3:16 p.m. Annually, I don't call Osaka-hai as it's been a prep race for the spring Tennno-sho. But it has been promoted to a G1 this year, so I thought I might as well call it. Because this is the first time the race is going to be run in the top category, I'm not actually sure what to make of it, to tell you the truth.

Still, don't think Kitasan would make a blunder among these competitors, even if this is his opening race of the season. So my key would be Kitasan Black. I'd say it would either be Makahiki or Satono Crown that comes second (Makahiki more likely), but you never know. Let's just keep them on a trio wheel with Sakura Empereur, Mondo Intero and Maltese Apogee.

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Caterpillar

6:40 p.m. So it was a G2 race after all.

Kitasan Black won without incident, while Staphanos and Yamakatsu Ace came in 2nd and 3rd. If Kitasan wasn't here, it would have been the usual G2 race Osaka-hai. Furthermore, the payout has been small despite the fact that the 2nd and 3rd favored Makahiki and Satono Crown had sunk.

My call putting Makahiki and Satono on the 2nd had been completely wrong, but that doesn't hurt me much as I know where I'd made my mistake and what I should do to win this race next year. The question is as usual, whether I could remember that or not.

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Caterpillar

3:57 p.m. There's been an incident reported on machines mounted with Windows OS 7 and 10, that the computer clocks display advanced time by an hour.

It seems this happened on quite a few machines and there had been many claims as of this morning. The clock problem seem to have occurred on machines that refer to both NTP server "time.windows.com" and "ntp.nict.jp", though it is also reported that not all machines have had this problem. The cause of the problem is not yet discovered.

Apparently, this is not caused by the C-MOS battery running out. I haven't been met with this problem, though the clock being one hour ahead of real time probably won't hurt me that much. Rather the opposite since I usually tend to lag behind.

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3:18 p.m. The clock problem I wrote yesterday has been taken care of by Microsoft, although they haven't announced the cause of the problem. Assumptions are made that the change to summer time might have somehow been applied to other countries that don't adopt summer time, but details are unknown.

I've seen a banner of a tabloid this morning, screaming out that Lemaire had an important announcement. What? What!? Could it be about Soul Stirling for example, that the horse is terrible with soft track condition? At the moment, the weekly forecast is displaying rainy weather for Osaka from this Friday on.

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2:58 p.m. I've installed a new text editor app on my iPad mini yesterday, but have wasted a few hours trying to move html data onto it. It turns out that there was no way except to connect iPad mini to iTunes on my lap-top and add the data via computer.

One troublesome thing about Apple devices is that you need to connect to iTunes every time you want to do something. If Apple is looking for something "innovative" I suggest they review the whole system of going through iTunes for many actions, to build something even more convenient than cloud services.

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Caterpillar

3:56 p.m. Since it's the first of the classic races this season, the barrier draw for Ohka-sho has been announced. So let's take a look at it.

Mi Suerte is in post number 1, Rising Reason in 2, Salonika in 3, JeuneEcole in 4, Belle Capri in 5, Lys Gracieux in 6, Show Way in 7, Karakurenai in 8, Gold Cape in 9, Reine Minoru in 10, Alonza Mona in 11, Aerolithe in 12, Vous Etes Jolie in 13, Soul Stirring in 14, Admire Miyabi in 15, Miss Panthere in 16, Deidre in 17 and Kawakita Enka in 18. Phew.

It depends on the weather and the track condition, but not a bad draw for Soul Stirring. Lys Gracieux might have a chance to recoup her losses against Soul Stirring if it becomes soft.

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Caterpillar

5:36 p.m. Will call Ohka-sho tomorrow as the weather seems to be unstable. Let's save the treat for last.

Speaking of weather, I really wish the forecast would at least tell me if it will rain or not. It means a lot to me whther or not I have to carry an umbrella with me. My manga tools have been increasing lately, what with all the pens, eraser, rulers, screen tones, paper, knife, ink, folder, etc. etc. Adding an umbrella to these means that my bag is getting even bulkier and heavier.

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Caterpillar

12:58 p.m. According to Yahoo! Weather, it will be sunny tomorrow around Hanshin turf where Ohka-sho will take place.

