Bad Hair Day

We start the day's news round-up with the retirement of Classic Curl (pictured). She broke a bone in her leg after training yesterday, and that signs and seals her career - her scorecard will read 0-0-0-0 as she never even got near a race track. With Joyful Step and Glint Moment also nowhere to be seen, and Agua De Vida's future in the balance, there could be a few more names prematurely disappearing from the bottom of the page, and only Agua having done anything. I guess, if nothing else, with her nice bloodlines and respectable race record, she should go on to become a broodmare at some stage...

Courtesy Carrot Club

In other Carrot Club news, Dinner Bell - the slowest horse in the east, if not the whole world - is due out on the 15th at Chukyo in a 1400m turf race with Keita Ban in the saddle. I almost feel sorry for the young lad! Irish Harp is booked for the 15th, too, at Hanshin. Miracle Rouge will be hoping for some revenge at Chukyo on the 16th in a mile turf run, while Single Cask is now booked for a 1200m dirt race at Nakayama on the 21st.

On the Sunday TC front, Divine Daughter has her name down for a 1200m dirt race at Nakayama on the 16th, but the trainer doubts whether her entry will be accepted. Will shall know more tomorrow. The other news from this club is that Pop Label has started training properly again, and I literally can't wait to see this beast back in action.

Finally, the Shadai TC beauty, Phosphorus, will hopefully race in the 3R at Funabashi on the 19th, which should be exciting - fourth first time out, third the next, then second, you can see what I'm hoping for in his fourth race. He showed some real speed in that last run, and wasn't even breathing heavy at the end, eager to tuck into his feed while the rivals he was up against couldn't even look at food, let alone eat it! If he decides to go into top gear and show his mettle, we might be able to witness the birth of a star.