
"Lorraine this is Winston Blake manager of some of Graham Harpers affairs including the horse Flaxmead."
"Oh my goodness really."
"To get to the point Lorraine we have been talking about a second rider for Flaxmead for sometime and Lindy has suggested you would be interested."
"Oh my god, let me sit down, oh goodness. Me ride Flaxmead when?"
"The Chairman's Handicap."
"Oh my goodness its next weekend. I have two rides there already, I need to speak to Lindy first, can I get back to you."
"No need she's right here."
Lindy took the phone. "Hi Lorraine."
"Lindy what are you doing you'll loose your points lead for the apprentices premiership, maybe the premiership."
"You ride Flaxmead I have plenty more years. I want you to get that job, I'm worried about you."
"Lindy you give me a ride on Flaxmead and you give me everything I ever wanted."
"If you don't ride him I'll quit and you'll have to. You remember when I was being sick around the back of the stables at my first ride."
Lorraine laughed. "Yes I remember, I wondered what the noise was and took a look. You reminded me of my first ride."
"If you hadn't of calmed me down I don't know what I would have done. It's me you've given everything."
"Tell Mr Blake I'll ride."
"Here you tell him and I'll see you soon." She handed the phone to Blake.
"Winston here."
"Ill ride Winston, if you've nominated Lindy as jockey this weekend we have a problem."
Winston asked Graham. "Is Lindy nominated jockey this weekend."
"Yes she is," said Graham.
"I'm sick and can't ride," added Lindy.
Winston studied Grahams face, he smiled looked positive and nodded at Winston.
Winston put the phone back to his ear. "Lindy is nominated but she's sick and can't ride."
Lorraine chuckled away. "A likely story but that'll work."
"I'll present a change of jockey to the stewards due to Lindy's illness. We may need a doctor's certificate so get sick."
"Okay so it's a deal Lorraine, you ride Flaxmead in the Chairman's Handicap and any subsequent races such as the Sydney Cup."
"The Sydney Cup wow, I've never won anything like that in my life. Thank you very much Mr Blake."
"Just keep in mind that Flaxmead's destiny is the Melbourne Cup."
"Oh my goodness what a thing to land in my lap."
"All the idea of Miss Cumberland Lorraine."
"She's too nice to achieve her real potential, plus the weight of her brother."
"Everything's under control Lorraine, I'm well aware that Lindy needs a cattle prod at times to convince her she can."
"Guys would be falling over themselves to ride Flaxmead, why me and Lindy."
"That's a very long story Lorraine, one day you'll find out. I will meet you at the weekend."
"Yes and thank you so much, bye."
"Bye Lorraine." Winston disconnected. "One thing, I wonder if Flaxmead will take to this."
"If Lindy and Lorraine were standing with their backs to you the only thing that would give Lindy away is her long hair," stated Graham. "They even weigh about the same, their voices are similar and they are both stubborn and considerate. Lorraine Wills is a fantastic jockey, hell love her."
Lindy and her mother were talking to Anna and Dylan explaining things to them and from a distance the laughter could be heard resonating among the stable buildings. Winston noticed two elderly gentlemen walking from the car park between the vines towards them. "Well I never, Wilson Hornswaddle and Bartholomew Fothrington." He looked at Bob and Graham with a fun filled smile. "You're just about to meet two very different people, just be a bit open minded if you can."
Wilson and Bartholomew walked briskly up to Winston and shacking one hand each. "Winston my good man, sorry to drop in unannounced but we were in the area and thought wed drop in," said Wilson.
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world actually," added Bartholomew.
"Feel free to drop in anytime you do own the place," replied Winston.
"Where are these children must meet them," said Bartholomew.
"In the stable area," said Winton.
Wilson and Bartholomew looked around, "You've done a grand job here Winston, we need to talk to you directly after we meet the children.
Winston introduced Bob, Graham and the Cumberland's. Wilson and Bartholomew spoke with them for a while before talking with Anna and Dylan at length outside Flaxmead's stable.
"This damn thing's going to turn them on their ear over the next few weeks Anna, what do you think of that," said Wilson standing between the children looking at Flaxmead's head protruding from the stable over the lower half of the door.
"If there going to run faster than Flaxmead they will have to be on their feet, you can't run very fast on your ear," replied Dylan.
"Ha ha ha," Wilson and Bartholomew laughed out loud. "You can't beat children you know Wilson, I should have had a hundred but these will do fine," said Bartholomew.
