4:39 p.m. Recovery is coming slow. In fact, I was practically dead until this morning. Thanks to the J-Alert at the beginning of this week (together with my dear mother's radio blasting off), I can't sleep well. I've been waking up after only two or three hours' sleep for the past several days. No wonder recovery is slow.

Meanwhile, our boys have won the ticket to the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Swell job, well done! Ideguchi's middle shoot was beautiful!

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Caterpillar

1:47 p.m. There has been an accident to Silver State and it seems he will have to scratch off from Mainichi Ohkan. Pity really, as I was looking forward to seeing him race against top horses, but then you can't help accidents.

I have no idea for Niigata Kinen whatsoever, and as I've said before, I'm terrible at calling Niigat races. Just for your information, I've picked up Luminous Warrior, Rock a Hula Baby, Happy Moment, Fluky, Sole Impact and Meiner Frost.

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10:55 p.m. I told you I was terrible at calling Niigata races. It ended with the horses that went up front despite my guess about instantaneous force, and the only horse that came within 5th place from my choices was Fluky.

The time is not so late regarding my night-owl lifestyle but my eyes are already starting to droop. I've had an early start today, to try out some roadracing bikes and crossbikes. I was drawn to a carbon frame roadracer which felt spectacularly light and smooth, and thought perhaps this is something close to what Yutaka Take might have felt when he was on Deep Impact's back. That shouldn't be called a bike.

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3:01 p.m. Haven't quite recovered from my cold yet, but let's cheer up since the Nakayama races are starting this week! Goodbye Niigata, hello Nakayama.

I've got muscle aches all over the back of my body and even that seems to be a nice little present from a pleasant bike ride.

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Caterpillar

5:41 p.m. I've got a little present from one of my clients. It's a to-do list. Just what I need.

On half of the pages, there is a cute pig figure printed with the words, "Have a break!" about halfway down the list. This pig figure changes in the last half of the pages and turns into a pig taking a nap. The words are also changed to "Siesta". I wonder if this was especially designed for me.

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2:00 p.m. We're at the turn of the season and I'm having a hard time to decide what to wear.

Usually, I check out the weather and temperature in the morning to see whether I should wear jeans or not, bring extra T-shirts for changing, Teva sandals on bare foor or sneakers on socks. This task becomes difficult for me when the season is changing. I could wear jeans if the temperature doesn't rise that much, but then if it does, it will become too hot for me. Hmmm...

Eventually, I settled on jeans and T-shirt, sandals on barefoot and a change of T-shirt with a rain parka tucked in my back pack.

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4:32 p.m. I don't know why, but I have been wanting to have vichyssoise lately. Perhaps it's because I haven't been eating proper dinner. JoOusama feeds me mushrooms and fish every night assumingly, thinking that eating mushrooms and fish can prevent all sickness including cancer and dementia. And this is not for me, I'm just fed what's leftover from her meal.

Though I've been reluctant to cook some myself since I'd have to use a blender or a food processor, which is very daunting considering the washing. Luckily, I've found a recipe that doesn't use these gadgets, so will leave a link here. Vichyssoisev recipe without using blenders

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5:20 p.m. I was going to check out the results of Keisei-hai Autumn Handicap fr the past ten years, but an article about real estate prices going down has caught my eye. So I took a detour to read it.

What happened was, I was dozing off before I knew it. Then I was shoved off the chair in front of the computer by Cow who couldn't wait to play his online game. Explains why I'm tapping this on my iPad to send it later.

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Caterpillar

2:04 p.m. I had some time this morning, so I took this chance to ride a bike about halfway of my commuting route. Sadly, it was a city cycle not a roadbike, but I enjoyed the ride in this slightly hot though pleasant weather. I'd hammered some information in my head beforehand to get over the hills, and it worked out fine. It always feels good when you've achieved something.

For Keisei-hai Autumn Handicap, I'd key Maltese Apogee. He performed well in his previous race, I think he could still come within 3rd place. On the wheel woudl be, Daiwa Liberal, Bom Servico, Black Spinel, Ukiyono Kaze and Asuka Biren. As for Centaur Stakes, I'd push Melagrana, Ultima Blood, Wakino Brave, Snow Dragon, Dance Director and Fiducia.

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9:14 p.m. Drrr, Keisei-hai was a disaster. Besides Maltese Apogee who came in 4th, the closest I got was Asuka Biren's 6th place. Terrible.

I'd been sleeping till noon from the fatigue of a 20-kilometer bike ride. The distance wasn't such a problem. It was rather the hill climb on a city cycle without deraileurs that consumed energy. No surprise there, I've burned 700kcal in a day. I should be tired.

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3:52 p.m. Satono Diamond has sunk in 4th place in his prep race, Prix Foy.

Well, that doesn't surprise me either, since I'd thought he wouldn't be able to perform that well, let alone win the Arc. 2400m is basically too long for Satono Diamond, a Deep Impact descendant. He might be able to handle it but only if it was on fast and firm track condition, and even so, winning would be a difficult task for him.

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1:57 p.m. Another typhoon, the 18th this season, is inching up westward from Sakishima Islands.

