KOCHI RACE TRACK

Courtesy JRA

Situated on Shikoku Island and at its current since April 1985, the NAR-run Kochi Keiba racecourse may not have the glamour of Ascot, but when it comes to passion (from the track staff through to the grooms and jockeys), it's every bit its equal.

It's actually quite ironic that most of the track's publicity in recent times came from a horse that just couldn't win - Haruurara - and there's a painting on the stand wall to commemorate that. However, Kochi was also home to Escape Hatch, who won a record 47 times in NAR, which is an amazing feat.

Kochi is also something of a breeding ground for up-and-coming young jockeys to make their name, with a number of today's popular 'Nankan' riders having honed their trade there. The Kochi-based 'All-Japan King of Rookies Championship' provides a perfect environment for them to show off their skills.

Arab racing finished at Kochi in 2008, leaving just Thoroughbreds to fight it out on the track, but night race meetings began at about the same time, allowing fans a wider time frame in which to enjoy their favourite sport. If you get the chance, watch the recent '72-Hour' NHK documentary on Kochi, and please try and show the place some support if ever you're in the area...

ANOTHER JUMPER IN THE FAMILY 
After a brief introduction to the art of jumping on Thursday, today Sophie made her first proper series of jumps, very low at first, but a super one at the end, when 'Jaguar' - being 'Jaguar' - decided he'd clear the beer case by a fair margin for a laugh. Smiles all round and no-one hurt (Sophie is blessed with really good balance), but, of course, it's done at just the time you're putting the camera away in its case!

What can we say about Mistoffelees? Well, while he runs well on dirt, his debut on the sand revealed that he doesn't like it being kicked up into his face. That may be a problem in the future, but today's glitch was caused by a loose horse. As such,  he came home in a disappointing seventh.

PS. The trainer's report states that he'd like to try one more time on dirt, as 'Misto' moves well over the sand - today's result was marred by the loose horse, so it was difficult to gauge his performance. With more race schedule options on dirt, it sounds like a good idea to me...

MISTO'S CHALLENGE 
Mistoffelees has had his next race confirmed for the 2R tomorrow (the 29th) at Hakodate. I have my fingers crossed for this lovely horse, his jockey, and his trainer, Makoto Saito, who is featured in Sports Nippon newspaper today. This dirt race starts at 10:20am...

Another piece of news - Divine Daughter (a Sunday TC JRA runner) will make her way to the Miho Training Centre week, which means her racing debut isn't far away now. Stay tuned!

A GP BUT NO RQ 
Japanese folks will recognize the code, which covers Sophie's wish to enter the Gymkhana GP series, but there won't be any race queens present at this type of Grand Prix event - Louis will be disappointed! Basically, Sophie wants to compete in more gymkhanas, with the GP Class adding a jump at the end to give her a bit more of a challenge. So yesterday, Megumi gave the girl her first introduction to jumping instruction, with all involved - including Jaguar - enjoying the experience.

There's also some sad news to relay - Noel-chan (Zenno Grip) died on Wednesday. You may recall Sophie was giving him a gentle workout, as he was suffering with heart problems, as well as bad joints in his front legs. At least at Tokoro he was given a good life in his twilight years. RIP, big fella...

THE NEW HORSES #14: JOYFUL STEP
Based at the Yano Stable at Miho TC, this charming filly was of appeal mainly because her father is Neo Universe. Neo Universe won the Japanese versions of both the Derby and the 2000 Guineas, and his work as a sire has been another cause for celebration, with Victoire Pisa amongst his offspring. He's a walking advert for old blood, with Sunday Silence as his father and Kris as damsire, with the likes of Native Dancer, Royal Charger, Mahmoud and even Hyperion appearing in his fifth generation back.

Courtesy Carrot Club

Her dam is Bejoyfulandrejoyce (a name that must have caused a few commentators problems in her racing days!), who won four races, including a stakes race, in the States before becoming a broodmare. Her speed doubtless comes from Roberto (via Dynaformer), although having Ribot as her great-great-grandmother certainly doesn't hurt!

