Excitement Over

Well, apart from Raining Dollars having a jump-out in Australia tomorrow, it's all gone very quiet all of a sudden. Depending on his condition, there's a chance Pop Label might run in the Funabashi meeting at the end of September to get rid of some race-rust, but according to his groom, he's a long way off the Pop he'd like to see entering the arena. That's fair enough, and it's better with a horse of this calibre to get him absolutely perfect and mount a proper campaign. Mikamoto-san is saying this is a special beast, too, so we all have strong hopes for a long-term winner.

After that, Single Cask is being lined up for a 1000m turf race at Niigata on the 21st September, while True Motion may make it to the track next week, but it's more likely to be the same weekend at Single Cask. Glint Moment missed out on a berth for the 14th, so hopefully will get one at Hanshin on the 21st. Meanwhile, Joyful Step is tired all over, but the trainer is determined to try one more race with her. On the other hand, Ogata-sensei is holding Belle Plage back. There's a temptation to enter a big Stakes race, but it is being resisted because the horse comes before the potential of a few extra dollar signs. I love this guy! When Belle does line up at the start in the next few weeks, we'll know she's 100% fit and raring to go. Whichever way we look at it, though, the Long family's 22nd win is a long way off...

I guess we have to look at the riding side instead for a while, and today 'Bugatti' was superb. After Sunday's clinic, he now has a beautiful walking gait, and doesn't rear up any more on the transition from trot to canter. I think he's got it - we finally have a gearbox with more speeds than a my-pace walk and gallop in it! He's been entered in two dressage competitions and a 60cm show-jumping event to get him started. After that, the serious training begins, and hopefully we'll have an L1 horse by the middle of next August.

PS. The Raining Dollars trial run went well, with only the last 100m causing him any kind of difficulty. With his long spell away from the track, that's not really surprising, and so everyone is happy with progress. Watch this space!

Mega!

Courtesy Jo Hassett

Today's news is not just big news, it's mega! Yes, Pretty Gully and Braydn Swaffer passed the post first in Townsville this afternoon in a 1200m handicap race. The ground obviously suited her today, and she simply left everyone else in her wake. What a dame!

This is my first winner in Australia, and to make it extra special, Braydn was wearing the Godiva Racing ('JLH Away') colours. There is a thought that the black, orange and white silks might be lucky, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's more likely to be the hard work Jo Hassett and her crew at JLH have put in behind the scenes. By all accounts, Pretty Gully (aka Rosie) is not the easiest of girls to figure out. Congratulations to all concerned, including the co-owners.

As it happens, Raining Dollars (aka Ted) is in a jump-out with JLH Racing tomorrow, which should be the springboard he needs for his racing career. Now there's something else to look forward to. In the meantime, I think cracking open a bottle seems like a good idea...

He's Back!

Pop Label is back! He was a strong and impressive juvenile champion, but then picked up an injury that forced him out of racing for almost a year. Now he's in perfect condition again and, looking at his test run at Funabashi this morning, anxious to return to the winner's circle! He has a super team behind, moulded by the late, great Kawashima-sensei, and with Norifumi Mikamoto, I think he'll be the horse to beat over the coming year...

In other news, Pretty Gully is in action in Australia tomorrow. It's a tough race, apparently, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens. At least the JLH Racing camp is full of enthusiasm and passion, and that's important to me. We could also see the debut of the JLH 'away' colours. After that, Raining Dollars takes part in a jump-out on the following day, so it's all happening Down Under.

Loss Of A Hero

Terrible news from Funabashi - Kawashima-sensei has passed away after gallantly fighting a long illness... 

Today is actually my wife's birthday, but it shall go down in history as a sad day for racing, and a sad day for us all that knew and loved the man. He was one of those special characters that simply cannot be replaced. At this stage, I simply don't know what else to say, other than I shall treasure my memories of him every time I see the three pictures of him in my office. My thoughts are with his family as we have to try and come to terms with another hero lost to this world. RIP.