Although slight rain is expected from this evening till early tomorrow morning, sunny marks are lined up from six o' clock in the morning to three in the afternoon. Despite the amount of rain that had already fallen up till now, I think the track will be dry by the time the race will be run, considering the 3 to 5 meters north-western dry breeze expected to blow.

Soul Stirring would be the key horse, no doubt. I'd decided that after I'd seen Hanshin Juvenil Fillies last year and it stays unchanged. Track condition? I believe it wouldn't affect a top horse like her. On the wheel would be, Mi Suerte, Jeune Ecole, Lys Gracieux, Vous Etes Jolie, Admire Miyabi and Deidre. Want to cut out one or two more horses so I can buy exactas, too.

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Caterpillar

5:12 p.m. Soul Stirring ended in 3rd place. It was a let down to be honest.

She didn't have a good start to begin with, and she didn't have the usual speed in the last stretch. Judging from the results, I'd say it must have been the damage she had from her former races. That's the only thing I could think of for her loss today. The physical and mental damage both broke out to the surface because Ohka-sho had become a tough race, with soft track condition and a relatively fast lap.

Behind the shocking race, Hanshin Mare Stakes has been run yesterday. And with this race, Meisho Mambo has finally been allowed to put a period to her long carrier. Congrats, Mambo. I have a hunch that there were more people who felt relieved at her awaited retirement than people who rejoiced for the win of Mikki Queen.

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Caterpillar

5:44 p.m. Cow and I are already talking about Satsuki-sho. It only shows how we're regretting the loss of Ohka-sho.

As a matter of fact, I'm not good at early spring races. I keep notes after races to get closer to winning, but I tend to forget where I've put away these notes. As a result, I start off every spring without the notes, even though I'd worked dutifully to remind myself the next year.

I haven't dug out last year's notes yet, but I've managed to recall that prep races affect spring classic races.

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Caterpillar

2:39 p.m. Many of you must have been surprised as well as shocked to hear that figure skater Mao Asada has announced her retirement from the sport. Well, I was, too.

Perhaps it was a trick of fate that she couldn't win the gold medal in the winter Olympics, but that didn't really matter. I still remember the impressive performance she'd made in 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics' women's free skating. Mao has worked hard throughout her carrier as a skater for over two decades, and if she's decided to start a second life assumingly after emotional conflicts, I'd respect her decision. Wish her all the best in the days to come.

I learned about Mao's retirement last night on NHK news, in which the program spent the whole sports news slot on it. I wonder what's become of other sports news?

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Caterpillar

5:57 p.m. It seems AmericaIsOverParty is the trend on Twitter, but here Cow and I are having GoWinBrightParty.

Since one of my favorite horse Admire Cozzene's grandson, Win Bright is running in this week's Satsuki-sho, Cow and I have been cheering and chanting for him. As rider Masami Matsuoka says, he'd made a blunder with Win Bright's older sister Win Fabulous. This time, Matsuoka and Win Bright are clearing the tasks one by one, advancing to more difficult hurdles with every race.

Fortunately, the horse's condition seems well, the rider is carefully plotting out his way to success. Perhaps they mnight not win, though they've got a chance. Go, go, Win, go, go, Win, goooooooooo WIN!

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Caterpillar

4:33 p.m. The barrier draw has been announced! So, what are we waiting for?

My Style is in post number 1, Suave Richard is in 2, Komano Impulse is in 3, Cadenas is in 4, Rey De Oro is in 5, Outliers in 6, Persian Knight in 7, Fan Dii Na in 8, Platina Voice in 9, Danburite in 10, Al Ain in 11, America's Cup in 12, Satono Ares in 13, King's Rush in 14, Adam Barows in 15, Clincher in 16, Win Bright in 17 and Trust is in 18.

Hmmm... Post number 17 is not a good position considering the tight corners of Nakayam tracks, though it's not a bad draw for Win Bright who races smoother in outer posts. Besides, Dee Majesty has won Satsukisho from post 18, Unrivaled from 16 and Victory from 17. Not a problem. Suave Richard and Rey De Oro both drew ideal posts.

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Caterpillar

5:19 p.m. Hmmm... So, what should I do with these horses?

