6:15 p.m. Okay it's Friday, time to check out the barrier draw for Tokyo Shinbun-hai.

Satono Ares in post number1, Indy Champ in 2, Tetradrachm in 3, Stormy Sea in 4, Tower Of London in 5, Red Olga in 6, Gold Cereberus in 7, Lord Quest in 8, Young Man Power in 9, Logi Cry in 10, Gendarme in 11, Shonan Anthem in 12, Reliable Ace in 13, Realista in 14, and Leyenda in 15.

Tower Of London still stays as the most favored with Indy Champ close behind, but I'm not so sure about that. The most favored hasn't won this race for a decade. I'm rather on Logi Cry's side, though am skeptical about the rider.

The End

Caterpillar

1:48 p.m. Stupid Cow has been diagnosed of influenza yesterday, and because he had to stay in bed all day I had to fill up for his place. I'm pretty much occupied with myself currently, but this guy never seem to show mercy.

Whether you go down with the flu or not, races must go on. I'd key Logi Cry for Tokyo Shinbun-hai. I'm still skeptical about the rider, but if he goes up front, the horse will probabaly do the rest. On the wheel would be Tetradrachm, Red Olga, Satono Ares, Gendarme and Leyenda. Gendarme and Satono Ares on 3rd place.

The End

Caterpillar

4:58 p.m. My worrries turned into truth. With a luke warm racing strategy, Logi Cry presented a slackened instantaneous force contest which was something Indi Champ and other horses from inner posts mostly wanted. Might as well keep in mind that Tokyo turf now has a fast track, if the winning time is faster than 1 minuite 32 seconds in this class.

Have been having coughs from a couple of nights ago, and it's freaking me out it might be the flu. No, no, no, no! Not the flu on top of everything else! Taking every countermeasure I could think of to avoid my condition getting worse.

The End

Caterpillar

3:16 p.m. Just as I was saying not to catch the flu... I've caught the flu. I haven't had any apparent symptoms like high fever yet, but I had a slight pain in my throat when I got up this morning so I ran to the clinic, had myself tested and wala! I'm infected! Thanks a lot to the whole Cow family who've been surrounding me with influenza virus for the past several days.

On a second thought, it might have been better to catch it next week. If I get hit with high fever, I wouldn't be able to think about February Stakes at all. That would surely be a terrible start to mark the first G1 this year.

The End

Caterpillar

2:22 p.m. Thanks to my dutiful effort, I haven't caught the flu yet. Though I must keep it up until the season is over. I defifnitely cannot catch it at least until 2 weeks later when February Stakes is finished.

This week we're having Kyoto Kinen. Danburite, Time Flyer, Stay Foolish, Perform A Promise, Makahiki and 7 more are entered. Don't think I'm going to buiy this, rather focus on February Stakes.

The End

Caterpillar

3:11 p.m. I never realized that you could have influenza while not being struck by high fever. Assumingly due to my anemia diagnosed earlier, my average body temperature has dropeed down to 35℃ from somewhere between 36.3 to 36.6. I've been observing my body temperature before and after I caught the flu however, it never went over 36.5. Therefore, I'm not having those typical symptoms like pain in the joints or sore throat, since these are caused by high fever. It feels weird, to be honest.

While Makahiki competes in Kyoto, there will be a prestigious grade race for 3-year-olds run on Tokyo turf this weekend. Kyodo Tsushin-hai. Last year's Asahi-hai champion Admire Mars will be in it, but my interest is on Courageux Guerrier.

The End

Caterpillar

3:39 p.m. It transpired that Cow hasn't been uploading this content since Monday. I deeply apologize for this negligence, though I cannot promise it will never happen again.

A day earlier than Kyodo Tsushin-hai, another grade race, this one ofr fillies only is going to be run. The runner-up for last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Chrono Genesis will be running in this Queen Cup, not to mention being the most favored for the moment.

The End

Caterpillar

3:00 p.m. Okay everyone, time for the Kyoto Kinen barrier draw.

Hartley in post number1, Noble Mars in 2, Action Star in 3, Kent O in 4, Black Bago in 5, Dashing blaze in 6, Perform A Promise in 7, Danburite in 8, Kafuji Prince in 9, Stay Foolish in 10, Time Flyer in 11, and Makahiki in 12.

