Thursday, January 29, 2015

Quiet Weekend In Store

Nothing happening this weekend, but another couple of possibilities for the following one - Irish Harp at Kokura on the 7th in a 1700m dirt race, and Eclat De Reve at Kyoto in a mile over turf on the next day. In reality, with Eclat De Reve being a Ritto horse, Kyoto is only just down the road, so that should work out, and the longer distance will be interesting. J'ai Un Reve, who cost five times more than Eclat, is still messing around with gate training - I hope the constant waiting is going to be worth it...

Pretty Gully is back at JLH in Australia, but isn't handling the heat particularly well, so her R&R session will continue for a while longer. Raining Dollars, on the other hand, is looking the part, and should be out racing again in the very near future.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Wednesday Warbling

Not much to report on the JRA front - Tenshinramman has gone on holiday again, so that's her written-off until the Spring, but which time she'll be in high-tension mode. No sign of Massabielle coming back before March either, but at least Belle Plage is none the worse for her close call at the weekend. With luck, both Miracle Rouge and Rush Attack will race at Tokyo on the 7th February, both being lined up for 1800m turf berths.

Before that, Beat The Border will going for the 7R at TCK on the 5th (1500m), and both Pop Label and Phosphorus are scheduled to run at Funabashi in the following week. Phosphorus has had Ryo Kosugi and Shotaro Kawashima doing morning training, and he is said to be in good condition. At 525kg in his last race, he weighs about the same as 'Bugatti' did in his racing days, so he's a big lad. The race plan worked a treat last time out - just go, as doesn't like being held back. Let's hope he can do the trick again and make it five wins next week!

On the Irish front, Danielle's Journey has picked up a bit of a cold, so although she was due to race any minute, her next outing has been put back a month. Her stablemate, the grey, is doing well, and will have a trial run very soon. In England, the Lord Ilsley Racing newbies are also going great guns, with the colt probably making it to the track before the filly. Whatever, though, it's sure to be a fun experience.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

7+7 = Nakayama

What can I say? Belle Plage was desperately unlucky to come seventh, having her home run destroyed by a horse falling in front of her. She was definitely on for a top three finish, and I can only hope that she runs at Tokyo within the next couple of weeks. The distance is certainly right for her, and the jockey seems to suit her as well...

As for Tenshinramman (pictured), it was a strange race. She was fenced in for most of the run, but Francis Berry found a tiny gap that the JRA jockeys would have ignored to force his way through at the end. Looking at the last three furlong times, the distance was good, and she could even go further without any hassle I reckon - there
was even a flicker of the 'Tenny' of old. I was told she's a "good filly" by someone I can trust after the race. Rather than thoughts of R&R, if the scar she picked up turns out to be nothing, she should be run at Tokyo -
a track she likes - at 1800 or 2000m, and with the same jockey now he knows her. He has one month of his JRA licence left, so there's no time to mess around.