Start Of Another One

Shine Tiara made a pleasing debut, coming home an untroubled second at Kawasaki. Yuya Yamazaki can be proud of his team and jockey, that's for sure, and there looks like a real future in this one - it knows what a race is, and looked a lot more settled than the average two-year old. It simply met its match today, and there's nothing wrong with that.

PS. Just had confirmation that Pretty Gully will be moved to broodmare duty, while Beat-chan is being given one last chance at the next TCK meeting in a slightly shorter race in a couple of weeks. The trainer seems to think that the "improvement" the other day warrants another run - I'm not convinced, as we had a lighter jockey and ultimately the race was over a mile, not 800m! But there we go. The end is nigh whichever way we look at it, and, unlike Pretty Gully, I won't be sorry to see it go. On a brighter note, Lillyput is pencilled in on the 8th, with Larressingle set to run on the 9th; Infinity Love will debut on the 11th with the legendary Yutaka Take at the controls, and Beat The Boarder takes to the track for probably the last time on the 12th. 

End Of Another Year

Surprised and delighted to find Massabielle and Trovao have made it into the 2016 Carrot Club calendar, for August and November, respectively. Ironically, this means that it will not take up its usual spot in the kitchen, as I want to save it! Oh well, Louis will have to go without the Shadai one this year...

After a promising first four furlongs, Beat The Boarder gave a predictably poor run in the 1:40 at TCK, finishing ninth, which should end her race career without any questions. Pretty Gully's poor showing in the 3:20 at Townsville should seal her fate, too, giving us a disappointing finish to the year.

Anyway, in the New Year, Shine Tiara is due to debut on the 3rd at Kawasaki, with Tadanari Konno in the saddle, which is wonderful news - such a nice chap, who's always jovial! Looking back through records, Konno-san has only ridden once for us before, giving Fairy Robe its debut. Not expecting too much first time out with this one to be honest, but the experience - with a veteran at the controls - will certainly stand it in good stead for the coming months.

Low Note

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.