The difficult thing about this year's Satsuki-sho is that hopeful horses like Suave Richard, Cadenas, Rey De Oro or Fan Dii Na haven't competed against each other. Annually, we see them running against each other in prep races such as Yayoi-sho, Spring Stakes or Kyodo Tsushin-hai, but this year they haven't. So it's hard to estimate the ability of each horse. Take Rey De Oro, for example. Does he have the ability to win a G1, or were his competitors in Hopeful Stakes too easy to handle?

I think I've seen the race before, but must check out Hopeful Stakes again.

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Caterpillar

1:01 p.m. I've reviewed Hopeful Stakes once again to at least get a grasp of what Rey De Oro may be. And I've decided he's good enough to win a G1.

Naturally, my key horse will be Rey De Oro. I wrote here that he'd drawn an ideal post, though considering his sire line, that was wrong. An ideal post for him must have been post number 1. Still, I think he is the closest to winning this race unless he is in bad shape.

On the wheel would be, Suave Richard, Outliers, Fan Dii Na and Win Bright, why, of course. Might add Komano Impulse and Satono Ares to this though I haven't decided yet.

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Caterpillar

10:37 p.m. I wasn't even close. Satsuki-sho ended in an unexpected result with 9th favored Al Ain winning, followed by 4th favored Persian Knight and 12th facvored Danburite. The trio pay-out amounting to 17,6030 Yen (to 100 Yen), while that of trifecta became as much as 106,4360 Yen!

Fan Dii Na, I had cut out before the actual betting because she'd lost another couple of kilograms which meant fatigue was taking a toll on her. And as I'd expected, neither Fan Dii Na nor Cadenas performed well, but the thing is, I couldn't imagine this result. I had a hunch that there might be a chance for Clincher if the lap became tough, though I decided against it.

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Caterpillar

5:23 p.m. Now I see.

I've just checked out the results and laps of Satsuki-sho and learned to my surprise, that it wasn't such a tough lap. That's why Clincher couldn't come in 3rd and my candidates for a fast-lap Satsuki-sho all screwed up. Because it wasn't fast at all, rather average or averagely slow.

The top four horses all positioned within 5 lengths from the top at the last corner, and horses that took their positions behind couldn't take them over in a loose lap. Fan Dii Na kept a good position but was simply fatigued, Cadenas took the wrong course on the inside where the risk of hitting the breaks increased. He was also way too behind to take over the top. Win Bright ran like usual coming up within five lengths at the last corner, though his stamina burned out since he'd done the same thing in his prep race and didn't have much left. Matsuoka should have taken a higher position from the start to save the horses stamina.

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Caterpillar

3:54 p.m. On my way home last Saturday, I suddenly remembered that I was running out of cigarettes and dropped by a store to buy some. It was only then that I'd realized that they'd raised the price again.

As I complained about the price to Mr. N-jima, he told me that young people are shifting to hand-rolled cigarettes because they were cheaper. Not to mention I went searching on the Internet afterwards. The thing is though, my brand was cheaper than the hand-rolled cigarettes, even after the price has been raised...

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Caterpillar

6:21 p.m. After Satsuki-sho has been over, I've already started to think about the spring Tennno-sho two weeks ahead.

Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond coming in first and second is the goal scene which is easy to imagine, but my wishful thinking tells me there might be a chance for some longshot to slide in third. I was counting on 9-year-old Curren Mirotic, though his crew has announced today that they were scratching off from the race, due to chapped hooves...

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Caterpillar

5:51 p.m. Sorry, I'm drained. Too tired that my brain don't function properly.

The reason is obvious. Because I've been lacking sleep as you might already know. Therefore, I'm thinking of getting myself a pair of those Moldex earplugs, rumored to be highly effective to shut out noise. Though I just don't have any energy left at the moment.

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Caterpillar

5:31 p.m. I was about to check out the barrier draw for this weekend and realized we didn't have a G1 this week. Instead, we're having a prep-race for Japanese Oaks and a prep-race for Yasuda Kinen. Oh yes, and a mare G3 race in Fukushima, which might turn out to have a big pay-out.

Haven't decided which race to call yet, probably either Miler's Cup or Fukushima Mare Stakes, as classic prep races tend to be dull.

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Caterpillar

2:00 p.m. Couldn't quite decide which race to call, so am calling both. I'm being reasonable, here.

