Seeing Red

Miracle Rouge has been confirmed for the 7R at Chukyo on the 1st December - a 2000m turf run, with Matsuda-san in the saddle. Meanwhile, Mephisto Waltz is now for the 1R at Hanshin on the 8th (1800m on dirt), and Agua De Vida will run at Kawasaki - Yamazaki-san wants her to race over 1500m, but the only slots available at Funabashi were in 1200m races.

Picture Exhibition

If you get the chance, pop along to the photography exhibition close to Funabashi train station. It features a wealth of pictures taken by a group of track members and official photographers, taking you behind the scenes in a way few of us will be able to experience any other way. Thoroughly recommended for all racing fans - even a
few shots of the Utsunomiya track thrown in for good measure...

The Beast Returns

The world's most beautiful beast is set to return to the track on the 21st December. Yes, on that day, Tenshinramman is due to run in the Toji Tokubetsu race at Nakayama (1800m over turf), and with 'Kacchi' Tanaka in the saddle as usual. It's been a long time since she's been out, but hopefully her pure class will allow her to shake off any race rust. I've been waiting a long time for this...

In other news, Pop Label is coming along nicely and should be able to go to Funabashi soon to resume his racing career, and hopefully return to his winning ways at the same time. Meanwhile, Beat The Border will be taking it easy for two or three days - she's not injured, just tired after her run on Monday, which is fair enough.

Comprehensively Beat

Poor ol' Beat The Border. She ran her heart out for 900 to 1000 yards, keeping pace with some real fast stock and laying in third most of the way round, and then she just ran out of steam and finished seventh. I don't think there would have been a better race plan - she seems to be a fiery little thing with her own mind. Her size is her main problem at the moment - as you can see from the picture, she is indeed a little thing! She's still a bit immature, too, at this stage, but given time to bulk up, I have a feeling she'll be a force to be reckoned with in the future. She certainly knows what a race is. After a week's break, she can go back into training, and she should be much improved next time out thanks to the experience gained yesterday.

At Funabashi, Phosphorus will be going for his test on Christmas Eve, as planned. Yano-sensei is tightening his hind muscles up nicely, and making him into a dirt racer. It will be fascinating to see what kind of difference a month makes after an intensive training programme...