Untouchable

by Stephen Irwin

The "Sports of Kings" is a lure too great for many. The battlers work hard, desperately trying to get their shot. The rich simply buy their way in. Then there's Ricoo Diangelo, who, out of nowhere, mysteriously arrives on the horse racing scene, creating a stir. 'Seems like a likeable fellow', say many, 'he's a good guy, funny, smart and warm.' But some describe and entirely different side of Ricco. 'Watch him - remember that if you lie with dogs you will get fleas'. It seems like Ricco will spread his fleas into the racing community and many will not notice they have been bitten until it is too late.

Ricco is workng with bloodstock agent Piper Worthington-Jones to build up his stable of horses - but is she hiding something?

Meanwhile the Champion of Champions race series continues to dominate the horse industry. Angela Masters has now taken hold of the reins, replacing her husband, Angus Masters in the reality show produced by billionare Howard Irwin. Angela's training against her ex-husband, Logan Weston, a deliberate move by Howard to inject even more drama into the hugely successful reality series bringing the past champions back through cloning.

Will Tom Baker, Logan's protégé, be the first to fall into Ricco's trap? Drugs, hookers, race fixing and extortion. Is it too late for Tom, or will he recognize the truth for what it is?

In the race to become the Champion of Champions, will the corrupt prove themselves untouchable?
The Contention 5 book series is a mixture of crime, thriller, mystery that's on this sporting adventure about the racing industry and crime underworld.

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2021

About the author

Born and bred into the thoroughbred industry basically from day one. I spent the last 38 years as a hands on horseman breeding, raising, preparing, pre-training thoroughbred horses. In that time I work for some of the very best breeding farms in Australia in every role. My passion was preparing thoroughbred yearlings ( 1 year old) for sale.
Growing up on the land I enjoyed so many adventures and many are relived in the Contention book series. For example the cattle work Logan does on the race horses my father did all the time. So many of the horseman side of things is based from what i learnt from my father and what I have also passed down to other horseman and women.

I now juggle manufacturing horse equipment, making sculptures and writing.
On the cover of Contention is a sculpture I made called 'Taking the Plunge" it won a major award and now sits at the front and center in a sculpture park in Mudgee NSW Australia. That's actually me in the middle and as well on the cover of book 5 Resilience as well.

In the 38 years I spent in the thick of the Sport Of Kings I rubbed shoulders unknowingly with some shady characters that's for sure. So the names have changed and the story somewhat but 'yeah' if you only knew some of the story behind the characters.

Enjoy the read, and feel free to reach out and touch base and also send me your reviews. Remember I write because I have too as this is more than just a passion to me, but I also write to help take you out of your head and entertain you.

All the best

Stephen Irwin

Reviews

[Anita Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, captivating story line with great characters. Never dull from start to finish, plus - horses

[Olivia Telfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved this!! Could not put it down