TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
Ah, the wonders of modern technology. I must have spent a good couple of hours fighting the PC last night and this morning, trying all sorts of ways to coax it into a form of co-operation, and it still won't do what I want it to do! Computers are supposed to make life easy, right? Then why do they give us all so much hassle? It's like a 'Smart Key' on a car. You know, like all the advantages sound great, but most of the time you end up thinking what a dumb idea this is. Notwithstanding, I'm sure the problem will get sorted eventually, and I can finally get my new batch of links up and running.
In the meantime, the good side of computers - and more specifically, the internet - has been shining bright, with new visitors logging in from Singapore and the UAE in the last week or so. This takes the country count up to 53, with over 16,000 visitors in all so far. Now I have some time again, there will be a lot more articles going up (there are 17 draft pieces awaiting my attention for starters), so please stay tuned...
Saturday, March 30, 2013
DISAPPOINTMENT
After his debut outing, I concluded that it seemed a waste putting Quick Bread in long-distance dirt races - his build is obviously a turf frame, as one would expect of his bloodlines, but a first time experiment doesn't hurt anyone. You can imagine my surprise, though, when the trainer said he was trying another 1800m dirt race - not moving to grass, or even a shorter distance until more training could be put in. Perhaps not surprisingly, 'QB' and Hironobu Tanabe finished eighth today, quite a way back. Given the horse's speed potential, which was shown in training times the other day, I can only say how disappointed I am that this beautiful creature isn't being allowed to strut his stuff in a more suitable arena...
PS. The jockey report states that a good horse is in there somewhere, which is obvious, from times posted in practice, and the trainer's report is still bubbling over with confidence, which is less easy to understand (unless there's a cunning plan in the works). Ummm. Facts: Despite heavier conditions, he improved his race time (same track, same distance) by 1.1 seconds, and cut 1.9 seconds off his 3F time - huge advances. But you wouldn't believe how much I want to see this horse run a turf mile!
After his debut outing, I concluded that it seemed a waste putting Quick Bread in long-distance dirt races - his build is obviously a turf frame, as one would expect of his bloodlines, but a first time experiment doesn't hurt anyone. You can imagine my surprise, though, when the trainer said he was trying another 1800m dirt race - not moving to grass, or even a shorter distance until more training could be put in. Perhaps not surprisingly, 'QB' and Hironobu Tanabe finished eighth today, quite a way back. Given the horse's speed potential, which was shown in training times the other day, I can only say how disappointed I am that this beautiful creature isn't being allowed to strut his stuff in a more suitable arena...
PS. The jockey report states that a good horse is in there somewhere, which is obvious, from times posted in practice, and the trainer's report is still bubbling over with confidence, which is less easy to understand (unless there's a cunning plan in the works). Ummm. Facts: Despite heavier conditions, he improved his race time (same track, same distance) by 1.1 seconds, and cut 1.9 seconds off his 3F time - huge advances. But you wouldn't believe how much I want to see this horse run a turf mile!
WHAT HAPPENED THE WEATHER?
Yesterday was so warm, you didn't need a coat, and today you need three coats and a whisky flask to drive off the cold! What's going on? It seems to be crazy weather all over the world.
Anyway, at least we were able to get some good saddle time in with 'Jaguar' this morning - the horses being about the only ones happy with the chilly atmosphere. Sophie really is improving fast as her legs are getting longer, almost taking him up to a canter for the first time unassisted today - with Jaguar, for a petite ten-year old girl, that's a real achievement. Louis was training for the Dressage 3B課目 level, which is probably getting close to the limits of 'The Difficult Horse'...
On the racing front, we have Quick Bread competing in the first race at Nakayama tomorrow, and Fairy Robe should be out in mid-April at Kawasaki. There's no real change in this pretty horse, but the Yamazaki Stables are not pushing things - she has potential, of that there's no doubt, and will unleash it as soon as she's matured a bit more. It's nice to know there are stables that take the long-term view, letting a horse develop within a natural envelope to give its best in time rather than burn it out trying for too much too soon.
Meanwhile, of the newcomers, Belle Plage is having her body check in the next couple of weeks, which is usually a sign of fast progress. The reports on the other youngsters were more or less routine, as is often the case at this early stage in their career.
Yesterday was so warm, you didn't need a coat, and today you need three coats and a whisky flask to drive off the cold! What's going on? It seems to be crazy weather all over the world.
Anyway, at least we were able to get some good saddle time in with 'Jaguar' this morning - the horses being about the only ones happy with the chilly atmosphere. Sophie really is improving fast as her legs are getting longer, almost taking him up to a canter for the first time unassisted today - with Jaguar, for a petite ten-year old girl, that's a real achievement. Louis was training for the Dressage 3B課目 level, which is probably getting close to the limits of 'The Difficult Horse'...On the racing front, we have Quick Bread competing in the first race at Nakayama tomorrow, and Fairy Robe should be out in mid-April at Kawasaki. There's no real change in this pretty horse, but the Yamazaki Stables are not pushing things - she has potential, of that there's no doubt, and will unleash it as soon as she's matured a bit more. It's nice to know there are stables that take the long-term view, letting a horse develop within a natural envelope to give its best in time rather than burn it out trying for too much too soon.
