Dyscalculia

Beat The Boarder has had - miracle notwithstanding - what will probably be her last race set for the 6R at TCK on the 31st, while it looks like Phosphorus will make a comeback at TCK on the 25th. I'm not really expecting much with him, though, having been out of action for so long, even with Kota Motohashi aboard; it's also his first time ever on a clockwise track, and - naturally! - we got the outside gate to boot. At least Phosphorus is a born fighter and has a good team behind him, so he'll be back in the groove in time. Pop Label runs in-between, which is also something to look forward to.

Less pleasing is the confirmation in today's JRA reports that Tenshinramman's holiday before her "one last chance" has begun. Well, I may as well give you the result now - failed miserably. She will come back after weeks and weeks away totally out of race mode, as always, and either have her tension go through the roof at the gate, or be totally uninterested. When will JRA trainers learn? I guess they don't have to with a race industry run more like the civil service than a competitive business. To be perfectly honest, I can't wait to be out of it! This month's Yushun only serves to strengthen that feeling - generally a beautiful publication, this issue wasted four pages to promote someone who has made a fortune from saying "today's lucky colour is..." What century is this? But as one of the few that owns horses outright due to crazy ownership rules specifically designed to keep real people out, JRA has to grovel. I don't mind admitting that I don't understand half of what goes on in Japanese racing, because it's beyond comprehension.

PS. Magic Key is booked for the first Funabashi meeting of the New Year. Whether I go or not will depend a lot on how I feel, and a similar amount on the chosen jockey. Meanwhile, Blacklister's race has been moved to Wolverhampton on the 26th, and now the Irish pair should be in Boxing Day action, too. Shine Tiara has been booked for a Kawasaki debut on the 3rd of January, Larressingle should run on the 9th, and big plans are afoot for Trovao...