Pop Label is at last starting to look at home again on a clockwise track and, as such, his promise from his Monbetsu days can hopefully be exploited once more after a long injury recovery and a dry spell that didn't do his ability justice one bit, simply because the track direction at Funabashi didn't suit his frame. Anyway, with Tosaki-kun (the promised jockey) not available, Yoshihara-kun was put in the saddle, who has come second with Pop before, helping to make up his pre-race 3-3-2 record. Amazing practice times, good track conditions and a very rare - for me, at least - inside gate built up hopes in Tokyo but, after fluffing the start, the jockey managed to get himself severely blocked in every direction until the very end, by which time it was too late and despite an excellent final furlong (about the only bit of the entire race were a clear run was afforded) we finished second. At least he weighed-in, so the money was secured - a fraction of what the winner got, of course, and the one that pipped us at the post was a rank outsider to boot! I really am wondering if Pop will ever pick up a win in the Nankan series...Beat The Boarder next, in what will almost certainly be a final outing, especially with Shun Ishizaki giving way to Masaki Segawa in the saddle. Pretty Gully has also been entered in a 1300m race on the 31st, and this could be her last run Down Under if she doesn't pull her weight. Raining Dollars, the other Aussie runner, is ready for a trial run and should be back in action in the next month or so. Based on recent form with Beat-chan and Pretty Gully, though, and all the disappointment thrown my way in heaps during December, it looks like 2015 will finish on a very low note indeed.
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