For Milers' Cup, I'd key Prodigal Son and put Fiero, Air Spinel, Young Man Power and Kluger on the wheel. As for Fukushima Mare Stakes, I would key Rock a Hula Baby, with Guimauve, Win Fabulous, Frontier Queen and Queen's Milagro on the wheel.

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Caterpillar

10:20 p.m. Excuse me Mr. Kawada, but how do you expect a horse to win from a far behind position, when Isla Bonita at least 5 lengths ahead of your horse, sweeps the last three furlongs in merely 32.9 seconds? And Mr. Fukunaga? What were you doing?

Christophe on the other hand, did a fine race, while Yutaka rode Air Spinel perfectly, considering the next race. The result says everything, gentlemen. And to reach the best result, you need process.

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Caterpillar

4:03 p.m. My to-do list has been getting longer and longer as usual, and it would probably keep growing until the weekend. We'll be having some holidays coming up, the so-called "Golden Week" so will get some of the things done, hopefully.

As I've heard that there are people who are taking some days off prior to the Golden Week in order to avoid congestion, I decided to digest the list a bit. Have already finished, mending the holes of my ashtray with some putty and having my hair cut (one of the most troublesome tasks for me). But calling Tennno-sho remains on the list with a myriad of other things.

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Caterpillar

3:51 p.m. Okay. Since I've already started it, let's chip away my To-Do list.

Today's goal is to move on with the web designing thing I'd been putting aside for a while. Must make some progress. Also, I need to proceed with my manga storyboard since I've re-written it all over again, and hopefully finish it up by the end of the day. Besides these, I have my perspective drawing tasks to finish, and place orders for several items to complete payment on my way home.

Ah, Tennno-sho will stay on my list until later.

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Caterpillar

2:39 p.m. I don't know why but every time I finish something, something new pops up.

I've dutifully worked to proceed with crossing things off my To-Do list, though as I worked on responsive web designing, it brought up a new problem and I'm stuck again. Because I'd spent too much time on it, I couldn't finish my storyboard nor my perspective drawing tasks. And, I lost the clip on my ipod case without noticing, that now I have to carry it in my pocket. Haven't finished ordering either.

Naturally, Tenno-sho stays on the list again. The troubling thing is, it's moving lower and lower on the list.

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Caterpillar

4:34 p.m. The barrier draw for Tenno-sho has been announced before I got to it on my list. Let's take a look at it anyhow.

Sciacchetra is in post number1, Labradorite is in 2, Kitasan Black in 3, Spirits Minoru in 4, Fata Morgana in 5, Cheval Grand in 6, Albert in 7, Tamamo Best Play in 8, Dee Majesty in 9, Admire Deus in 10, Proletariat in 11, Gold Actor in 12, Tosen Basil in 13, One And Only in 14, Satono Diamond in 15, Rainbow Line in 16 and Ymakatsu Raiden in 17.

Kitasan in 3 and Satono in 15. Is this some kind of a joke or just pre-established harmony?

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Caterpillar

4:43 p.m. I don't know if people are enjoying early holidays or just interested in Tennno-sho, but the access counter has been turned more than usual.

Despite your expectations, I haven't called the race yet. That usually comes on Saturday, so wait till then. I've had a last minute meeting squeezed in this afternoon, and cannot spare the time to even take a peek on the racing forms. However, tomorrow is a holiday. I can take as much time as I want to stare holes into it.

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Caterpillar

10:37 p.m. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long, I've been staring holes into the racing form.

My conclusion is that there's no way Kitasan can lose. Considering the low pay-out, am thinking of buying exactas keying Kitasan Black. On the wheel would be Cheval Grand (can't help it, even if the rider is Fukunaga, there aren't any other proper Heart's Cry descendants), Dee Majesty (am dubious, but wishful thinking) and Rainbow Line.

For those wondering what happened to Satono Diamond, well, I'll tell you this much. I'm betting on his 3rd place.

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Caterpillar

8:54 p.m. As I'd thought.

For those who bought betting tickets based on my call, congratulations! Those who didn't, too baaaaaad! There was no way Kitasan Black would have lost. As for Satono Diamond, if he'd lose, it was today and not any other. Man, winning both exacta and triplet feels good!

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Caterpillar