Voleur

Starting as favourite, Larressingle was ridden far too conservatively, failing completely to take advantage of the inside gate and the decent exit from the stalls, and finished second by 0.4 seconds - the Yoshida-owned winner (starting from gate 10) led from the start to the post, in what could almost have been a staged finish. Yes, the horse was 10kg heavier than the last race, but it certainly seems strange having cleared the gates so well that Miura dropped back a good 20 lengths to go around the outside instead of pushing forward when there was a clear path ahead.

The end for Larressingle? As I've said before, this is about the only JRA horse worth keeping (War Chronicle, Perfumer, Massabielle and Rush Attack never seem to get off the injury list for more than five minutes at a time, running poorly when they are fit, while Belle Plage has seemingly lost the plot), but without that win, it will have to go as soon as the trainer throws in the towel. It's damned annoying when you're forced to keep junk like Perfumer, and Harmony Fair before that, and have to give up a nag that keeps bringing in its keep. Crazy. But then Japanese 'racing' as a whole is crazy - just wish I'd learnt that fact a lot earlier. Anyway, I await the post-race report with a great deal more anticipation than usual...

PS. The jockey doesn't give us much insight, just a jumble of typical bull from the JRA Book of Quotations, although he did state that the winner was strong to cover his ass. Yes, surprisingly strong, given that it was running a furlong-and-a-half longer than ever before, and took up the pace from the start to boot, while Larressingle was running at what looked like an ideal length - something borne out in the vast difference in the final 3F times. Anyway, the Yoshida OC horse will now keep going next year due that first win, and Larressingle (in the paupers' Carrot Club) won't, so at least the world order has been kept intact - everyone in JRA can breathe easy again. Well, I guess if the regular pattern pans out, it would do nothing in its second year other than waste money anyway (none of the others have run well beyond the first season other than Belle Plage, which is also damned nowadays), so we might as well say goodbye to it now.

PPS. Masterson came a handy fourth in an ultra-competitive race at Ripon, adding a few more pennies to his winnings. The race was run at a cracking pace, and the poor thing just had nothing left in the tank when the final sprint for the line came. Back in Japan, Phosphorus is not eating, which isn't a good sign, as he likes his food as much as 'Bugatti'. A comeback therefore seems a long way off, while that for Pop Label should come within three weeks. I haven't had to reserve space for a winning photo of this particular Sunday Thoroughbred Club horse for years - literally! - and I don't suppose I'll have to after this coming race either, for you can bet that even if it is fit, it will be entered in something totally unsuitable or teamed up with a jockey that can't communicate with it, as usual...

PPPS. No comment from the trainer regarding Larressingle, and the same comment on #10 being strong from the club. As I've said, I'm not convinced it was that strong. Anyway, the important thing to come out of a very short note was a "next time" line, which means at least one more chance. I guess we'll know more in the next few days, although it's cutting things very fine indeed. Amazing, though, how when two years of easy money is at stake, the JRA horses can run every couple of weeks. The all-too common three-month breaks are in aid of what then? To be honest, I'm sick of all the bullshit and conflicts of interest. If it wins next time out, great (I guess it depends on how a lot of factors beyond the ability of the horse fit into the shape of things on the day). If it doesn't win, I won't shed a tear, and sincerely look forward to saying goodbye to the other JRA 'runners' at the earliest possible opportunity.