Win #24!

After an incredibly tense morning, in which every horse at the Tokoro stable seemed to feel Spring was in the air (particularly 'Bugatti', who decided to go back to yearling racehorse mode and give Louis the best rodeo practice he'll ever get short of riding a mad bull!), it was nice to get home with everyone in one piece. I've come to expect Louis to handle whatever is thrown at him, but I don't mind saying I was proud of him this morning, and I'm just as proud of Sophie - an 11-year old, who still mounted up later despite having seen what she'd seen. What a great team these three have become...

After putting the kettle on, I then checked on the JRA results, and with Massabielle running a 2000m debutante's turf race, the video was available, so that was what I watched first. Good clean start, I thought, and then disaster - he hit another horse, or at least baulked badly, and dropped back down the field as fast as the others went forward. Here we go again! But Masaki Katsuura held on, and the horse just kept going, albeit ten lengths down going into the third corner. It was then that he picked up the pace, going around the outside like a steam train, and by the time the uphill finishing straight arrived, he was already finding his line to the post. Katsuura-san never touched the whip, but still the horse found yet another gear as a challenger mounted his attack, and the win was his. When the picture I posted yesterday arrived, I said to the missus that it looked the part, but such a remarkable performance was beyond my wildest dreams. This is definitely one to watch!!

PS. Just looking at the post-race data, and Massa's 35.3 last 3F time was the same as that posted in the 12R - the same distance, but with the older, more experienced racers. Given that the jockey says there's a lot more muscle to come, it does make you wonder what we've unleashed.

Gutted!

Poor Beat The Boarder got a bad gate draw at TCK - yet again! The chances of constantly getting an outside berth must be almost the same as me winning the Eurovision Song Contest, but we keep getting an awful gate position - one that in Tokyo at the distance we was running is almost impossible to do well from. As a result, Shun Ishizaki just cruised her around, giving her a good dose of sand along the way so she could get used to it. It's bloody annoying, because she looked superb in the paddock.

To rub salt in the wound, Pop Label can't get a run at TCK on the 28th, so we'll have to wait for the next Funabashi meeting. I must thank Teruya Yoshida for his words in the Shadai magazine this month, though. Yes, it's time we got more organized and stopped being the poor relation to JRA. After all, NAR taught JRA everything they know, and then screwed up a good thing by chasing money and nothing else. Ganbatte NAR!

Courtesy Carrot Club

Meanwhile, Massabielle (pictured) makes his debut at Nakayama tomorrow with Katsuura-san in the saddle. They run in the 2000m 6R on turf, which should be interesting.

Next week, Belle Plage is lining up for the 1800m dirt race at Nakayama on the 4th, with Irish Harp running in the Kyoto 1400m dirt race on the same day. Fuma Matsuwaka has been named as the jockey for the latter, which raised a few eyebrows in the house - I shall reserve judgement for the time being. Hopefully, Harmony Fair and Kalliopeia should be out at Nakayama soon, and Eclat De Reve has arrived at Ritto, so should start her race career soon. One last bit of Carrot news - Time For Love's operation went very well, and light training has already started again. When racing will resume is another question, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

All Good Fun

Yesterday was the Tokoro Christmas bash, which always involves a fun-level gymkhana to give all members a chance to compete. In cool but pleasant conditions, assuming one has webbed feet, 'Bugatti' sensed that something was going on, and went into ultra-high tension mode, standing on his back legs and almost running to the tacking up area. Louis got him calmed down nicely, but Sophie got the most from him on the scoring side of things, taking the slower approach. Ironic! Then Miho had a go, and shocked everyone by attempting the cross. 'Bugatti' walked straight up to it and stopped dead - he knows the rider's limits better than the rider...

By the way, the Tokoro RC will be changing its name in the Spring, as it will be moving a few miles down the road. The name change is a sad necessity, as the current farm and stables we currently use have always carried the Tokoro moniker. The new, purpose-built stables will go under the Colza Horse Club name.