Rouge Card

Well, I can't say as I'm surprised - Miracle Rouge came home in a wildly disappointing 14th, which is her worst result by far. She had ran once before at Chukyo, and her bad result that time was put down to the long travel involved getting to the track. Why on Earth the trainer felt things would be different this time around is beyond my comprehension. He's saying she was in good condition before the race, but if the horse doesn't like long distances in the truck (which was used as an excuse only three months ago), it doesn't make any difference whether it's in the best condition since the day it was born or coughing up blood at the slightest sign of exertion - it simply will not perform well, period. This loss has to rank high up alongside Tenshinramman's mysterious fall from grace in the dismay stakes, but could have been avoided had track records been taken into account. It's nearly as pathetic as entering a horse that hates dirt in a dirt race, and then doing it again just to make sure what the horse was telling you the first time - in unspoken but painfully clear language - wasn't a porky. And yes, that has happened, too! Should I expect more from Carrot Club and the JRA trainers? I should have a right to, at least, but why bother - it only breeds yet more disappointment. A red card for all concerned...

Another Jumper

Today, we gained another jumper in the family, with Sophie taking her first ever fence with 'Jaguar'. The first one wasn't amazing, but got the job done, while the second and third jumps were quite pleasing. That was the point where we decided to quit while we were ahead, but Sophie was smiling from ear to ear and 'Jaguar' was obviously happy to do it - he'd have just stopped and threw Sophie over his head if he wasn't, as he's that way inclined! It's been a real pleasure watching these two grow up together, and the Gymkhana GP is their next target. Interestingly, Jaguar may well be moving up in the dressage categories, too, as Louis will be practicing the L1 class with him - he may well even take Orion's place in the All-Japan Championships at this rate...

Harps & Bells

Well, Irish Harp had a good start, but started losing concentration at a critical stage of the race, allowing the others to catch up. Mirco then picked up the pace in response, but she didn't quite have enough in the tank to take the spoils. But a third place is one of the best Carrot results in ages, and the jockey seems to think the horse has potential and the distance is good for her, so who knows what will happen next time...

At the other extreme, not long after, as expected, Dinner Bell came in at the back of the field. There are times when to keep trying is the way forward - a sign of true grit. But there are times when to continue flogging a dead horse is a sign of stupidity rather than resolve. To continue running Dinner Bell falls into the stupidity category, and to the highest possible degree to boot. She hasn't inherited a single ounce of any of the DNA that was supposed to have been passed on by her ancestors, to the point where you wonder if the dam had an affair (probably with a donkey), and is best retired while she can be of use in another field of activity.

Three Runners

We have three Carrot Club horses running this weekend, although I don't hold out much hope to be perfectly frank. Irish Harp has the best chance, out for the 3R at Hanshin on the 15th. For some reason, the trainer has gone with Mirco Demuro, who would be an excellent choice on turf, but for dirt, I'd have definitely stuck with his brother, Cristian, who is just getting used to the beast. I wish them luck anyway, as Mirco is a good guy, just like his sibling...

Dinner Bell races (I use the word 'races' with heavy reservations) at Chukyo on the same day. She takes part in the 5R with Ban-kun in the saddle, and will probably come last or damned close to it, as per usual. If it does no good this time, I can only pray it will be withdrawn from training and thus stop wasting money. Then, at the same track on Sunday, Miracle Rouge puts in an appearance in the 9R with Hironobu Tanabe at the controls. The problem is, Miracle, who I do happen to love dearly, ran her worst ever race there not so long ago. This is the first time she's gone back, but we don't know if it's the long-distance travel that brought about the bad result, the track, or if it was just an off day. I guess we'll find out soon enough, but you can see why my confidence is hardly sky high.

PS. I've just spotted that Cristian was actually back racing in Europe, so choosing Mirco makes a lot more sense now. 

Red Nose Day

Tenshinramman has been withdrawn from the Nakayama race and sent off for an R&R session - apparently she has a nosebleed, and it must be a pretty heavy one to warrant a major rest. This can mean one of several things, but reading between the lines, knowing the way these things happen with Thoroughbreds, it's not a good sign for the future. She was about the only Carrot Club horse that stood any realistic chance of winning this year, assuming she could regain her form one way or another. But that's it! Well, at least the trainer won't have to make any awkward decisions on the jockey.

Glint Moment and Joyful Step are still pissing about doing a level of so-called training that 'Jaguar' does for a warm-up. The sooner someone comes clean and states once and for all that these will never make racehorses the better.

Not very good news on the Shadai Group front either, with Beat The Border showing stress in her right front leg. X-rays have shown no bone damage, so that's something. Let's hope she is able to go back in training soon. Meanwhile, Divine Daughter won't be able to race this weekend, but at least the horse has a positive attitude now, and that's something to build on in the future.

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.

As We Remember...

Today is the third anniversary of the Higashi-Nihon Earthquake, which still holds strong images in the minds of all of us fortunate enough to live through it. That the house stood up to it is nothing short of amazing, and I'm thankful I managed to keep all my friends when so many souls perished after the tsunami that followed the quake crashed into the eastern seaboard...

Nothing much to report on the racing front, with six JRA Carrot Club reports saying very little, although Agua De Vida will have to have a spell of enforced rest - that last race of hers took its toll, and she has a little pain in her right shoulder that won't seem to go away. This is the only NAR runner I have with Carrot Club, but I'm guessing I may have none soon reading between the lines.

At least there's some bright news coming out of Australia, with Raining Dollars (pictured here, fresh back from his training break) going to race in my colours. In reality, they will be classed as JLH Racing's "away kit" as far as I'm concerned, but it was extremely kind of Jo Hassett and the other shareholders to allow it - a consolation prize to make up for me being thousands of miles away from the action apparently, which is a beautiful gesture, and one that's much appreciated. In the not too distant future, I want to wind-up the JRA campaign and devote a lot more energy in a southerly direction.

Very Jaguar...

Jaguar, as usual, did his almost comical level of jumping at Tomisato this morning, clearing fences by a staggering amount. He spent so much time in the air, in fact, that Louis was unable to pace his run right at all, dropping him down the field. But it was a clear, safe run, and both horse and rider enjoyed themselves, which is good. We now have a dilemma, though - do we go for 80cm or even 100cm fences, and risk the crazy beast jumping even higher than he does already, or do we stick at 60cm simply for his enjoyment? It's obvious that Jaguar loves jumping a lot more than Dressage, which is why we enter him in the competitions in the first place, so who knows...

Sophie won the Japan Cup gymkhana with Jaguar in the afternoon, but she now makes it look so easy, she'll have to move up a class into the Grand Prix category. This involves a jump at the end of the speed and control section, and although it's only a crossbar, you can see what Jaguar is like! He never jumps anything less than 80cm when faced with any obstacle, and it's usually a damned sight higher than that - often in the 110cm-120cm range. This means Sophie will have to start show-jumping training to make sure that if he does do a 'Jaguar Special' and launch like a rocket, at least she'll be able to handle it. Fun times ahead!