Far From Magic

Apart from a silly moment soon after the start, where it looked more like a giraffe than a racehorse, Magic Key ran okay. However, the distance proved too much, even with the lighter jockey allowance, and - yet again - we come away from a Japanese race with nothing, despite starting as favourite! The extra two furlongs over and above what the horse has attempted before was really telling, and it was questionable even trying a mile in such strong company. Typical really - you wait for ages for a race, and then the result is as disappointing as to keep being tossed a constant barrage of excuses for why they can't run! I hope Nakano-kun will be put back into the saddle at the next Funabashi meeting (or sooner, as the accounting sheet is full of red again), and a race can be found that is a lot more suitable than this one was...

No luck at Newmarket either, although, as the long odds indicated, Sayesse was fighting above his weight in the G3 race, and, in total contrast to the Japanese nags, he's more than paid for himself many times over, while the stuff out here can't even cover the monthly bills, let alone the ridiculously steep purchase prices! Considering he's just done a G3 race, with a purse 3.5 times higher than Magic Key was going for tonight, and Another Door (a Sunday TC horse that literally cost 20 times more at current exchange rates) can't even get close to a win at the lowest level, I won't have anything said against him. At the end of the day, like all the UK runners, he gives us good sport on a regular basis, and that is all one can ask for. The Japanese horses bring no joy whatsoever, just a string of unjustified expenses, cut-and-paste reports and excuses for failure when they finally do make an all-too rare track appearance.

PS. Mirzam made an uneventful debut at York, although I know Mick Channon and those looking after the horse think a lot of her, so let's just put this one down to gaining experience.

PPS. Graham Lee backed off the gas on Masterson at the testing Windsor track once it was obvious that the leading pair had slipped away, but still finished a handy fourth. Ettie Hart was cruised in at Brighton, this being something of a warm-up in readiness for a proper comeback next time out, and The Jazz Singer was also cruised in at Punchestown after what looked like a promising start - hopes are now pinned on a Down Royal race. In more jumping action over the weekend, Masterson managed to lose his jockey at the second at Kempton!