This Hail To Reason cross (4Sx4D) is the last of the 2011 kids, profiled just in time for another batch from this year to start filtering through! In reality, there probably won't be that many from the 2012 crop, as it's a tough job following what's at the foot of this page as it is. You can bet we'll be adding a few along the way, though, with a stake in my first grey already awaiting approval. I'm also interested in the Irish and Aussie scene, where ownership is more straightforward (Japan seems to have a fetish for creating mountains of needless paperwork), and where I can secure a steeplechaser much easier...

DIARY DATES 
We reported earlier that Mistoffelees will be running at Hakodate on the 29th. Well, actually, it could be the 29th (2R or 4R) or the 30th (4R), but one thing is for sure, it's a 1700m run on dirt, in a race designated for three-year olds that haven't won yet. Poor Saito-san, the trainer, must be banging his head against the wall trying to figure out why this horse hasn't won yet, but it's maybe significant that Yuichi Shibayama climbs into the saddle - a chap that's been training with 'Misto' for a long time.

In other reports, Quick Bread should be out on the track very, very soon, and the Carrot Club NAR contender, Agua De Vida, is expected to continue her campaign in the second week of July. She was third first time out, so it will be interesting to see if she can improve on that.

THE NEW HORSES #13: CLASSIC CURL 

Courtesy Carrot Club

This filly is a Northern Dancer cross (4Sx4D) based at the Matsuyama Stables at Miho Training Centre, sired by Jungle Pocket. We described Jungle Pocket DNA when we looked at Harmony Fair in the past (a beauty that has already won for the Long camp), and now Classic Curl carries the torch for this well-loved Japanese Derby winner - undoubtedly one of Tony Bin's finest.

On the dam side of the equation, Cecil Cut won five races before settling down into the role of broodmare. She was sired by the legendary Sunday Silence (from the Hail To Reason line), with Dyna Carle as her mother. As we noted in the Agua De Vida profile, Dyna Carle carries the blood of Northern Dancer (winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes), Guersant (winner of the French 2000 Guineas) and Never Say Die (winner of the Epsom Derby and St Leger). Dyna Carle gave birth to the likes of Air Groove, who in turn gave birth to Rulership, so the female bloodlines are quite promising.

THE NEW HORSES #12: GLINT MOMENT 
This is an interesting little fella, based at the Hatsuki Stable at Ritto TC, boasting sprint specialist and Japan Hall of Fame horse Taiki Shuttle as his father, and Glint Week as his mother. He has a truly fascinating mix of ancestry, bringing together the best of French, British (via Canada), American and Japanese blood to the table.

Courtesy Carrot Club

Taiki Shuttle won all manner of sprint races in Japan, and is by the unbeaten Devil's Bag - a combination of fiery Halo (Hail To Reason) DNA, and that of Herbager, who won the French Derby. As it happens, this is a Halo cross (3Sx4D), and Herbager also appears on both sides of Glint Moment's family tree, as does Nijinsky. A large part of the latter's blood comes from Welsh Muffin, Taiki Shuttle's dam, and the grandma of Quick Bread, who's also in the Long family line-up.

Glint Week was sired by Special Week, who we wrote about the other day when talking about Irish Harp, while the female line brings Blushing Groom (winner of the French 2000 Guineas for HH the Aga Khan) and Prince Khalid Abdullah's famous horse, Danehill, into the equation.

POP LABEL UPDATE 
Reading the post-race reports, it's fair to say that the jockey was very impressed by Pop Label, his 10kg drop in weight compared to his debut making him a tight fighting machine. The fluffed start was due to his eagerness to get going, so the racing spirit is definitely there, too. The trainer is aiming to enter the Breeder's Gold Junior Cup race at Monbetsu on the 7th of August, so plans to have one more outing in July to get his winnings up to the required level. The future looks bright for this rising star...

In other news, Beat The Boarder has passed her race test, so can make her debut whenever she's ready. At the moment, her frame is very petite, so it will almost certainly be the autumn before she takes to the track in anger. If she can follow in her Sunday TC compatriot's footsteps, I shall be a happy man.

