Carrot Catch-Up

Of the four-year olds, Tenshinramman is back at Miho TC and there's no sign of the nosebleed she had recurring. As such, a decision on which race to enter her in next will be made soon. Much the same situation with Harmony Fair, with her training going well, and a race booking imminent. Mistoffelees is fast in practice, and thoughts of an 1800m dirt race at Niigata are circulating for the 17th or 18th; Ishikawa-kun will be in the saddle again, hoping to do better than last time. The same dates and track are being mooted for Miracle Rouge, with either an 1800m or 2000m run on turf being lined up.

Of the three-year old crop, Mephisto Waltz is entered at Niigata on the 10th in the 6R (a 2400m turf race), and there are a couple of proposals floating around for the 17th - Belle Plage at Tokyo-Fuchu in a 1400m turf race with Yutaka Yoshida at the controls, and Irish Harp at Kyoto in a 1400m dirt race. Dinner Bell should be out again in a couple of weeks, and the trainer wants one more race with Single Cask before the summer. Joyful Step has gone on an R&R trip, which is frankly wasting time and money - any horse so far off race-ready at this stage in the proceedings is never going to do anything but make up the numbers in the races no-one else wants to enter.

Of the younger horses, Time For Love has passed her gate test with ease, although she will have a break now, as she has rather a strong character and can't be pushed too hard. Seems fair enough.

News on the non-Carrot horses: The English filly, River Spirit, will indeed run at Warwick tomorrow, which is close to where I was born (my family has roots there anyway, as it happens). Back in Japan, Divine Daughter is back at Miho TC and will be ready for JRA action soon, and good ol' Phosphorus will be racing at Kawasaki at some time during the week beginning the 19th May. That's certainly something to look forward to.