Wednesday Rant

The grey three-liner did indeed land on Wednesday regarding Rush Attack. "It will take time..." This is something I said as soon as the diagnosis was belatedly noted, and there's no way on Earth that this horse - that has won once! - is worth spending a year on. Retirement was the only answer back in March. It's now November, and even if it comes back by the end of the year, it will need retraining. A ridiculous decision made purely and simply to keep Northern Farm in clover. And before people criticize what I've just said, I have put my hand in my pocket to save ex-racehorses, and run one now at great expense. Have you? A racehorse is not a racehorse if it isn't racing (unless, of course, you are convinced it is worth holding back), and ten races from a nag born in 2012 is naff. When the results are consistent midfield, that is when I suggest retirement. It isn't doing its job, and needs a change of profession.

Likewise, War Chronicle. Eight races from a horse born in 2012 is pathetic. "There isn't any damage." That's today's statement, but judging by previous reports, they will find something next week, and keep pouring owners' money into Northern Farm with no regard for the future. This horse was second first time out, then 14th eight months later. After a spell in NAR, picking up two wins and a second, it went back to JRA and promptly finished midfield three times - over ten months! It's now back at NF yet again, and the promise of "autumn racing" will be over and done with again. Of course, they didn't say which autumn. Maybe they meant autumn 2017?

While we're at it, we may as well finish the JRA 'runners'. Larressingle has actually gone to Sonoda (NAR) in a bid to return to JRA later - personally I would leave it in NAR, but there we go. As it happens, it will be based at Morisawa Stable, which is where Another Door is going. And the last one, Belle Plage. This was a good horse, but hasn't delivered anything decent for a year now. I'm confused by the next entry, too, with the jockey saying the horse isn't really suited to turf, so 1800m on turf it is! It's certainly a stark contrast to the 1400m on dirt that the trainer was aiming for last week. Like I've said before, it's just a big joke, but I'm certainly not laughing...

PS. Not laughing about Chocolat Sucre either. We've waited six months for 'the big comeback' and I couldn't find one single nice thing to say after watching the race. The start was reasonable, but Mori-kun was already whacking the thing in mid-corner, and despite continued use of the whip for encouragement, the donkey just kept falling back, eventually finishing sixth in a very poor class field, looking totally knackered after just 1200m. Nine months of zero income off this one now, and no sign of improvement. Carrot Club has got to buck its ideas up, and quickly! That was a disgraceful performance... again!