Yano... Again!!!

Phosphorus started third favourite with Kota Motohashi, but could do no better than seventh after a viscous blocking move from Yano (the jockey, not the trainer) that frankly would have got a fine at the very least in some countries - he's never going to get back into my good books after the Magic Key incident with reckless riding like that, and it's even more galling when he thrashed the crap out of the horse to finish a distant fourth, yet mysteriously couldn't find the whip at all with Magic Key, despite a potential win in clear sight. Anyway, until then, it looked like Kota was going reasonably well, although it was hardly the stunning combination seen before Phosphorus' injury. Okay, so 'Phos' had to be pulled up sharp to avoid an accident with Yano and Nakano-kun, screwing up the finish, but given the ground - which suits our lad - it wasn't really as impressive a performance as it should have been. Unless things start changing real soon, all we have is yet more proof on my long-standing theory that months (even weeks!) spent at Northern Farm is simply a recipe for disaster, whatever the reason for being there. Bitterly disappointed, and left wondering yet again (given the Magic Key injury taking an in-form nag out of action five minutes after its first win) if any of my Shadai/Sunday horses are going to perform as they should, although it has to be said that the poor result wasn't the jockey's fault. Not our jockey anyway...

PS. The jockey report mentions that 'Phos' is still carrying too much weight, giving poor response from the third corner onwards. Granted, that probably didn't help, explaining my feeling of seeing a relatively dull overall performance (far from fiery and sparkling anyway), although at least we'd have got into the money with ease had it not been for Yano's move. Amazingly, that wasn't mentioned at all, which is rather sad, as for those reading the report without the benefit of having seen the race will have a very bad impression of the training staff, when the poor result certainly wasn't their fault. As much as our family loves Kota, I'm disappointed in a statement that shows more loyalty to a friend than to a horse and team that has given him four wins.