NAR Affairs

Courtesy Sunday TC

There's been a fair bit of shuffling within the NAR line-up of late, with Pop Label (pictured earlier this month) and Million Ways moving, Another Door in the wilderness (still held by NF), and Larressingle joining NAR from JRA. After Kealoha, the latter is probably the most exciting prospect to be honest, although the intention is to go back to JRA by the sound of things. In reality, I'd much rather it stayed in NAR, running often and earning its keep. Anyway, this is how we stand at the moment, with the stable and track in brackets.

Active (some more than others): Pop Label (Murakami Stable, TCK), Magic Key (Kawashima Stable, Funabashi), Kealoha (Kawashima Stable, Funabashi), Chocolat Sucre (Sato Stable, Funabashi), and Trovao (Arayama Stable, TCK).

Not active (due to lack of race fitness or a recent move): Phosphorus (Yano Stable, Funabashi), Million Ways (Fujita Stables, TCK), Vertice (Arayama Stable, TCK), Lotus Blossom (Sato Stable, Funabashi), Another Door (Morisawa Stable, Sonoda), and Larressingle (Morisawa Stable, Sonoda).

As anyone that has followed this blog will know, I have no time whatsoever for JRA, and I'm on rather a downer with Japanese racing as a whole - too many injuries (or unnecessary down time), too much outlay, a lack of visible effort, thrown races, you name it... It has all come together to totally drain my enthusiasm for NAR as well, but I've decided, nonetheless, to continue my annual 'Friendship Race' at Kochi, as they've done nothing down there to annoy me and need the support. It will be in December with any luck, and I'll let you know the date as soon as everything is arranged.

PS. The Kochi race has been set for Sunday 11th December. I hope the race is more realistic than the G1 one held today.

Homecoming

Belle Plage has now officially been booked for the 2000m 7R turf race at Tokyo on the 12th. Vertice's debut has been delayed from mid-November to late-November, so it will be interesting to see what that extra time brings in terms of results... if anything. And, at last, Phosphorus is back at Funabashi, but it has been let get so overweight while it was away, I can't see a worthwhile comeback any time soon. Indeed, he will have to improve a lot to give anything worthwhile full-stop. For now, at least, it's where it belongs.

PS. Another awful performance from Belle Plage, and it can't be blamed on the gate draw (outside again, incidentally!), for it would have been a poor result whichever gate we'd got. What was that long break for? All it did was kill the nag's desire to race, as is usually the case, but still the trainers do it to keep NF in clover. What was the extra 'training' for after the disastrous comeback? Beer money, probably, for it definitely didn't improve the horse's performance. What the hell are we paying for? That one I can't answer, because I can't figure out what we get of any value. Retire it, and let the horse jog around fields at its leisure, instead of jogging around a track once in a blue moon and wasting our time and money. It's certainly not a racehorse any more, and hasn't been for a year now... 

PPS. One tiny bit of good news from Carrot Club - and there hasn't been much of that to report of late - is that Lotus Blossom has escaped NF, now that its shareholders have been bled dry. A test is scheduled for December, with a January debut being planned. Next race is The Jazz Singer jumping at Navan tomorrow, with Pop Label (a Sunday TC horse with a lot to prove) on the 18th, and then we have Trovao (Carrot Club) a couple of days later on the 20th.

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!

Kealoha V3

Kealoha has given us our second win in two days, with Mar-kun (Masahige Honda) justifying the Sunday TC horse's status as favourite via a two-length win that looked all too easy at the end. He'd drawn the outside gate, but sat patiently until a gap opened on the inside, and then somehow found another gear to pull away from the others and leave them eating sand. His record now stands at 3-1-1-0, so it's a good horse for a change - all that is needed now is a regular run each month with similar results, for those four months off in summer (most of it almost certainly needless) will take some clawing back.

PS. As of today, Million Ways is on the move, now at Midway Farm, and then on to Fujita Stables at TCK, rather than back to Funabashi. Well, it can't do any worse. Trovao is doing well apparently, but I notice none of the training is being done with the guy selected to race on the 20th. I hope this oversight is corrected before the big day, as it's an easy thing to do with Mashima-kun based in Tokyo. I would have liked Honda-kun to have had the ride, but Mashima is a good lad at least. And we have another NAR runner - Larressingle has arrived at Morisawa Stable at Sonoda, although the intention is to move the horse back to JRA again by the looks of things. I don't like that system - once a horse has moved to NAR, it should stay there...

