Appreciate that.
It's a hard day here in NZ today. We're only a country of 4 million, so 65 is a horrific loss. We're really feeling it today.
Probably like the most countries look at their biggest cities, the rest of NZ has a bit of a negative attitude towards Auckland and thinks we don't really care about the rest of the country. But from what I saw on the streets today, we really do. All our flags are at half-mast. You usually hear loud conversations and laughter in all directions, but there's a weird silence today. A lot of people have their heads down.
And we're at the other end of the country. It must be so much worse in Christchurch itself.
I've seen so many great races there - Tell A Tale, Katie Lee's two G1s in a week, and also Jimmy and King's Rose just last November. It's like a second home. And all the people there have always been so nice. Luckily all my friends there are unhurt.
What really makes it seem real is this sad sight.
This is/was one of NZ's most famous and beautiful buildings.
Here it is now.
I hope the great people of the wonderful city of Christchurch pull through this. We're all thinking of them, around NZ and the world.
Sorry that was so long. Just needed to get that off my chest.
I was going to start a big preview of the Derby this week with contender profiles, but I might leave that until the weekend.