The Randwick Spring Racing Carnival is in full swing. Mountains will be climbed, especially The Everest.
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All a racegoer could wish for. Prize-money fit for a king. The fastest thoroughbreds in the land. Jockeys, the cream of the crop. Fashions only Aussie ladies parade the best. A racecourse that would attract a keen billiard player.
But something is missing. A 29-year-old born to ride won't be seen in the saddling enclosure.
Ty Angland.
My spring carnival won't be the same without him. The most perfectly balanced rider I have ever seen and I've seen plenty.
On November 25 last year Angland fell from a horse, ironically names Go Beauty Go. As the speedster left the gates she stumbled, sending Angland barrelling to the Sha Tin turf.
Angland didn't budge. We feared the worst. Our fears were soon allayed when Chinese doctors declared he would never mount a horse again.
A quadriplegic. His only ride for the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
I first spotted Angland riding at Randwick when he was an apprentice back in 2006. It was the year he was voted Apprentice of the Year, a whopping 127 winners, no less.
The balance, the poise, the vigour, the whip skills and the nerve stamped him the best under-21 rider in Australia.
I phoned Max Presnell, racing editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and a former colleague at The Sun newspaper.
Me being a Rugby League writer trying to convince Max that young Ty was the next best thing!
However, as time wore on, Max often reminded me of the calls I had made to him singing Ty's praises.
I have always had an affection for horse racing and used to marvel at the exploits of such masters as Neville Sellwood, George Moore, Billy Cook, Jack Thompson, Roy Higgins and in more recent times Hugh Bowman and James McDonald.
Angland rode as well as any of them. He reminded me so much of "Nifty" Neville Sellwood.
A total of 995 winners, 11 Group Ones.
His wife Erin, children Alexis, Addison and Rylan still have their husband and dad. I have lost my very favourite jockey.
I hope you can all back a winner over the glamourous Sprint Carnival. I won't be having a bet. It won't be the same without Ty Angland.
Australian racing has never endured a bigger loss.