Dull Feeling

If it was any other horse, I'd be happy enough with a third place - more than happy, in fact. But the horse in question is something too special to be happy with a third, two-and-a-half lengths down on the winner, in a lower league than she should be in, and with a lightweight rider to boot. Okay, it's an improvement on the last few outings, which were frankly bloody awful, but it's still nowhere near what she's capable of - the last 3F time is particularly disappointing. Maybe the trainer saying she wasn't 100% before the race holds a clue to the result, although race rust is probably just as big a factor, which is possibly why she was entered in less than perfect condition. After all, she was supposed to be running again soon after her May race, but today was ultimately her next outing, following a nine-week break. If she's run quickly after this with the same jockey, who should have some idea of how she handles after today, she might just be able to reclaim some pride. If the thoughts are shifting towards another long R&R session, it would be better to let her retire with a 2-2-1 record...

All Go In Chiba

As you can imagine, I wanted to get the report on the win up ASAP yesterday, but with work starting at just gone 5am, training with 'Bugatti' (his first real dressage training going very well indeed), more work until I'd reached the target I'd set earlier in the day, and then the local fete straight after, I just couldn't face the computer again when I got back after nine...

Tenshinramman runs later today, and it will be interesting to see what she does. Her recent record simply doesn't reflect 10% of her ability. Fingers crossed!

River Spirit is booked to run in the 2:20 at Brighton on the 6th, which is the five-furlong Lexi Boo Strickland Nursery Handicap Stakes. I love this little horse and the team behind her (1-1-2 from six runs), so I'm looking forward to that. She should be pairing up with Danny Cremin on the day, although the 2:45 at Windsor on the 10th has been added as a back-up. Also got some huge news from Australia for you, but first I need a cup (bucket) of tea to kick-start my system.

Paddy Power

Yesterday morning, Irish Harp finally clocked up her first win in Sapporo, which is number 17 for the Long family. This lovely horse - my number one choice of all the Carrot crop from 2011 - has had a remarkably strong race record, yet never quite managed to get the rub of the green that translates stirling endeavor into a winning equation. Yesterday, things went well for her, and with Fukunaga-san in determined mood - pushed hard by Sugai-sensei, no doubt - she won by a two-length margin. Now everyone can relax, and she can take a well-earned rest whilst plans for a fresh campaign are made. Super effort from everyone involved. Thank you!

Next up was Single Cask, and, although the eighth place finish was disappointing on paper, she ran well until she started fading badly at the end. The move up in class obviously hurts at the moment, but being just 0.6 seconds down on the winner means she's not of her depth completely.

Weekend Trio

The three runners mentioned in the first paragraph of the 'Building Up' piece issued yesterday have all been confirmed to race at the weekend. In theory, all three are actually in with a chance of winning - Tenshinramman is (or at least was) a superstar; Single Cask has already got one in the bag, and Irish Harp has been incredibly unlucky not to win so far.

In other Carrot Club news, a decision will be made on the next step for Belle Plage in a couple of weeks, and Time For Love is now at the Nakagawa Stable at Miho TC. Apparently she has a bit of a throat problem, which doesn't sound too promising, while Perfumer is hyper, which sounds a lot like 'Bugatti' was in the paddock this morning!

Meanwhile, I'm tempted by another horse with Jo Hassett in Australia, the deal only really being questioned by a serious cash outlay securing 'Bugatti' and getting Louis entered in the All-Japan Championships. I've also still got this jumper thing in my mind - the jumping game seems to be disappearing in Oz, as a friendly stable Down Under tells me I'm the only one interested in getting hold of a hurdler at the moment. Another friendly stable in Ireland looks good, but 25% is a big risk on something new to me, while a different one hasn't bothered to get back to me. Same story with Nick Gifford - it's surprising how many stables can afford to throw away the chance of doing some business...

One In, One Out...

Poor old Phosphorus is suffering from a heat a bit, which is perfectly understandable, so Yano-sensei has released him for a little R&R somewhere cooler, up in the north island. Whether he runs at Kawasaki or not is up to him and the way he recovers, and that's fine by me, as this fella has the potential to be something very special. But as one star leaves Funabashi for a bit, another comes to take up residence - yes, today Pop Label arrived at Kawashima-sensei's place, and will soon be back in the game. With any luck, these two superb horses will make a formidable pair in the months to come...

Building Up

The Carrot Club entries have suddenly started to liven up for August, with Irish Harp expected to run at Sapporo on the 2nd. She will team up with Yuichi Fukunaga in the 2R, which is a 1700m dirt race. On the same day, we can expect Single Cask to run in the 12R (1200m on dirt) with Kazuma Harada, and then Harada-kun gets to try Tenshinramman at Niigata on the 3rd. They join forces for the 7R (1400m on turf), although the trainer is already playing things down. What on Earth has happened to this magnificent creature? I'd dearly love to see the 'Tenny' of old running free and strong. On the other hand, Miracle Rouge is apparently much brighter now, although nothing has been stated beyond that...