I'd thought it would go through to the west onto China, though it seems to boomerang back to Japan, possibly landing on Kyushu this weekend. JMA is alerting it might affect the Pacific Sea side including Kanto area.

I was thinking of trying out riding a bike to and back from my work place for the first time this weekend, but if the weather turns worse, I might have to re-think it. On the other hand, it might be easier to call Cent Light Kinen if the track becomes soft.

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2:49 p.m. Have been checking the forecast time and again, worried whether the typhoon will bring rain on Sunday or not. Wasn't so concerned about the temperature because they said earlier this week, that it will become cooler after Wednesday.

And now as I checked the weather for the umpth time, it turns out that the temperature is rising again from next Monday! Come on, it's mid-September already! For your information, the high hit 30 degrees today.

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Caterpillar

4:52 p.m. When it rains it pours these days and it actually did. The sudden pouring rain caught a dozen people waiting under the eaves of the nearby convenience store. People just hate to get wet with rain in this country.

The rain had started about an hour ago and looks like it's going to stop soon. Didn't have to worry about getting wet going home. But news source have announced that Seda Brillantes entered in Cent Light Kinen and Admire Miyabi entered in Rose Stakes are both scratching of from these races due to injury. Aw, no.

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Caterpillar

1:30 p.m. Cow has done it.

Thanks to the missile launched from some nearby country, I was aroused from a 3-hour sleep. I'd fallen asleep again after I turned off the TV timer, to eventually get up late being rushed off to work. But as I barely made it to the office in time for my morning meeting, I discovered that it was still locked. Not to mention I rang and rang the phone to get Cow open the lock though in vain. My client had come before I reached Cow and as a result, I apologized profusely and had to put off today's meeting.

I wondered if there might have been something wrong and Cow had to leave the house, but then it transpired that he merely overslept. It wasn't me this time, I'll note here for the record.

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Caterpillar

2:23 p.m. The autumn horse race season has started. Cent Light Kinen would be run on Monday since it's a holiday, so today I will call Rose Stakes, a prep race for Shuka-sho.

Considering the presumingly soft track due to the coming typhoon, I will key Lys Gracieux. A track condition that needs power and yet don't get squashed in the pack is more than this horse could hope for. On the wheel would be, Miss Panthere, Black Speech, Reine Minoru, and Karakurenai.

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Caterpillar

10:19 p.m. The forcast I checked with yesterday afternoon said Hanshin would have heavy rain from past noon, but as I turned on the TV the reporter announced that the rain had stopped by morning and the turf condition has just turned to firm from soft. No wonder my horses didn't perform well, except for Lys Gracieux who was blessed with the lap because it made the race demand more toughness. Otherwise, she might not have been able to come within 3rd place to win the priority ticket to Shuka-sho, especially in her current condition which is apparently not 100%. Not to mention the crew would make her 100% for Shuka-sho, to win the last crown.

Regarding my miss today, I can't be sure what Nakayama turf will be like tomorrow. If I believe the forecast, it should be dry and firm by the time Cent Light Kinen would be run. Al Ain will be the key horse. I know there is a jinks that horses from Ritto stables don't perform well when they're favored however, the horse is a classic winner. He should be able to come within 3rd place, if not win.

On the wheel would be, Satono Chronicle, Sir Rembrandt, Sunday Moutiers and Stiffelio. I might inform you beforehand, I will not buy tickets for this race though, as my real goal is to win next week's All Comer.

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Caterpillar

4:11 p.m. Yes, it's me who lets a close win slip away.

I have corrected the miss I made on weather and track condition and yet Mikki Swallow has gotten in my way returning such a low payout. I was right about not buying tickets today. Mikki, although he has won today, will be a target to cross out for Kikka-sho especially, if he loses another couple of kilograms.

On the other hand, Al Ain would at least perform better than Mikki in Kikka-sho, though he might not win. He was not perfectly made yet, considering his goal Kikka-sho meaning, that he still has room to improve. Generally, it was a good prep for All Comer this week.

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Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. It was a happy surprise when I pulled up the ranking page our website is entered, and discovered that it suddenly appeared on the 6th place last Saturday. It was the first time we'd ever made it to the top 10. We were still ranked in the 9th place as of this morning.

I don't know whether it was thanks to the horse race fans or the English fans, but anyway, thanks to you all for pushing us to the top ten. Come to think of it, we started from rank sixty-somethingth. I've learned that my 4086 days of consecutive writing was worth something. Thanks again, everyone.

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Caterpillar

2:23 p.m. It seems Cow has caught a cold. I had a cold a couple of weeks ago, so it could be that I'd passed it on to him. The important thing now is for Cow to get better and for me to not get that cold back again.

I took a glimpse of the All Comer entry list this afternoon. Looks like Tanta Alegria is favored, very likely as he has won the spring AJCC, a grade race run on the same course in the same distance. I wonder if he'd perform well after a long recess of eight months, but he'd also been back from an eight-month recess when he won AJCC, so let's wait and see. I'm afraid I can't say anything about other horses until the barriers are drawn.

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Caterpillar

2:34 p.m. Luckily, I wouldn't have to worry about track condition this week.

