Toni the Maldive Lady
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A Mahir Didi' 
RACEHORSE The Maldive Lady

Didi is Visha and Maya's Father 
Didi was a good friend of David Veith who at the time was head of Sri Lanka Airlines. David had bought a Racehorse from John Jenkins Yard and had it under the name of the Airlanka.
 
Jenkins Yard, Kings Ride is just outside Royston in Herefordshire.  One Saturday the kids and I with Didi and David drove to John Jenkins home to find a 2 year old Racehorse.  It had to be a filly! Jenkins didn't know this! He had three filly's and three Colt's.
I was to choose his Racehorse!
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 Here are Visha and Maya, Didi's two children
PANIC I had ridden all my life, played Polo in Kenya and during my schooling in the UK had a stunning mare called Rani. I would hunt her in the winter, and show her during the summer holidays. Jenkins showed us one after another. The last one lying down in the straw, just her head looking at me!  I can't believe what I am seeing!  MY RANI the love of my life who helped me through my lonely times in England. My parents in Kenya.

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My darling, you are getting ready to race at  Windsor Race Course. John Jenkins your trainer is behind you.
This is your very first race, you are three years old and I know you will do your very best

"Didi this is the one:"  "She is The Maldive Lady Toni".  Didi went back to the Maldives.  I chose her colours, and dealt with all the paper work. Well, I would pass by Kings Ride early to watch her on the Gallops.  Hug and Talk to her, she was loving never trying to bite or kick.. Jenkins said you have chosen the best one. Her Mother French and Father called OATS. Had come 3rd in the Derby who was in fact still very much alive..
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My very very darling you are The Maldive Lady
It was Kempton Race Course a cold February day. My son was with me. The whistle, they are off. "The Maldive Lady is doing well"  "She has just had a reminder" "She has STOPPED".  A vet is called. She limps off the course!  I am in tears. Jenkins is there with the vet. Loaded into Horse Box. Driven home.  Verdict. She had over reached and unlikely to be sound for a year.
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This is her JOCKEY Williams and he is in  MY COLOURS.
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I contacted Didi. Jenkins suggests putting her in foal? It’s the last thing Didi wants!  "Get rid of her". She came to Devon to the Lethbridges who owned the farm whose Cottage I rented. She slowly got sound.   She had a Colt they called him The Maldive Lad. Life was very happy.
I get a phone call. Betty farmers wife crying, "Toni we have just had a terrible storm and the Maldive Lady ran into a big tree and has died".  The Lad OK. My world came to an end.
 The Maldive Lad grew up to be very handsome. He went to a young family and very loved. 

The Maldive Islands


Ariyadhoo, Himithi, Mini Mas,
Gali & Maamigili
Fuah Mulaku

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL SCHOOL
Gan and Feydhoo
Hanimadhoo & Uteemu
Ihuru
Kuramathi
Kurumba
Laamu  Atoll
Lhaviyani
Niyama - Dhaalu Atoll
Rashdoo & Noonu Atoll
Villingili

Holiday Of A Life Time:
Maldives, Sri Lanka & Dubai

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SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION - LETTER FROM BENEDICTA

MY ISLAND STORY

On My Way To Happy Days

Passenger Flying Log Book

My Very Good Looking Father

Through a Zanzibar Doorway

Lion Sands

Cape Town

A Night At The London Zoo

Wild Reef Child

Ashley

Flying With Hunting Clan

Love At First Sight

The Queen Mother

Romy Has a Surprise!

GEORGE

My Talk 2018

My Flying Diary

The Maldive Lady, by Jo Foley

LiveWire: First Lady of Leisure

Kunfunadhoo

The Lady In The Loo

First Round The World Flight

Tehran

PHINDA

Rat Story

Visha & Maya

Saint Helena

A Flight of a Lifetime

Diving Bangaram Island
Shark Circus
Richard Harley
Yusuff Moosa

I Dived To Victory
Memorable Muscat
You Must Not Wear Any Weights Or Life Jacket


A Magic Boat Launches

Angkor, Cambodia

Champneys

Country Life

Crown of Thorns

Having A Whale Of A Time

​Hurlingham Club Magazine Summer 2016

Kenya

​KASHMIR 1959

Lady Rose

Love of Skiing

My Magic Beans

My Outstanding Award
My Sandbank
Museum of Mankind
My 86th Birthday
Classic Wings: My 87th Birthday
My 88th Birthday
Magic Yellow File
RACEHORSE
Seychelles
South Africa
The Haute Route
Thrills & Spills - Dhoni Mighili
Underwater Ireland
Welcome To Stanford Bridge
***WEST OF ZANZIBAR***

Helicopter Bride
SCHOOL / FLYING
World Travel Mart
My Adopted Maldivian Family
Life Threatening Thalassemia
Himmafushi - The Young Offenders
Villingilli Orphanage
The Tsunami
Commemorative Coins

1986 Commonwealth Games
Guest Speaker of the Canberra
My Cocktail
Love & Marriage in Sri Lanka


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Flags
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A Maldives Symphony -
My Swan Song:

- Velassaru & Kuramathi
-
Colombo

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