Atomic Number 15

Courtesy Shadai TC

This is Phosphorus from the Shadai Thoroughbred Club. Sired by Gold Allure, he's my only Shadai TC runner at the moment, but he's a big lad at 516kg, and once he's finished his muscle toning programme, he should be a real monster. There's no word
on where he will be based as yet, although I imagine he'll miss the Hokkaido season and start his career in Minami-Kanto like Beat The Border.
I look forward to seeing his imposing frame in the paddock, and dream of seeing him in the winner's circle...

Niigata Nightmare

The trainer's post-race opinion matches mine on Harmony-chan - she ran fine, but the scenario was bad. Right up to the end, she wanted to go, which is a good sign; a 1600m distance would perhaps suit her better in the future. This is Harmony Fair pictured at her stables last month, by the way.

Courtesy Carrot Club

As for 'Tenny', she was always the main threat and was deliberately marked so that she couldn't run. Her race rust didn't help, but there's no excuse for race rust when there are three meetings each weekend. A lack of racing to provide protection from the heat I can understand, but it was a lot cooler in the weeks leading up to yesterday, when it was ridiculously hot. Being so tightly marked and in ultra-high-tension mode due to her wanting to get back onto the turf to fight, one wonders why 'Kacchi' didn't just break loose on the third corner and let her power around the bunch on the stand side? Even if she'd have faded towards the end, she'd have come somewhere near the front. After all, her debut was made on the same track, at the same distance, and she was actually 10kg lighter yesterday - being a full 2.5 seconds slower over the last three furlongs (she clocked an amazing 33.1 for the 3F in her first race) is unforgivable. In addition, the dubious blocking tactics employed during the race would have been obvious enough for the patrol camera to come into play if she'd have been in a clear area...

To be perfectly frank, if that's the way things are done in JRA - allowing Roman Chariot races, probably to make sure the money-spinning Deep Impact kids get an unchallenged shot at all the big events - then I shall reduce my support, and work closer with NAR, where at least the races are fair.

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.

Toshio Uchida

Born in Saitama in October 1961, 'Mr Pink' is the son of a motorcycle racer. One of his father's friends was involved in NAR, and that was the way Uchida-san was introduced to the sport. He graduated from jockey school in 1978, making his NAR debut on 7th October that year, and claimed his first win on the following day.

He started his career at the Takasaki track, but that closed. Then the Ashikaga facility went the same way, and the Utsunomiya track closed in 2005. After that, he decided to become a gypsy - moving from place to place on short-term contracts until he settled at Urawa for the 2013 season. From 21,945 NAR rides so far, he's had no less than 9070 top three finishes, of which 3389 were wins - one of those being the 'Coventry Friendship Race', of course.

It should be noted that he's also won three JRA wins from 47 appearances, and has claimed numerous victories abroad, including a G1 win in Macau. During his time in Korea, when he had almost 700 rides, he clocked up a win rate of 19.9%. After his stint across the water, he was considered the most popular Japanese man in Korea due to his amiable demeanour, and it's easy to see why if you're lucky enough to spend even a few minutes with the guy - a more pleasant chap would be hard to find anywhere. In the saddle, too, nothing changes - he's one of the only jockeys I can remember that bows to the horse before getting a leg-up from the groom, and never pushes his mount beyond 99.9%.

He was awarded the NAR 'Best Jockey' title at Utsunomiya ten times, and was also Leading Jockey in Korea. In private, he has been in an Indies band, where he used the stage name of Richard Pink. I've actually seen a picture of him with a guitar painted in the same colours as his distinctive silks, but have yet to hear him sing!

A Pink Coventry

The 'Coventry Friendship Race' went like a fast dream on Wednesday. It was the fifth race at Funabashi, with 12 horses and their riders lining up to do battle over 1200m of dirt track. The extreme heat brought a touch of sweat to the horses even as they were walking gently in the paddock, but it darkened their coats and made them glisten beautifully in the sunlight.

Ultimately, Toshio Uchida ('Mr Pink') stayed cool to come through and pip Masashige Honda at the post. As the winner, he received a David Geenty sculpture of a Thoroughbred bust. I think he was pleased, but to be honest it's hard to tell with Mr Pink, as he's always smiling - he must be the most jovial jockey on the planet!

