MELBOURNE racing photographer Colin Bull thought he was leaving the winter behind when he arrived in Ireland to start a European holiday last weekend. Colin and his wife Tracy managed to avoid most of this week’s rain as they travelled from Dublin to Waterford then on to Kerry and Clare. Scotland is next on the itinerary and then Paris and finally Singapore before they head home.

Colin has been supplying The Irish Field with Australian racing photos for over 10 years and he has attended the last 46 Melbourne Cups. “I’m not going to retire until I get to 50 Cups – my first was Gala Supreme in 1973.”

We gave Colin a little welcoming gift in Dublin and he was kind enough to bring us a bag full of Winx merchandise.