CC Lemons

The latest batch of reports have just come in from Carrot Club. Belle Plage has gone to a different R&R spot, with its last race being in July 2013. I'm lucky to get a day off, let alone more than half a year! The hind quarters are giving True Motion grief, while there's no change in Glint Moment - there never is. Likewise, Joyful Step is still plodding along with no sign of a race in prospect. In fact, as with a few of the Carrot horses, I haven't even seen a picture of the horse since October. I'm starting to wonder if it actually exists. Dinner Bell is apparently full of the joys of spring, but with no training times, we can't see what that translates into. I suppose if you are doubtless going to come in at the back of the field anyway, being happy is better than being grumpy.

Cheek pieces are being tried on Sophisticate, with thoughts of 1400m or 1600m on dirt for the next race. And there are thoughts of trying Single Cask on dirt, too, maybe at the next Nakayama session, which starts in the first week of March. Apparently, Mephisto Waltz panics when too close to other horses. Why do British trainers run horses together in tight groups on the gallops? Well, there's your answer. It's now going on an R&R trip anyway, so that problem isn't going to get solved in a hurry.

Now here's an interesting one - Irish Harp clocked some good times today. It will run with others next week, first chasing, then level with them. The staff looking after the horse are saying dirt should suit the girl, and I know Cristian Demuro will give it his all. They are booked to race at Kyoto on the 22nd.

By the way, the names of the youngsters at the foot of the page should start coming through in a minute, probably at the end of the month. I dropped my suggestions in on the 'Avonbridge Filly' in England (I thought 'Queen Of Shiba' would be a fun play on words) and the new Sunday TC filly, but didn't bother with the Carrot Club horses this year - not a happy bunny on that front at all, as you've probably gathered by now. Even numerous mentions of my horses in this month's Eclipse has done little to soften my attitude - repair work will take a long time...

With luck, I shall be able to escape the office to see Phosphorus run tomorrow - a lot depends on the conditions of the roads, for if it freezes tonight, it's going to be like a skating rink around here. It would be nice to go and see 'Jaguar' at the very least, as I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from a lack of horse hair, warm nostrils checking for apple cookies, and slobber!