A Good Morning...

Despite the boggy conditions and freezing cold wind, we had a good morning exercising 'Bugatti'. There are occasions when I wish I could race him just one more time, as the tension is still there, and five minutes work would have his body back in raceworthy condition - he looks superb. But then you give him a hug and a "well done" and see the happiness in his eyes and shiny coat, and realize he is now a family member, and he's earned that retirement. His competition exploits will be restricted to dressage and the odd bit of jumping from now on...

Thankfully it was a pleasing morning, for Irish Harp and Matsuwaka were a disappointing pair once again. Having started second favourite, they finished fifth, not really able to make an impression. She probably needs more distance (she seems more at home at 1700m than the 1400m campaigned in the last two races), and possibly a more experienced hand at the tiller, too, even though my boy is quite happy with the jockey choice - the lighter weight allowance being a bonus. Well, yes, but only if you could see a benefit in the results. She definitely needs more outings, however, and of that there's no doubt - no need to ponder whatsoever.

PS. Rush Attack is now back at the racing stable, which is a good sign.

Next Time!

It's ironic that I couldn't get across to see Phosphorus win on Thursday, but having found the time to go and support Pop Label yesterday, came away from the track more than a bit disappointed. It was a strange race, with a bad start, and then a bright spell followed by an anti-climax. Mika-san just gave up, as the top three had disappeared in a fight of their own, and brought him home in sixth. The fact that Yuta Sato was happy enough, as was his groom, and the fact that 1800m is being considered for the next race (a longer distance) has to be a good sign, though, for if there were fears over power and stamina, you wouldn't be thinking that way. Even though he looked superb in the paddock (as you can see in the picture), at the end of the day, the recovery from injury was a very long one - the road to full race fitness will be, too...

The next NAR race will be Beat The Boarder at TCK on the 22nd - let's hope she gets a decent gate draw this time, as her run of bad luck has been unbelievable. She lines up for the 1400m 7R, assuming the swelling from an infected cut has gone down fully. As an aside, the new Vermilion kid seems to be doing very well.

Meanwhile, Irish Harp is out in JRA action at Chukyo today. It's Fuma Matsuwaka in the saddle again for this 1400m dirt race, and I'm just hoping he does a better job than last time - a lot better. Belle Plage and Tenshinramman should be racing at Nakayama on the 25th, both looking for a third victory, while Eclat De Reve is set to make her debut on the same day at Chukyo. The latter is a little munchkin, so it will be interesting to see how she performs.

Miracle Rouge is going to be timed this weekend, but even if she does race next weekend, she's been on holiday that long, I doubt whether she'll remember what to do - a disaster in the making. J'ai Un Reve is struggling with his gate training, which is hardly an ideal situation, and the last thing you want to hear after a catalogue of setbacks in a horse that cost 80,000,000 yen! At least the yearlings are supposed to be doing well.

Phos V4!

Phosphorus did a super job at Funabashi today, leading a class field from start to finish to claim his fourth victory - the first time one of my horses to manage this, and bringing me my 25th win into the bargain. Of course, a lot of the credit for today's convincing win has to go to Kota-san for a commanding ride, as well as the excellent training team he is blessed with, but I have a feeling that Phos is only just starting to perform - with the fastest 3F time by 0.2 seconds after taking on the pace for a whole mile, there's a lot more potential left in this boy yet! Feel free to check out this video link, www.nankankeiba/2015011508. Phosphorus is in gate one, wearing #1.

Ivory Towers

From ten Carrot Club reports, hardly anything worth passing on. With luck, Massabielle should be back fighting in the Spring, and Eclat De Reve has passed her gate test. She will be timed next, and if everything is OK, make her debut soon after. J'ai Un Reve is also getting closer to debut time, too, although we've already been at that stage with this one...

Harmony Fair has gone away on holiday until the Spring, which is a complete waste of time, not to mention my money. War Chronicle is on a go-slow, and every other beast is kicking back enjoying pina coladas. It amazes me how one friend can race one of his NAR horses every week in Japan, without any ill signs whatsoever, all the way up to its retirement, yet JRA horses need three month rest periods for every minute spent on the track! Something's wrong somewhere, and I have a feeling it's to do with jobs for the boys and keeping the lolly from foolish owners moving around so everyone pulling the strings from the shadows gets their cut.

Praise the Lord for NAR - the only accountable form of racing in Japan, because NAR can't afford to build itself an ivory tower, so no-one can hide in it. Although I won't be able to get across, we have Kota Motohashi on Phosphorus tomorrow, and then Norifumi Mikamoto on Pop Label the following day. Both good ponies. Both good jockeys. Fingers crossed!

Tight Deadlines

Working away for what seems like endless hours to try and meet a tight deadline, which will explain why there's so little on the blog recently. I guess, with the English flat season over and the Irish and Aussie horses taking a little R&R awaiting their next race, there isn't that much to write anyway - other than complain about JRA racing (if you can call it that), and sulk over the recent NAR results...

At least I do love the NAR scene, and we have a couple of runners at Funabashi over the next two days. We've also got some big news on the newcomer front, with a second Irish jumper and two fresh English flat racers sorted out. As soon as the sales are confirmed, I will add their profiles.

Bliss

After an atrocious day of racing yesterday, followed by the kind of trainer report that makes my blood boil, my neighbour parking in an awkward place opposite my drive's gate - again! - was not a good idea this afternoon. I don't know about anyone else, but while I'm finding I can control my once notoriously hot temper much better with age, the grudge that sets you off stays in the system for longer. I guess things build up if you don't explode on a regular basis, then take more time to disappear...

Anyway, having eventually got to the stables, 'Bugatti' was a darling. He wasn't really in the mood initially, and when he woke up suddenly, there was some real fire in his belly. Once he'd has his own little explosion, giving Louis yet more rodeo experience, he quickly settled into some fine work, with Miyaki-sensei - as always - providing Louis with lots of useful tips on how to polish his performance. For me, of course, the calming influence of the horses was a godsend, even in a freezing dell with a giant-sized pooper-scooper in one hand and apple-flavoured cookies in the other. It's a bit sad when you have to say your best friend has four legs and weighs half-a-ton, but there we go. To spend time with 'Bugatti' is about the only thing that keeps me vaguely sane.