We're Back!

No idea what happened yesterday, but we're back! I'm afraid that although I'm mechanically-minded, computers and suchlike are akin to black magic as far as I'm concerned, so I'm very much at the mercy of software giants not moving things on too quickly - I prefer to stick with what I know works, and recently I'm hitting all sorts of problems downloading material from bigger companies that move with the times. I even struggle to see some regular sites nowadays, including the 'Yes! Come On Funabashi' one, although my second PC and mobile both pick it up okay. If nothing else, the scary moment has encouraged me to back everything up, as I do with my work files.

First the good news while we were away - Belle Plage was given a full page in the Eclipse magazine, and 'Bugatti' has been learning all sorts of new tricks to enable him to compete in L1 dressage tests. If only I was as quick at learning computer stuff! Then we have the bad news, as we had another awful run of JRA results. First, Single Cask was last, despite starting as sixth favourite. Her performance was so bad (2.2 seconds off the pace), that she was checked over for injuries, but it was just a case of poor preparation by the sound of things. Harmony Fair, meanwhile, was tenth, never really keeping up with the runaway leading group, although I think the jockey is at fault on this one, as he hung too far back for the fast pace and stronger competition. As expected, she was much better in the truck and her tension was just right thanks to the back-to-back run, but the advantage was wasted and now she'll go for an R&R session, taking us back to square one again. Ummm. I'm saying nothing...

Modern Technology

Struggling to access the blog from my PC at the moment. Please bear with me until I can get rid of the gremlins...

PS. I'd tried to check-in very early in the morning, and was told Safari couldn't find the page. For a little while, at least, my mobile could get it, enabling me to get out the message, but that died, too. When I tried late at night, still nothing, although it's as if nothing happened this morning - we're back to firing on all cylinders.

Pop Culture

Well, Tenshinramman looks as good as finished, and Miracle Rouge has gone for an R&R session, although why I don't know - after the effort used in the last race, she should have still been fresh enough to fight on the following day. Pathetic really, but there we go...

Courtesy Sunday TC

Despite what seems like the holiday season for the Carrot Club horses, we have two runners at Fukushima on the 8th, at least, with Single Cask in the 1200m turf 8R, with Harada-kun stepping up again in a young jockey race. Harmony Fair did manage to get a berth in the 12R somehow - the Saigo Tokubetsu over 1800m on turf. We've got the same jockey as last week, and the same distance, so you never know. Notwithstanding, though, my money will go on Rush Attack if he gets the planned mile run at Tokyo-Fuchu on the 16th.

Beat The Boarder should be in NAR action in the 8R at Tokyo TCK on the 13th (a 1200m C2 race), and Phosphorus will hopefully run at Funabashi in the first week of December. Meanwhile, Pop Label (pictured) is registered for the Morioka Derby Grand Prix on the 24th as first reserve. If that falls through, there's the big race with JRA at TCK two days later, although Tokyo horses have priority in that one. As another back-up, there's either a regular race at TCK, or Funabashi on the 2nd December. At least there are options in NAR!

50,000

Today, the visitor counter for the blog, which I started in September 2012, has just clocked up the 50,000 mark, with people from more than 70 countries taking a peek. Some of what I've written may be a little controversial, but it comes from the heart. My work is judged publicly, all over the world - I don't see why others should be able to hide in an ivory tower when they're taking our money in beefy chunks. I suppose I'm too straight for my own good sometimes - if I like something, I say so, and stay more loyal than a Dobermann. By the same token, if I'm not happy, people know about it pretty soon. This may not be the Japanese way, but it's my way, and I'm too damned old and cussed to change! Thankfully, though, most of the blog's content contains happy memories - looking back on pictures of 'Jaguar' and the kids never fails to bring a warm feeling inside, for the relationship between a Thoroughbred and its owner and/or rider will always be something special. The speed with which a bond has been created with 'Bugatti' has frankly amazed me, and I look forward to reporting on his progress over the next few years - he's a superb animal.

