Just When You Think...

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does! This time, Mistoffelees has let me down badly. And I mean badly. Last! And not only last, but miles off the pace (almost three seconds). I have some points in Carrot Club that I shall use on the last of this year's crop, as I can exit the bloody organization and JRA that much sooner if I don't wait until the next catalogue to use them up...

Today's Also-Rans

Once again, Carrot Club came up with a magnificent catalogue of failures. From four runners, only Irish Harp performed anywhere near its expected level, and despite mentions of a possible victory in the pre-race reports and starting third favourite, a fourth place (two lengths down) was the best she could pick up. At the end of a long day, though, that seemed like a wonderful achievement!

Belle Plage was tenth, and no-one knows why, which means that the typical Carrot downhill trend has started with that horse now - one of the few real hopes of the 2011 crop. At least until today, and now it's as good as finished, like all the others from that year.

With the four-year olds, it was even worse, and you wouldn't have thought that was possible. The first shock: Harmony Fair. Oh, hold on, her 12th place wasn't a shock really, because this horse hates dirt - a fact that was established early on in no uncertain terms, then confirmed. For a trainer to then try it again is pathetic. There may only be 1000m turf races available, and that may not suit her perfectly, but it's a lot better than making the horse hate going to a track before the gate even opens and entering it in a race you know with absolute certainty she'll flop in. Ultimately, not only does it defy logic, highlighting the lack of JRA races that I've mentioned in the past, and the general low level of JRA trainer ability, which I've also mentioned before. There should be no entry until the right race comes along, or you may as well retire the thing now as unsuitable and save Carrot Club members some money.

Poor Miracle Rouge was the next disaster. She hates long distance travel, and while Niigata may have been pegged as her limit, the last time she was there in August, she was a massive 22kg lighter! The start was OK, but the jockey dropped behind way too much, making the good start irrelevant, then held her back too long and left himself in a dreadful position even if there had been anything in the tank - it was his fault for putting the horse where he did, and then the crap really hit the fan as she cruised in in 11th. It was a total waste of an entry. Again. From what I saw, if she lost 10kg and raced in two weeks time with Uchida-san on her back, she might have a chance. Otherwise, please retire her, too, so I can invest in an enterprise more deserving of my support.

I notice Classic Curl has put some pennies in the coffers by retiring before racing, and let's hope Glint Moment does the same, because it's way too late in the season to start a campaign...

Weekend Warriors

We've got five runners over the weekend: On the 17th, Irish Harp is in the opener at Kyoto (1400m dirt) with Yuichi Fukunaga in the saddle, and Belle Plage is in Tokyo with Yutaka Yoshida in the 4R, also 1400m over dirt. At Niigata, Harmony Fair tackles the 1200m dirt race before Miracle Rouge finishes off the meeting with Makoto Sugihara in the 1800m turf 12R. On the next day at Niigata, Mistoffelees is out with Yukito Ishikawa again, competing in the 9R and looking for revenge for that less than brilliant outing the last time they paired up.

Looking further ahead, Single Cask is being lined up for Niigata on the 24th in a 1200m dirt race for young jockeys only, and Dinner Bell should be out on the same day at the same venue. That run will almost certainly seal her fate - Mephisto Waltz has already been retired, and if Dinner Bell can't pick up the pace, she will doubtless be joining him. Not long after, on the 1st June, Divine Daughter will line up for the 1300m dirt race at Tokyo-Fuchu, but might tackle Niigata in the week before if she looks good.

On the NAR front, Phosphorus will run at Kawasaki on the 19th May in the 1500m 4R, while plans are afoot to get Monsoon Trough out and about as soon as possible. As things stand, a debut for the end of June or early July is being mooted.

River-Chan Second

Courtesy Neil Stuart

River Spirit came home second in the opening race at Lingfield yesterday, performing really well and confirming her potential as a good little filly to watch out for over the next few months. An old mate who I went to school with, who also likes his horses, watched the race and thought she'd got it at one point. But thanks to the Channon family pulling her away from the heavy ground at Warwick and going for a race that they knew would suit her better, we can all be happy...

Aussie Update

Raining Dollars had another trial race (jump out) last week, and everyone was happy with his run - he shows real potential, and is a willing horse eager to please. He's pulled a muscle during the race, reacting to a track crossing that made him jump a bit, but it's nothing serious by any means. However, being the caring trainer she is, Jo Hassett is giving him a week or so off to let things mend naturally, and then his training programme can be stepped up to get him race-ready. Fun times ahead...