Magic Key V2

Courtesy Miho Long

At last, some long overdue good news on the Japanese racing front - a win for Magic Key, being her second, and my 60th overall. Although the decent prize money - being a "tokubetsu" race - is almost as much as Million Ways (with the same trainer) has won in its career so far, as well as over twice what Another Door has managed to get after eight attempts, it is still only four-and-a-half months of running costs, and one should not forget that the thing was off for nine months this year and ran only once last year. This horse owes me, and owes me big, so I'm not going to be doing cartwheels around the room or breaking open bottles of champagne for a long time yet - an injury free season with a few more good results in the bag might cheer me up, but I'm afraid I've simply been let down by too many for too long now to bounce back into the enthusiasm zone after one win, for I am not a rubber ball. Anyone that knows me well will tell you that I am by and large an understanding type that gives things a fair chance, but once I have been annoyed or feel I've been slighted, repairing the damage is not an easy process. That said, at least I saw some effort today, especially from young Nakano-kun, who didn't panic under constant pressure from Mori-kun and being forced to keep the pace up by Harita-kun in the early stages. My hearty and sincere congratulations on the win. Now keep them coming!

PS. A mile seems just a touch too far for Magic Key - I'd say the 1500m distance races would be more suitable, as the horse looked quite tired at the end having watched the replay again. That was not the kind of domination I'm sure the trainer and Sunday TC would have wished for - in fact, it was a little too close for comfort at the finish line. What happens next is important. Today was simply about starting to claw back a lost season.

Monday Rant

We were supposed to have a runner in Ireland today, but the entry was scratched. I'm not particularly happy with the way the Irish campaign is going if I'm to be honest. Granted, it's a damned sight better than the Japanese farce they have the nerve to call racing, but then it would be hard to imagine any country giving you less bang for the buck than Japan - I don't think it would be possible at the end of the day, beyond someone selling a donkey that ran once or twice a year and spent the rest of the season costing the same as a racing month in someone's backyard, hundreds of miles from its proper stable with minimal care.

From experience, Japan is not far off that, but it's not quite that bad, as you do actually get a Thoroughbred - the fact that it runs like a donkey, on those all too rare occasions it hits the track, is a different subject, for at least it looks right. Exaggerating? Make your own mind up. Here's the NAR review this year (from the start of January), and bear in mind that running costs average 400,000 yen (or US$4000) a month, split between shareholders:

Phosphorus (born 2011, cost 14,000,000 yen) - eight races this year, but results of 11th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 6th are hardly fantastic, and hardly touch the monthly bills, let alone pull back any of the purchase price or the months and months off through questionable injuries in previous seasons. He's been at YTC since early July, going there to be gelded - yes, that's right, a two-week operation. He should have been retired the minute it was realized he wasn't coming back straight after his op.

Pop Label (born 2011, cost 12,000,000 yen) - six races this year, with 3rd, 8th, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 14th being his record, the latter coming after nearly four months away from the track, and two months ago (or at least it will be by the time the intended race takes place). If it does nothing on the 18th, it should be retired on the spot - a long overdue move. It wouldn't be so bad if the running costs were a third of what they are, but at Shadai TC/Sunday TC/Carrot Club rates, no-hopers cannot be justified, especially when the same people keep flooding the market with more and more horses, giving those already in training less opportunities to run and be looked after properly, in a manner their fees should dictate but sadly don't.

Magic Key (born 2013, cost 16,000,000 yen) - two races, including a win in January and a 7th, the latter after nine months off! Of course, the bills didn't stop coming, and as favourite, to finish seventh in the 'big comeback' is hardly encouraging. So far, both Phosphorus and Pop Label have failed to do well since the same knee operation, so I can see another waste of time and money in the offing. The fact that injuries are rife is also disturbing. We will find out today whether my thoughts are overly pessimistic or simply realistic.

Kealoha (born 2013, cost 10,000,000 yen) - four races this year, for a third, two wins and a second. Nothing to moan about on this one then? Well, those four races have brought in 2,800,600 yen, while running costs have been over 4,000,000 yen so far, and that doesn't claw back anything of the initial costs and the hefty one-off pre-race insurance bill. So you can see why NAR stuff sold through the bigger clubs has to run every month without fail, and get damned good results each time just to stand a chance of breaking even. When the cost of horses is so high, it brings the whole thing into question. You try and support NAR, but if nothing is done to try and make it worthwhile for owners spending a fortune each month, there are limits.