About the only other news is that River Spirit, a charming filly, was sold last night, leaving me with nothing running in England at the moment. As soon as I post this, the 2015 UK flat season plans will be put into action! Please keep tuning in...

Comical

Well, I've had my little moan for the day, and now it's time to look at something a lot more lighthearted. As you may remember, 'Bugatti' was working hard over the weekend, doing dressage and show-jumping duty, so even though Monday was a Bank Holiday, we thought we'd give him a break. Notwithstanding, he needs his exercise, so we dropped a saddle on him and left off the reins, leading him around the small training area as if it was a parade ring. Usually, he's way too highly strung to try this - he wants to go as soon as the tacking up is completed - but after the eventful two days, his tension was just right, and both Louis and Sophie gained some valuable practice with a quite different beast to 'Jaguar', walking him, and even taking him up to a controlled light trot on the lead. I only wish I'd got Megumi's graphic instructions on camera, as they were truly comical! Even Benny Hill would have been proud...

Shocked? Not Really...

Absolutely nothing to report on the racing front of any significance, although Harmony Fair's preferred next race is heavily oversubscribed, so I guess she'll now miss the perfect opportunity to prove herself, sit doing nothing for weeks, probably at a holiday camp, and then return to the tracks as a novice again - it's a waste of shareholders' money and a horse's potential. Still left wondering when on Earth the JRA people will begin to realize the system simply doesn't work? Unless you're looking at it from a civil service point of view, of course, or the eyes of an accountant, and then it works perfectly!

The situation highlights something I wrote to a friend in the racing game Down Under not so long ago, after yet another disastrous performance. Basically, I noted that the gap between good English trainers and the majority of those out here is wider than the Atlantic Ocean. By and large, the Japanese trainers are like politicians - family background counts for 80% of entry criteria, and once you're in, you're set for life, regardless of ability. Although there are some good ones, and a handful of really good ones, I don't think half of them know the slightest thing beyond passing a paper test, although, in all fairness, the system (JRA restricts the number of races each year) certainly doesn't help. At least in England, you can book maybe three races in a week, each at an ideal distance, then choose which is best in view of the weather and competition. Here, they just stick a horse in wherever there's an all-too-rare slot. If a horse likes fast ground, tough luck that it's been raining hard for a week, because if you don't run it on the booked date, the distance option goes. I had one trainer state one of mine hated dirt after a single attempt, but it's next race was dirt anyway, simply because there were no turf races available. The system is pathetic - good horses being wasted, because there's too many of them in the country and nowhere near enough races to cater for their numbers. The simple maths should tell people that JRA isn't going to work in terms of Thoroughbred development, only in terms of making obscene amounts of money for the chosen few...

So, why have I still got shares in so many JRA horses? Well, most of them were bought before I realized the system was so out of synch - it all looks sweet from the viewpoint of a pure spectator, full of glitz and glamour and nice tracks. Then, having bought into an NAR horse, a couple of others in the catalogue were too tempting for the boy and I to look the other way - one for bloodlines, the other to support a trainer who has done well with Belle Plage. There won't be any more, though. I look forward to going back to enjoying JRA as nothing more than an enthusiast, with no financial interest or deep thoughts on what's going on. Yes, I really did enjoy it once, which is why I wanted to get more involved! Meanwhile, thank God for the beauty of NAR racing, otherwise I'd be going insane while I'm patiently waiting for my JRA era to end.

Another Reunion

Just going through the photos of yesterday's competition, and this one jumped off the screen, as it captures a special moment for me. Louis can be seen adjusting the reins before 'Bugatti' did his first ever show-jumping round (they ultimately came third), but it's great to see Noguchi-san holding him at the front - a throwback to racing days when Noguchi-san was his groom and he was called Segesta instead of Bugatti. The mutual love and respect between these two is precious - an object lesson for all horsemen...