Legitimate Right

There are a few people asking why I'm so fed up with Carrot Club, and the JRA horses in particular. Well, it's a fair question that deserves an answer, and, unlike the faceless organization in question that won't respond to me, I shall be happy to give a reply. After reading it, I'm sure you will agree that I have a legitimate right to take umbrage.

Last season, I had horses running left, right and centre - mixed results, but at least they were out there. During 2013 and 2014, I've had hardly anything running, despite a large increase in the number of horses owned, and when they do run, they run like donkeys and the trainers are left scratching their heads while they come up with an excuse they haven't already used. And, boy, are they running out of those!

There are horses that will never do any good, like Dinner Bell and Mephisto Waltz, and that's fair enough - only magicians can make a precious stone from a lump of coal. But there are so many good horses that are not performing anywhere near their potential. One cannot possibly blame the Miho and Ritto facilities, which are some of the best in the world, and that's a fact.  

TENSHINRAMMAN: She had a glittering start to her career, posting a 33.1 second 3F time and missing out on qualifying for the 2013 Japanese Oaks by a whisker, which would have probably been avoidable had the jockey remembered what the whip was for! She picked up two wins and two seconds from five rides. She was blocked out of her first comeback, so awaiting the second comeback with bated breath, I watch her come in in 13th. She was tired apparently, after four-and-a-half months of training for the event! I don't buy it.

HARMONY FAIR: Won first time out, and has done absolutely nothing since. There were other horses that the club let go that didn't win early on, but certainly had a higher potential. These were sold and started winning in NAR straight away, while Harmony makes up the numbers once in a blue moon and wastes my money.

MIRACLE ROUGE: No complaints on this one, as she's given real value for money. Races are perhaps too rich for her level of talent nowadays, but at least she fights like a trooper.

MISTOFFELEES: The fourth and last remaining of the 2010 crop, he's a bit like 'Jaguar' in his character, in that you catch him on a good day and he's going to be hard to beat, while on a bad day you might as well not unload him from the trailer. Again, though, at least he's a fighter, and has been out 11 times. I also like the fact that Saito-san, the trainer, has a face.

BELLE PLAGE: The first of the 2011 crop. Fourth in June 2013, and second two weeks later. Then six months of nothing, except reports that are so familiar, even I can read them. And I don't read Japanese!

TRUE MOTION: Showed real potential in the June 2013 debut, then a four month wait for a disaster followed by silence on the line.

SOPHISTICATE: A great debut followed by two awful results in quick succession. And this was a horse that was highlighted as being something special in early training. The trainer keeps going for longer distances, when it's obvious shorter is better.

IRISH HARP: Showed real promise in its debut run, then, wow, yet another disaster to add to the catalogue of disasters, despite running on the same track at the same distance. I've not seen this horse run for three months.

SINGLE CASK: Another horse that has shown it has what it takes in the right race with the right jockey. So why choose the wrong race for it, and then announce you're going to make an even worse move in the future?

DINNER BELL: This horse is so slow, I could beat it - walking! It shouldn't be allowed near a track, unless it's used in lead-out duty.

MEPHISTO WALTZ: Quicker than Dinner Bell, but only just. I'd have to run to beat it.

JOYFUL STEP: Bought in Autumn 2012, and still hasn't raced! Will it ever race? They certainly can't win, or pick up any money at all for that matter, if they don't run.

CLASSIC CURL: Ditto Joyful Step.

GLINT MOMENT: Ditto Joyful Step and Classic Curl.

So, there we go. And as the season progresses, I believe things can only get worse, as far
too many horses vie for far too few gate slots in suitable races. Why on earth JRA doesn't concentrate on turf and leave the dirt races to NAR, I shall never know. At least it would double the amount of potential race chances for younger horses. Greed? Let's face it, the JRA boys are quick enough to scoop up the big prizes in NAR whenever the chance arises. Whatever. One thing is for sure, though - JRA's current policy, aided and abetted by the clubs, desperate for nothing more than fresh income, certainly doesn't help in the overall development of Thoroughbred horses, as so few are given the opportunity to show their true potential...