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!

 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.

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..

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.

This is her JOCKEY Williams and he is in  MY COLOURS.

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.