Weekend Crawlers

The last entry on the blog was entitled 'Weekend Runners', but I think it should have been 'Weekend Crawlers' to be technically correct. Starting with Sophisticate, he began the race well enough, and then did the uphill finish at what seemed like a walking pace. I could have beaten him on my pushbike, even without the help of Lance's special blend of go-go juice.

As for Tenshinramman, I don't really even want to talk about it in reality - you wait over four months for a horse capable of a 33.1 second 3F time to start as favourite and finish in 13th! I don't know whether Tanaka was putting on the brakes, but it certainly wasn't the 'Tenny' of old if he wasn't, or even the girl we'd been expecting according to pre-race trainer reports. To be honest, I thought she wasn't comfortable on her right hind leg in the paddock, but the jockey is saying she simply ran out of wind. Right - four months of training for that! A lot of questions need to be answered, that's for sure. In the meantime, I'm trying to decide between bitterly disappointed or bewildered as the summary...

Weekend Runners

Two runners confirmed for the weekend, with Sophisticate out for the 2R at Nakayama on the 21st (1800m on dirt) with Yutaka Yoshida in the saddle, and Tenshinramman, confirmed as okay for the Toji Tokubetsu race - the finale at the same meeting. Please show your support for them both...

Looking Good, Milord

Just seen a video of 'The Avonbridge Filly' on the gallops, and, it has to be said, she looks a real natural. According to The Lord (aka Michael Channon), she "tanks along and has taken to it readily" - you can't ask for more than that from a young filly tackling the gallops for the first time in a long train of horses. Here's a picture of the girl braving the English cold and damp. Can't wait to see her race, as I've a good feeling about this one...

Simply Divine

Courtesy Sunday TC

Divine Daughter from the Sunday Thoroughbred Club is coming along nicely, as you can see in the picture, which was taken a couple of days ago. She's still not as strong as the trainer would like her to be in her hind quarters, but she's definitely getting there. There's no word on her next outing as yet, but her training programme is quite tough now, with double sets of 15-second furlongs uphill. A bit more time and she'll be a very presentable racehorse....

Nothing much happening abroad at the moment, but I was told the 'Avonbridge Filly' and Raining Dollars are both doing well in their new training regimes. They are both still young, so there won't be much to report at this stage.

Not So Good

Courtesy Carrot Club

Agua-chan (pictured) started as second favourite at Kawasaki today, but her tension shot through the roof the minute she left the paddock, with the end result being a disappointing seventh. She should be out again at the next Kawasaki meeting, with a new bit to see if that helps any.

Meanwhile, Tenshinramman will have to wait and see if the race is on or not for the 21st, as 26 horses are trying to slot into 16 gate spaces! Even those that aren't very good at maths will see that isn't going to work, so I guess we will find out on Thursday.