Owner of the Month for November was Lee Yialas for Serenely Discreet, Lee’s partner Bill Lianos sent us this application. I would like to nominate Lee Yialas for owner of the month for Serenely Discreet’s win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold stakes at Flemington.  The Manifold has been a great race for the lime green syndicate as we have now won the race three times – So Gorgeous in 2000, Maybe Discreet in 2012 and now Serenely Discreet in 2016. Serenely Discreet was bred by David Peacock and is the first foal of the black type winner I’m Discreet who won 7 races and $325,000 in stake money. I’m Discreet (by Elusive Quality out of She’s Discreet) was originally trained by Richard Jolly but after being banned from racing in Adelaide for her barrier manners, she went to Shane Bottomley (well known horse whisperer in Victoria). Shane got her back on track and she went on to win at Flemington under the guidance of Russell Cameron. Serenely Discreet (by Exceed and Excel) showed her ability as a Two year-old winning her first race at Morphettville then running fourth in a listed race where she went shin sore. After a break she came back as a three-year-old winning first up at Morphettville on the road to the VRC Oaks as her main spring goal. At her next run over 1400 at Caulfield she was blocked for a run the whole length of the straight with Luke Nolen copping huge criticism for his ride. Social media can be very cruel with one tweet saying  “Even Stevie Wonder could have found a way through Luke”. Nevertheless we took it on the chin and Serenely Discreet showed her true ability at her next start coming from last in the Edward Manifold over 1600 at Flemington to storm home to win easily by 1.25 lengths. The highs and lows of racehorse ownership are what makes all owners such a tough breed as we found out when Serenely Discreet injured herself in the stable which eventually resulted in us having to abort the rest of her Spring campaign. She is on the road to recovery and hopefully will be back for our Adelaide carnival in May. The Lime Green syndicate to which Bill refers is of course the syndicates associated with David Peacock’s horses which race most of the females carrying the Discreet name. Serenely Discreet is one of the latest of these horses having now won at 3 of her 5 starts and already earned over $200,000. Serenely Discreet’s grand dam (She’s Discreet) produced 3 stakes winners, I’m Discreet, Forever Discreet and Very Discreet. The Discreet line emanates from the mighty Don’t Say Halo mare – Halo Again who left 5 stakes winners amongst her seven live foals. When interviewed on 5RPH recently Bill acknowledged that the best of the breed are mainly female, with only the odd male showing the class of the breed. Halo Again has indeed created a dynasty of discretion with almost all of the female progeny carrying the word “discreet” in their names. I have laughingly suggested to Bill that maybe they should name one more “Not Another Discreet”. The breed has been very successful and there is every reason to expect more wins in the future for Serenely Discreet and her relatives.