Winston watched and listened to the eccentric pair, every time he saw them they came further out of their shells. "Now Anna and Dylan, been grand meeting you and cant wait to see you at the weekend if you're going to the races. If not we shall return. Now we have to see Winston about some things then be off."
Winston accompanied Wilson and Bartholomew to his Shangri La office. The ageing statesmen were quite spritely for their age walking the distance with ease taking in the surroundings and commenting on the views. There ever present chauffer Elderslie dressed in jeans, R M Williams boots and denim shirt came to say hello. Enjoying a quiet cup of tea in the lunch room of the wine complex he had the air of a son to the pair rather than an employee as he fussed around them.
"Were only a few years older than you Winston but feeling younger every day. My mind has written a few cheques my body had problems cashing but I understood the process. Found it similar to having a client in the banking industry write a cheque with insufficient funds to cover it. You get away with it at times but it creeps up on you," said Wilson.
"We witnessed a ridiculous pastime in New Zealand last week, Elderslie did a bungy jump, tied elastic to his ankles and jumped from a bridge dipping his head in a river over a hundred yards below. Elderslie thought it was wonderful, I did
n't see what he got out of it. Suicide for the indecisive if ask me," stated Bartholomew.
Winston continued to chuckle with his eyes closed at times. "It's wonderful to see you guys enjoying life," he replied.
"Guys, you've picked up the lingo Winston," laughed Wilson.
"Yes, I hadn't noticed."
"Now, this wine business is booming, we have a couple of boutique wines we would like you to sort out. Botrytis you've heard of it?" asked Wilson.
"Noble rot, a fungus, grows on mature grapes in certain conditions happens round here on many grape varieties. The fruit can be used to make dessert wines." replied Winston.
"Exactly, we flogged some of the old stock in Ireland and they loved it. Expense seemed to be no barrier, can you foster more of this stuff in the future it's impressed the aristocracy. Enough to be a flagship product something to talk about that's a bit different," asked Bartholomew.
"Mmm, I don't know much about it, I'll talk to the winemakers, Loudbark produce a small quantity so I'll see what we can do," replied Winston.
"We tried a wine in Piedmont Italy, Nebbiolo winter wine very different. Now, we bought acreage in Queensland from an Australian gentleman attending a wine festival at the time with a host of these vines on it. They can be picked latter in the year well past traditional harvest time round here. You can then have the grapes picked and transported here for processing decreasing the time the processing plant stands idle. Due to the time it's harvested the grapes are totally unique producing an individual product, another rare flagship wine for us to mingle with the more commercial bulk Semillon, Shiraz, Pinot and Chardonnay," stated Wilson.
"Well you've certainly been doing some groundwork, I'll have to look into the logistics of caring for and moving these grapes," commented Winston.
"Logistics, you're the best Winston. Without you we wouldn't think of tackling it," added Bartholomew.
"I'll get onto it, sound ideas. You must be doing a lot of reading," asked Winston.
"It's that damn aeroplane, we seem to learn more and get more done while in the air than any other time. No distractions Winston," added Wilson.
"Mmm, okay. I gather you will be at Randwick to see Flaxmead run in the Chairman's Handicap,"
"Oh yes my good man, hell have them hoping now. Wouldn't miss it for the world. I recently read of a horse called 'Jorrocks' from round here born in 1833. Part Arab spent his early life as a stock horse didn't race until he was eight. He would often walk two hundred miles from track to track. At Maitland one year he ran and was victorious on four consecutive days. At fifteen he ran ten times and won on every occasion, didn't retire until he was fifteen. He was known as "the iron gelding". Reminded me of Flaxmead a once in a lifetime horse. Now it's the time of the hunter valley thunderbolt," quoted Bartholomew.
"Anything on Rose Winston," asked Wilson.
"Not as yet, all this focus helps me go on. Every time I see or smell the roses amongst the vines I am reminded. I'm still running with the plan I left England with," replied Winston.
"Something will come up Winston, your faith will be rewarded. A good meal before we head off will go down well." Hinted Wilson. "We're off to South Western Australia, got a lead on some horses and a winery all in one at a bargain price."
"Yeah I could do with a feed myself, I'll take you for a steak just down the road from here," replied Winston.
"Could do with a feed, pick up anymore of the lingo Winston and we won't understand a word you say. When you go back to Bristol you'll stand out like a duck in a chicken run."