Courtesy Carrot Club

Joyful Step (pictured here before last week's fourth place) is pencilled in for the 16th at Niigata with Keita Ban in the 1800m dirt race. Harmony Fair is supposed to be running there on the following day in the 1800m turf slot, but a jockey has yet to be named. In reality - and I never thought I'd see the day when I said this -
I fancy Joyful Step to put up the better performance
of the two, as Harmony is the epitome of the one hit wonder, while Joyful made a magnificent effort last weekend and has shown a vast level of improvement that has frankly taken me quite by surprise.

Beaten Up

Despite starting as second favourite (she was actually top in the betting for a long time), Beat The Boarder got beaten to a pulp this afternoon, coming home in tenth. Shun-kun picked a nice line at the end, but there was seemingly nothing in the tank when he asked her to go in the closing stages. She didn't look very interested in the job in hand in the paddock, and without the benefit of knowing exactly what happened on the track today, as the reports have yet to filter through, she looked all too much like a one hit wonder out there. Devastated...

On the Carrot Club side, the news doesn't get any better. True Motion is still on walking machine duty, which makes a quick comeback unlikely, and without hitting the track again quickly - like Belle Plage did - all the problems we had last time will come around again and haunt us. As for Glint Moment, well the operation was a success and he's back in training. However, looking at his last outing on video, I don't honestly think it will make any difference -
I didn't see a tension problem worthy of concern, only a conditioning problem. We can expect him to neigh an octave higher, but beyond that, I wouldn't count on any major changes.

PS. The report on BTB's race wasn't really conclusive. Maybe it was the jump in class? Maybe she didn't like the sand with so many horses kicking it up, but it didn't seem to bother her during her debut outing. Anyway, the jockey is saying she lost concentration going into the corner, and that she'd benefit from ear covers. At the same time, the trainer is saying she didn't race at all today, which is plain to see, so she'll be out again very soon.

NAR Nuggets

No, nothing to do with dodgy chicken, just a quick update on the NAR horses. With Louis having a busy (and tiring) week ahead of him, and Sophie not being 100% after too much sun on Sunday, we've decided to watch today's race for Beat The Boarder on the TV. It's the 1400m 2R at TCK, with Shun Ishizaki in the saddle. Good luck to them both!

Fujikawa-kun - Phosphorus' groom - had noted he was starting to show signs of tiredness, which is hardly surprising given his heroic race schedule in recent months. But even in the extreme heat we've been experiencing, he's now back to his usual self, and I'm already looking forward to seeing him run at the next Kawasaki meeting.

'Bugatti'

It seems like such a long time since 'Jaguar' (Mayano Time) retired, but a suitable replacement for him has now been found - a Thoroughbred that has a similar aura to the onry one, but he's bigger (his race weight was about 20kg heavier than 'Jaguar' at similar ages), a lot younger, less snappy, and full of spirit and potential.

He was born in April 2008 and registered as Segesta in his racing days - a name derived from the ancient city on Sicily. Based at Kiyoaki Sasaki's stables at Funabashi, he won two NAR races in his debut year, and another in 2012. He also picked up a couple of thirds along the way, but retired after a poor result in February 2013.

Although the 3-0-2 record from 16 starts is only fairly impressive compared to Mayano Time's excellent 4-3-4 and Tempai's truly remarkable 7-1-3, he also had three fourths, a fifth and three sixth places, so he did a pretty good job for his owners, that's for sure. And compared to normal, three wins is a real cause for celebration - most horses go through entire careers winning nothing at all...

With regard to his bloodlines, he was sired by Black Hawk, who won the G1 Sprinter's Stakes in 1999, and the G1 Yasuda Kinen in 2001. He had numerous top three places in all manner of graded races, finally ending up with a 9-8-6 record from 28 outings. Black Hawk comes from the Northern Dancer line via Nureyev, while his mother, Silver Lane, was third in the Irish Oaks and carried the Roberto DNA I love so much.

On the dam side, Segesta's mother is Meg Love Chime, who won a couple of races, but her most important role has been in passing on the blood of King Glorious (her father, and winner of two G1 dirt races in the States), who comes from the Mr Prospector line. On her mother's side, we have Alleged, and Sadler's Wells, with the latter's sire bringing about a Northern Dancer cross scenario (S3xM5) for Segesta. Now all that needs to be done is to re-register him as 'Bugatti', and then the fun begins...

Spirited Run

With Paddy falling ill before the race, Danny Cremin took over the reins at the last minute, and did a good job bringing River Spirit home in second. The winner got the jump on her this time, but today's result takes her record to 1-2-2 from eight starts. A pleasing day all-round, especially when one takes the long journey she'd had to make to get to the track into account. What a dame!

Next race for me is Beat The Boarder with Shun Ishizaki (just back from injury) at TCK; they pair up for the 2R on the 29th. It will be interesting to see how she does...