Meanwhile, of the newcomers, Belle Plage is having her body check in the next couple of weeks, which is usually a sign of fast progress. The reports on the other youngsters were more or less routine, as is often the case at this early stage in their career.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
IT'S ALL HAPPENING...
Suddenly, the Carrot Club reports are flooding in with new race fixtures for three horses, as well as a range of possibilities for three others. Firstly, Tenshinramman is booked for the Flora Stakes on the 21st April - this Tokyo race being a trial for the equivalent of The Oaks. You can bet your life I'm excited about this prospect!
Miracle Rouge is proving how tough she is with another outing scheduled for a fillies race on the 13th April at Fukushima (2000m on turf), while Tanabe-san has been secured to ride Quick Bread at Nakayama this Sunday in an 1800m dirt race. I'm still not sure Quick Bread is suited to dirt, but we shall see...
There are plans to get Harmony Fair out for one more race as a 3YO, and Quadrille, a noble-looking creature by Dalakhani, should race at Tokyo-Fuchu with any luck. Mosto Verde, who still hasn't had a race as yet, will be making his debut at Fukushima by the looks of things - let's hope he can live up to his Tanino Gimlet bloodlines.
Suddenly, the Carrot Club reports are flooding in with new race fixtures for three horses, as well as a range of possibilities for three others. Firstly, Tenshinramman is booked for the Flora Stakes on the 21st April - this Tokyo race being a trial for the equivalent of The Oaks. You can bet your life I'm excited about this prospect!
Miracle Rouge is proving how tough she is with another outing scheduled for a fillies race on the 13th April at Fukushima (2000m on turf), while Tanabe-san has been secured to ride Quick Bread at Nakayama this Sunday in an 1800m dirt race. I'm still not sure Quick Bread is suited to dirt, but we shall see...
There are plans to get Harmony Fair out for one more race as a 3YO, and Quadrille, a noble-looking creature by Dalakhani, should race at Tokyo-Fuchu with any luck. Mosto Verde, who still hasn't had a race as yet, will be making his debut at Fukushima by the looks of things - let's hope he can live up to his Tanino Gimlet bloodlines.
A FRESH START Having spent every waking hour working recently, the 'big project' has finally been completed, and I can now start to enjoy horse life to the full again, including updating this blog and adding items of interest, such as jockey profiles and historical nuggets of racing information.
Louis has been working hard the last couple of days himself, busy training in a Dressage clinic with Takanori Ban - one of the masters of the sport. At the end of the day, although he wants to jump more, he still wants to continue with Dressage to a level as high as Jaguar will let him get. He's not short on passion, that's for sure, and for as long as he keeps driving the pace, I'm happy to support him.
Now this is where it gets exciting - the show-jumping clinic, supported by Chiba Prefecture, has already been booked for next year, along with the Dressage, and, having been a spectator and cameraman earlier in the week, Sophie is going to put her name down for the Dressage at the very least. After two years in the saddle, it looks like they're both getting to a good stage in their riding career. Now if I can just teach teach Sophie how to use a camera properly...
Sunday, March 24, 2013
MIRACLE UPDATE
Just had the trainer report in on Miracle Rouge. That was a hard race, but there are no health problems, and not even a need for a recovery break - this is a tough cookie! She will stay at the stables in training, while plans are drawn up for her next outing...
Going through the post-race facts and figures makes interesting reading, too. Her time for the last three furlongs was 34.9, which was the same as the winner, and faster than the other three horses that finished in front of her, despite her losing a lot of energy catching the field after her poor start. Add in the uphill finish at Nakayama and the doubts on her staying power can be brushed aside. With a bit more muscle and a bit more training, this will be a horse to watch out for in the future.
Just had the trainer report in on Miracle Rouge. That was a hard race, but there are no health problems, and not even a need for a recovery break - this is a tough cookie! She will stay at the stables in training, while plans are drawn up for her next outing...
Going through the post-race facts and figures makes interesting reading, too. Her time for the last three furlongs was 34.9, which was the same as the winner, and faster than the other three horses that finished in front of her, despite her losing a lot of energy catching the field after her poor start. Add in the uphill finish at Nakayama and the doubts on her staying power can be brushed aside. With a bit more muscle and a bit more training, this will be a horse to watch out for in the future.
ALMOST A MIRACLE Watching Miracle Rouge in the paddock today, I thought how beautiful she looked. I also thought she had the build of a shorter-distance runner, and pre-race reports in the racing press doubted whether she could stay the distance. But then Harita-san strode into the arena - a true warrior in the saddle - and you know her chances of doing well have just increased by a fair margin...
Well, the start could have been better, but, as the jockey noted, she still hasn't fully grown yet, and didn't have that kick out of the gate that will come in the next few months of training. Having been last for most of the race, Harita made his move going into the third corner. I'm not exaggerating when I say that one of the finest displays of riding I've seen in a long time followed, with the Funabashi jockey staying close to the rail to keep the distance down but still managing to weave through the backmarkers as if they were standing still. Any doubts of staying power were dismissed in the final straight as she went up a gear and blasted away for the finish. The pair deserved better than fifth place, but it was a sign of what can be achieved in the future. I sincerely hope Harita-san keeps the ride after today's sterling performance.
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