Out Of Tune

Harmony Fair started the race as fourth favourite in Tokyo today, but finished a disappointing seventh. Granted, the outside gate draw didn't help her case, and fifth was within reach (a neck separated the seventh to sixth, and sixth to fifth placings), but it's difficult to know what to do with this one - she won first time out in convincing style, and has been resting on her laurels ever since.

PS. The trainer's report states that 1400m is probably the best bet for Harmony-chan, seeing as she was running out of steam at the end of the mile, having ran quite nicely up until the last furlong. However, these races are not so common, and this may mean her making a move over to dirt. 

A Serious Sophie

All of a sudden, Sophie has started to really get into dressage training. I have a feeling she'd been avoiding it for a long while, concentrating on gymkhanas instead so as not to compete with Louis - albeit indirectly, as he's now moved into another stratosphere on the categories he competes in. I can't blame the girl in reality, as Louis shot up the ladder like a rocket, even against the odds given that 'Jaguar' was his partner in crime. But since she's started doing okay in competitions herself, she's gained a great deal of confidence, and has surprised me how quickly she memorized the correct route and moves in readiness for her dressage debut. Being realistic, a good result won't be easy first time out, as Jaguar - whilst better than he was - is still as onry as ever. However, I can honestly say that I'm proud of her determination and the level of communication she's nurtured between herself and 'The Difficult One' - progress and worthy achievements that will serve her well in the future. And she has time in favour, too, as she isn't 11 until January. In addition, rather than having to make the jump from a pony, and thus start the learning process once more, she's already competing with a powerful Thoroughbred. She may well give Louis a run for his money yet...

Saturday OK

Harmony Fair has had her race for the 12th at Tokyo-Fuchu confirmed now, so she will definitely run in the 1600m turf 12R with Masayoshi Ebina in the saddle as planned. This is the only runner I have this weekend, although Louis will be in action once more.

Divine Daughter's debut looks like it will come on the 26th now, with a 1200m dirt race in mind, rather than the the 1400m one set for the 20th, as originally mooted. In the meantime, it looks like Mistoffelees will be out again on either the 19th or 20th, as he exerted virtually no effort in the last outing, meaning he's still in peak condition. We can expect Single Cask to make her debut soon, too.

Pop Update

Some heartwarming news - Pop Label seems to be fine. He has picked up an infection in his hoof, which was obviously painful, and made him hobble a bit. But fortunately, it's nothing more serious than that, and he should be back in training in a week. Whether he will make it to the gate for the Hokkaido Yushun is another matter, of course, but at least he's going to be able to fight another day...

Good News, Bad News...

The good news is that Agua De Vida has been placed with the Yamazaki Stables at Kawasaki - the same stables as Fairy Robe was with before her injury prematurely ended her career. I can honestly say that I'm very happy with this situation, as I had a feeling that our paths would cross again in Kawasaki.

The bad news, and this is truly awful, is that Pop Label is not walking well. Therefore, the chances of him running in the Hokkaido Yushun are virtually nil, which is heartbreaking. I'm also wondering now whether that last race should have been attempted - race rust is difficult to overcome, but if he wasn't 100% fit, it would have probably been better to field him in November only. At this stage, I'm not sure whether the unusually poor performance in his last race (coming after three straight wins) is linked to this current problem. If it is, there will be a lot of questions that need answering. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed that it's nothing much, as I was so looking forward to him making an impact with people I love and respect in his Nankan career...

Placid

For a change, all is quiet - nothing racing for a while, and trainer reports all done and dusted for the time being. About the only news of note comes via Phosphorus (pictured here, courtesy of the Shadai Thoroughbred Club), who will be moved out to his racing stable in a week or so with any luck. He's a big lad!

The latest copy of the Carrot Club magazine, Eclipse, has just arrived, and there are quite a few of my kids featured in there - Mistoffelees is on the back cover and two other places after his win, and there are also pictures of Tenshinramman, Irish Harp, Joyful Step, Glint Moment and Classic Curl, as well as all the yearlings.

After the L'Arc, Ikee-sensei (Orfevre's trainer), said he was now going to concentrate on a new horse, and a lot of folks are assuming this to be the Montjeu kid I bought a stake in this year. It will be fascinating to see if this colt can make it as far as Orfevre - he certainly has the breeding, and the way he moves is quite magnificent by all accounts. Fingers crossed...

Love Is... Part Eight

It's been a long time since we've had one of these, so here's a new 'Love Is...' photograph to continue the series - the eighth so far. This picture, kindly sent to me by Kuri Nakajima, shows Sophie and 'Jaguar' (Mayano Time) at the Tomisato competition at the end of last month, when Sophie was warming him up ready for Louis' dressage entry. It seems to fit the bill for the 'Love Is...' series just about perfectly...

Hope... And No Glory

After making a somewhat mediocre start, Sophisticate came back from way back to make a very, very impressive sprint to the post to finish a gallant fourth, and within striking distance of the other three in front - another few yards, she would have got it, without a doubt. Given today's performance, two things immediately spring to mind: He certainly won't be starting tenth favourite in the next race, and 1400m on dirt seems a touch too short. This is a truly magnificent beast, with fighting spirit oozing from every square inch of his body. Mark my words, this will be one to watch...

As for Mistoffelees - well, we can always expect an all-or-nothing run from this fella. Today, despite starting the race as second favourite, we got nothing - quite literally - which probably means he'll win his next race!

Anyway, I think we can safely say we have some in-depth strength in the Long family line-up of JRA two-year olds, with True Motion recording a fourth in her first outing, but like Sophisticate, showing tremendous promise, Belle Plage having a second and a fourth under her belt, and Irish Harp - although she was disappointing last time out - is another capable horse, with a fourth on her record, too. On the NAR two-year old front, only two have raced so far, but both have won already.