POP LABEL V1 
Pop Label won the fifth race at Monbetsu with ease today, starting only reasonably, but making his way through the field nicely, and ultimately winning by three lengths despite having taken the wide line around the third and fourth corners in order to stay out of trouble. Hattori-san only took out the whip twice during the whole run, and to be honest, Pop Label was cruising without it - it was almost like a training run for him! If you'd like to see the race, please follow this link: http://nar.chihoukeiba.jp/hokkaido/362013062505.asx. Starting as firm favourite, he's wearing number 3 and sporting Sunday Thoroughbred Club silks...

REVENGE! 
Tomorrow sees Pop Label and Takafumi Hattori teaming up again in a bid for revenge. They did well first time out, but the finish line came up too quickly. In this second race, they are going for a 1700m distance (on dirt), which should suit them much better. Starting from gate #3, the fifth race at Monbetsu starts at 4:50pm. Please support them...

TRIVIA 
At equestrian events the world over, one generally receives a rosette for finishing in the top few places, but I've just found out that the colours vary from country to country. In Japan, it's the same as the American system, so blue for first, red for second, yellow for third, white for fourth, pink for fifth and green for sixth, although they tend to call it a ribbon here. Interestingly, the British Pony Club like to use blue for first and red for second, too, as does the Australian horse world, but with white for third, yellow for fourth and brown for fifth.

This is where it gets strange, though, as Britain generally uses red for first, blue for second, yellow for third, white for fourth, green for fifth and maroon for sixth. To add further confusion, Canada has red and blue for first and second, the same as the UK, but white for third and yellow for fourth before returning to green for fifth; the rosette for sixth is usually pink in Canada.

Why on Earth the various bodies can't agree on a global standard (like gold, silver and bronze medals, which are also used for the riders in Japan), I shall never know. Until then, I hope this helps clear things up a bit. Now it's time for me to rush back into the kids' rooms and fill the gaps I've just made in their collections. Hehehe...

RUNNING HARD 

Courtesy Carrot Club

Three Carrot Club horses were running today. We may as well get the bad news out of the way first, and that's the disappointing ninth place for Mosto Verde (pictured here) and Maruyama Genki. After an amazing start, I'm wondering what it's going to take to get this horse to run well, short of a rocket stuck somewhere painful, close to his tail! This is his worst result so far from three races...

Next we can record a sixth place for 'Little Miss Consistent', otherwise known as Lourdes No Hitomi. She was seventh in her first 1600m dirt outing, and the same in her next race at 1800m. When she moved up to 2100m on dirt, she was fifth, then sixth, and now sixth again - like I said, consistent to say the least. But it's probably time for some fresh thinking, I'd have thought, to at least give the horse a chance at finishing in the frame - today, she was a long way off the pace in reality.

Finishing on a high note, it's nice to record a fourth for Belle Plage on her debut. Okay, it would have been better to have had a Win-Place-Show finish, but I'm quite confident they will come in the near future, as this is a really good horse. She came out the gate like a rocket, held her ground nicely, and looked the part at the finish, too - the top four all came within a length of each other, so it was a close call. According to the jockey, had he got the line the winning horse took, she'd have won, but she was pinned against the fence in heavy ground that doesn't suit her. As it happens, you can see her race within the JRA website and judge things for yourself.

With Tenshinramman, Miracle Rouge, True Motion and Belle Plage all charging hard, plus Harmony Fair as a past winner, the fillies are showing some real pace in the Long camp!

STILL JUMPY 
Today, Louis managed to come second in one Class, and fifth in another - both good results considering his lack of jumping experience at this stage, as well as taking the competition into account, for, as usual, he competed in the adult section. The most important thing is he looks better and better each time he goes out there, and unlike some of the riders I saw over the weekend, puts the well-being of the horse first. 'Heart' realizes he's part of a team, and the two of them are enjoying themselves a great deal. Well done to the two of them!