Rapid Review

Although I couldn't make the Funabashi event, Louis and 'Bugatti' had a great clinic with Kelly Layne this morning, and Pretty Gully made a nice comeback, despite what looked like a poor result on paper. The trainer and jockey were chuffed to bits with the run, which is the main thing, as both were aware this was a tough race and the chances of winning were always going to be remote given the long period Pretty Gully has been out of action. The next outing will be one to look forward to, that's for sure. Shine Tiara passed her gate test, too, and will start her track career in the very near future. Meanwhile, we've got a big race tomorrow...

PS. I think a postscript on Massabielle's Japan St Leger campaign is enough here, although I should stress that this doesn't imply disappointment, at least not in this case. Massabielle ran a super race, but was outgunned at the end to finish ninth. Remember, though, this was not a normal ninth - it was a ninth in a G1 race, and what's more, ninth in a classic! I believe Tosaki-kun put on a show and when he realized he wasn't going to catch the top three, eased off the gas with the future in mind - after all, this is still a young horse in mind and body, and has an enormous amount of potential in those four legs. Finishing only 0.9 seconds down on the winner today, the future will be very interesting indeed with this one.

PPS. Next up, Blacklister lines up for the 5:40 at Wolverhampton on the 27th, with Charlie Bishop aboard, while Pretty Gully should be out again on Melbourne Cup day - the 3rd November. 

Big Race Era

Massabielle will indeed be running in the Kikuka Sho, and Keita Tosaki will be at the reins, which is great news. We've drawn gate 14 and don't seem to be fancied all that much - as far as I'm concerned, that's not a bad thing, as there's no real pressure on us, and we're a lot less likely to be marked. Having a classic runner has been a lifelong ambition, so the result is totally unimportant...

And in NAR, Trovao is aiming for the All-Japan 2yo Yushun race at Kawasaki on the 16th December - another seriously big race that would line the colt up nicely for the Tokyo Derby. Although 2015 has been something of an annus horribilis for me personally, with a lot of minus points during the ten months of the year so far (including over a week in bed this month from my body telling me I was doing way too much work - something my brain knew, but told me to keep going like a wally!), these two horses have been special plus points that I shall never forget, along with my first win with Mick Channon's Box 41 syndicate and a visit from old friends.

We have Pretty Gully in action in Australia on the 24th, and then Massabielle in the big JRA race on the 25th. A bit later, Blacklister should be running in England on the 27th or 28th, Pop Label runs in the 7R at TCK on the 1st, Beat The Boarder throws down the gauntlet in the same week's meeting, and War Chronicle takes to the NAR track at Nagoya at some time during the first week of November in a bid to recover a JRA career. Fingers crossed for one and all!