Hard To Find Words

Poor old Harmony Fair has another disappointing result on her card, and yet she raced reasonably well. Had she had a better start, she was really in with a shout, but with 18 in the starting gate, it's impossible to get a clear run - I really don't understand why JRA try and field so many horses together in a short race...

Courtesy Carrot Club

After all said and done, 'Harmony' was always going to struggle to win, but the packed gate in the tenth ruined Tenshinramman's race completely as well. She had nowhere to go in any direction, with horses everywhere, and she was bumped to hell and back. That wasn't a race at all - it was a pure lottery, the odds being stacked against the top runners to such an extent that even Yutaka Take on the favourite couldn't overcome them (he also came trailing home way off the pace for the same reason as Tanaka-san). Ultimately, though, instead of marking up another win for 'Tenny' (pictured here), as I should be, I sit here wondering what damage has been done to a horse that really is in a different league to those she lined up against today. Her chances of winning the big one in the autumn have just been diminished by a huge amount.