Chocolat Sucre (born 2013, cost 8,000,000 yen) - four races, giving a 3rd, 1st, 12th and 8th, with a fifth race (a comeback after six months off) due this week. Well, it's going to have to start doing well and keep doing well very soon, but at least its purchase price was more sensible - and realistic - compared to the heavily overpriced Sunday Thoroughbred Club stuff.

Million Ways (born 2013, cost 12,000,000 yen) - seven races this year, delivering a 7th, 4th, 1st, 11th, 9th, 11th and 9th. Amazing! That last race was in September, and the thing has been at NF ever since. I dare say it will be there for months yet, too, as the three months in-between the first five and last two races of the year did nothing whatsoever to improve form. As a Carrot Club horse, this was an expensive purchase, and the cost has simply not been justified.... again. Over ten races overall, it has brought in 2,020,000 yen, which doesn't even cover the costs between buying and the first race. It's racing career has been in the red from day one, despite two wins.

Trovao (born 2013, cost 10,000,000 yen) - two races this year, including a second and a fourth. At least these have been top level races, but the latter was ruined by stupid rules that the NAR people should have had changed years ago but are too weak to challenge, and ultimately one is now left thinking ten lower class races would have been a better idea. The next race is due at the end of November, but the horse last ran in June (not good), and you can bet the race will be full of JRA hawks looking for easy pocket money, destroying the purse available to NAR folks.

Vertice (born 2014, cost 6,000,000 yen) - the cheapest horse I've managed to get, which should give you an idea of how ridiculous the prices are out here. Naturally, the damned thing hasn't ran, so it's already over 4,000,000 yen in the red this year, with no guarantees of getting anywhere once it does finally hit the track. And Carrot Club is wondering why it is struggling to sell 75% of its NAR runners...

Lotus Blossom (born 2014, cost 7,000,000 yen) - this one hasn't even made it to a racing stable yet, so obviously hasn't got a green light to race. There is talk of it reaching Funabashi this month, but there has been talk of that happening on many occasions before, and it's still in the grip of the vampires (ie. Northern Farm). By the time it finally races, which will be January if you are very lucky, it will owe owners 12,000,000 yen, and the chances of getting even a fraction of that back, with hefty bills month in, month out, are very remote to say the least.

Another Door (born 2014, cost 16,000,000 yen) - eight races, giving a 4th, 7th, 3rd, 4th, DQ, 2nd, 1st and 3rd. Sounds okay, with the late results coming on the back of proper training (unbelievably, given that this was the most expensive nag in the Sunday TC catalogue, the horse was stationed at Northern Farm in its early days), until you realize the low level of racing this nag is competing in. All of this has brought in just 765,000 yen, which doesn't add up when you look at the monthly costs. Now it's going to NF (of course!) en route to Sonoda rather than Funabashi, where it should be, and a very uncertain future lies ahead unless it improves an awful lot very quickly. Not good for a fiercely expensive horse, now is it? You will rarely see anything costing more than this in NAR, and so far it simply hasn't lived up to its promise. It's far from alone if one checks its contemporaries.

Anyway, the mathematics do not make sense. Yes, one isn't into racing for financial gain (you stand more chance with even the riskiest of shares than with racehorses), but the system out here is such that it doesn't allow gain, full-stop - all it does is make money for the monopolies that dominate the scene, the kind of monopolies that wouldn't be allowed in any other country outside a banana republic. If the horses ran regularly and real effort was seen, one could still justify the expense as a form of enjoyment. When they hardly run at all (partly due to getting injured seemingly every five minutes, and certainly a lot more often than in the other countries I have racing interests), and feeble excuses are all you get for them running badly when they do hit the track, the outrageous cost cannot possibly be balanced with the return, financial or visceral. Getting into the Japanese racing game was the worst thing I have ever done. There, I've said it. I have tried to support NAR, but until things change on ownership rules and overall cost (and, more importantly, the cost-performance ratio), I can no longer blindly keep throwing money away. Ultimately, I feel like I have been badly let down, and I'm sick and tired of being treated like a mug and an ATM machine.

The only thing you can say in NAR's favour, is that the JRA side of the business is even worse. Another rant in the making, no doubt, as War Chronicle and Rush Attack - two that should have been retired long ago - will almost certainly have a grey three-liner against them in a very poor attempt at justifying the expense yet again. No firm plans, no firm dates, just a constant stream of bull, since March in one case, and basically since purchase with the other. Or how about Belle Plage, held back for a dirt race that was oversubscribed (as usual!) because the jockey says it's not suited to turf, then gets entered in a turf race the next week, assuming it does actually run...