Unfortunately the winning horse was still in high-tension mode, making it difficult to get a picture of all the guests together. However, they were all horse folks in attend-
ance, so understood when we put the welfare of the four-legged beast first. The main thing is that everyone was happy, the runners all came home safe and sound, and the race had served its purpose. We will hold a similar race at Kochi in October or November this year, and in the future, I'd like to do the same thing at Sonoda (lots of crazy pals there!), Kawasaki and Urawa for starters. Racing brings people together, no matter what their colour or creed. We all belong to the same Keiba clan...

Weekend Races

Luckily, both Harmony Fair and Tenshinramman have made the cut for their races scheduled for the 10th. Both of tomorrow's turf runs had been oversubscribed, the 'Harmony' one particularly so. Anyway, 'Harmony' will run in the Niigata 9R (1400m) with Teruo Eda in the saddle, while 'Tenny' takes to the track in the next race there (1800m) with 'Kacchi' Tanaka - her regular partner in crime - at the controls.

There are thoughts of running Lourdes No Hitomi in the 2400m dirt race at Hakodate on the 24th, and Miracle Rouge is being lined up for a 2000m turf run at Niigata on the following day. These dates have to be confirmed, but True Motion's outing at Niigata on the 24th has been penned in in ink. Keita Tosaki has been booked as the jockey for the 2R (1800m turf), which is good news, as I have great admiration for him. As it happens, I secured one of his trophies in the charity auction at Funabashi a couple of days ago!

The Next Move

Courtesy Sunday TC

Following his stunning win in the Breeder's Gold Junior Cup yesterday (his third win in a row as it happens), the next move for Pop Label is to get him ready for the 'Sunrise Cup' on the 15th October, and then the 'Hokkaido 2-year old Yushun' during the first week of November.

Tipping the scales at just over 500kg and starting as second favourite at 2.7:1, it was fascinating to watch him adapt to the slow early pace last night, and then fearlessly find a route through the gaggle of horses in front of him to take victory by three-quarters of a length. It was a very impressive performance to say the least - impressive enough for the Hokkaido Racing authority to call him 'The King of the Two-Year Olds'...

Pop Label V3

Wow! There's not much else one can say after a performance like that. As far as I was concerned, it was all over going into the final straight, but the extra 100m played right into the hands of this powerhouse, and the jockey guided him through a string of horses to move past them like a steam train with the throttle full open. If you'd like to see the race, please use this link: http://nar/362013080712.asx. Wearing number 7 and Sunday TC colours, be ready to be impressed! More good news on this horse, but until the official announcement, I'll have to keep it to myself with a feeling of contentment.

Question Mark

Both races scheduled for the 10th are oversubscribed, one with 20 horses going for 18 gates (Tenshinramman's race), and the other with no less than 38 horses fighting for 18 slots. Ummm. All we can do is wait and see what happens, with an update from the JRA being expected on Thursday.

Lots of Long family interest in the Carrot Club magazine again, with Eclipse having pictures of Tenshinramman, Mistoffelees, Mosto Verde and Miracle Rouge, plus updates on all the youngsters born in 2011, and nice shots of True Motion and Agua De Vida at the track.

A small note on visitors to the blog: We had 247 hits yesterday - a new daily record, with most of the traffic coming from the USA. Including those in Japan, folks from a total of 61 countries have looked in on the blog, with all the world's continents covered. Thank you to everyone for your continued support! Tomorrow there will be two big things to write about - one article from Funabashi and one on Pop Label's challenge in Hokkaido - and hopefully some huge news coming in the next few days from England. Stay tuned...

Fun In Funabashi

A wonderful day at Funabashi Keiba today, with some great riding, and an opportunity to chat with friends in surroundings where I feel at home - they're not the most comfortable facilities in the world, but I feel comfortable, mingling with folks that love horses and the racing game every bit as much as I do. On saying that, the track gets better with every passing week, and the forthcoming evening meetings should be wonderful...

A special treat for race-goers today was the guest appearance of Mai Beppu, who we did a profile on a little while ago. This charming young lady, pictured here with Sophie, is an excellent ambassador for the Kochi track, and I look forward to seeing her in race action down south when I go to Kochi for the race I'm sponsoring there later in the year.