The forecast is predicting possibly a slight rain on Saturday but sunshine on Sunday when All Comer is run. Ha! I'm sure the track condition would be firm and fast.

Well unless it pours on Saturday, that is.

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Caterpillar

2:14 p.m. The barrier for Koube Shinbun-hai, a prep race for Kikka-sho has been announced. Japanese D'erby winner Ray De Oro probably the most favored, has drawn post number 8.

Assumingly, Ray De Oro will not be perfectly ready to win the race considering Kikka-sho, so the question will be which horse might endanger his victory? The point is it's going to be run on Hanshin turf, although the distance is exactly the same as Japanese D'erby. Outer barriers would be a disadvantage except for horses that go up front, and I have a hunch the lap is not going to tighten with the race resulting in an instantaneous force contest. Might as well put an alert on the horses that go up front like Adam Barows or My Style. Also be on the lookout for horses that cut like knives such as Satono Arthur, Kiseki or Kadena.

Perhaps All Comer's barrier draw might have been announced too, so wil go take a look at it now.

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Caterpillar

6:40 p.m. The rain from yesterday has stopped by morning, so I tried riding a bike to my work place for the first time.

As I've said a number of times already, riding a city cycle for over 10km where there are ups and downs is exhausting. By the time I reached my work place, my thighs and legs were weary from the pedaling. The way back was even harder with the fatigue. It didn't take as much time than the first half, though I was stuck in a lot of car traffic and signals which was stressful.

Thankfully, I've gotten home in one piece, but don't think I can do anything more. So look forward to tomorrow for my call for All Comer.

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Caterpillar

2:28 p.m. All right. So the All Comer.

Mmm... it's become very difficult in a way that there aren't many horses that can potentially win a grade race. But since I have to choose some horse, I'd key Tanta Alegria. Will not fall for Stephanos or Decypher or Rouge Buck this time. Or Albert.

On the wheel would be, Paris Karanotegami, Black Bago, Denim And Ruby, and Kafuji Prince. How's that?

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Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. Wow, we've dropped out of the top ten in the ranking but have now come back up again in nineth place! And all I'm writing is about horse race, weather and bicycle rides... Anyway, thanks again to you all!

Because my bike ride to and back from my work place turned out to be quite exhausting, I thought about why. The biggest reason I'm suspecting, is the frame form of the city cycle including the position of the seat. I'm renting a different bike every time at my local cycle post, so every time it feels differen when I ride them. The last one I rode on Saturday, was a complete "Mama-chari" as they call it in Japan, designed to ride short distance and carry luggage such as shopping bags or even people.

Usually, stability is prioritized on these bikes that you feel your weight sitting backward and your back going straight. Roadracers or cross bikes have different lighter frames with the seats positioned more in the back, so that they can run faster. I think that was the main cause of my fatigue especially, when I'm climbing uphill.

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5:27 p.m. The autumn G1 races are finally starting from this weekend with Sprinters' Stakes, 1200 meters Nakayama turf. I'd better get ready as I've probably never won this one.

As for Grand Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe run on the same day Japan time, Satono Diamond is cornered to a tight spot with the forecast predicting rainy skies at a rate of over 65%. I wish Kitasan Black was in France. He had a chance to win in such condition. It's a great pity, really.

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Caterpillar

3:32 p.m. I've discovered that the difference in seat positions between city cycles and sports bikes was actually the difference in the seat pillar angles.

Seat pillars of city cycles are tilted closer to the back whereas, sports bikes' seat pillars are more errect although slightly. This slight difference is what I'm suspecting, to have affedted my exhaustion.

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Caterpillar

3:54 p.m. Cow has been forgetting to buy things again, as usual.

This time he's been forgetting to buy wipes which we have run out of a couple of days ago. I have a feeling the same thing has happened before, besides his forgetting to buy my coffee.

So I've used the same method to remind him, a method in which I have succeeded the last time, sticking a Post-it on his wallet. How kind of me.

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Caterpillar

3:05 p.m. The barrier draw for this season's first G1 Sprinters' Stakes has been announced, so let's take a look.

Snow Dragon in post number 1 (awwwwww..), Let's Go Donki in 2, Seiun Kosei in 3, Fiducia in 4, Rhein Meteor in 5, Once In A Moon in 6, Daina Halo in 7, Red Falx in 8, Melagrana in 9, Big Arthur in 10, Monde Can Know in 11, Blizzard (from Hong Kong) in 12, Fine needle in 13, Nero in 14, Shuji in 15 and Dance Director in 16.

Hmmm... heard that Big Arthur isn't coming out right after his recess due to hoof problems. His training seemed dull so perhaps I should stay away from him this time.

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2:55 p.m. This is going to be my first call for the season. My heart is thumping from pressure... badump, badaump....

My key horse is Diana Halo. I've seen her win Kita-kyushu Kinen and decided she would be in the center of this season's sprint races. On the wheel would be, Snow Dragon, Seiun Kosei, Red Falx, Melagrana, Monde Can Know, and Blizzard. I'm hoping I can reduce the wheel into five horses, though.

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Caterpillar