Starting from outer posts with this small number of competitors is nothing but a disadvantage. Especially, if the track becomes soft. Snow is expected in Tokyo for the weekend, and if Kyoto's having snow or rain too, that might become a problem for Makahiki.

The End

Caterpillar

3:18 p.m. As I've said earlier this week, I'm not going to buy Kyoto Kinen so I thought I might as well warn you that my call is not as full-fledged as usual.

Hmmm... it doesn't even prick my interest though if things go as normally as usual without much incident, I'd say Perform A Promise would win this one. Small misses are expected considering the rider, so I won't suggest to buy a win, though. If buying a wheel, Noble Mars, Stay Foolish and Makahiki would be on it, but I'd rather buy an exacta of Perform A Promise and Noble Mars if I were you.

The End

Caterpillar

7:23 p.m. Kyoto Kinen was carried out without incident except for the slow lap time, so slow that even a fly might come down for a rest. Usually when the lap is so slow, it becomes an instantaneous speed contest, but today Kyoto turf must have been soft. This advantaged Danburite who is rather a power type than a speed horse.

I'm not sure what happened to Perform A Promise. Perhaps I overestimated him. The horse is already 7 years old after all.

The End

Caterpillar

10:03 p.m. Today there was a make-up race for Queen Cup that has been cancelled Saturday because of the snow, though the snow actually didn't pile up.

Queen Cup finished soundly with the most favored Chrono Genesis coming in first place and the 2nd favored Beach Samba coming in 2nd. This means that we're not having any rivals that can beat last year's Hanshin JF's Champion, Danon Fantasy, at least not until this point. Last year, Almond Eye had already won Shinzan Kinen, pushing hreself up as a rival for Lucky Lilac. Since we're not having any candidates yet at this time of year, my guess is that the top 2 from Hanshin JF might slide to the top 2 of Ohka-sho.

The End

Caterpillar

4:04 p.m. While I've been swung around by my anemia and the flu, nearly half of February had flown past and I'm facing February Stakes, this year's first G1 with only four more days to go... oh god.

Because Monday had been a holiday, I have one day less than usual with tons of things to do piled up thanks to the flu. Yet I'm having less paid this month as some of my clients have cancelled their orders, for reasons indirectly related to the flu. Darn, I've had enough bad things going on in the past six weeks. I really hope that things would improve soon.

The End

Caterpillar

5:08 p.m. Must work on analyzing the past results of February Stakes as I've only got 3 more days to go. The first thing to check out is whether Negishi Stakes winners do well or not.

Nonkono Yume has won Negishi Stakes last year and also won February Stakes. But my position is that Nonko won because Tokyo dirt 1600 meters was the best setting for this horse (it would have been even better if the track was a bit wet and fast). Otherwise, why would Nonko have won Unicorn Stakes with flying colors? Compared to Nonko's case, Kopano Kicking seems so unreliable to me when he hasn't even run the mile distance.

The End

Caterpillar

1:33 p.m. Ange Desir who was entered in February Stakes has scratched off due to a fracture in her left foreleg. Pity, but she's been racing in top category races since the last season, it's good for her to have a break.

I think I need a break too, from endless trips to the hospitals, trying desperately to manage time for the appointments, exposing all my personal information every time I visit a different hospital, and then get harrassed not having a chance to speak a word until each doctor finishes his line.

The End

Caterpillar

4:35 p.m. Time for the barrier draw, everyone. Barrier draw for the first G1 this season, February Stakes.

Queen's Saturn in post number 1, Yuranoto in 2, Gold Dream in 3, Meisho Utage in 4, Success Energy in 5, Inti in 6, Sunrise Nova in 7, Moanin' in 8, Wonder Lider in 9, Sunrise Soar in 10, Kopano Kicking in 11, Nobo Baccara in 12, Nonkono Yume in 13, and Omega Perfume in14.

Success Energy, Inti and Nonko have drawn good posts, I think.

The End

Caterpillar

2:54 p.m. As I've been having unexpected work popping up here and there, I haven't had time to refine my call for February Stakes, sorry.

Though one thing is sure. Inti will win. I've narrowed down the 2nd and 3rd place candidates to 5 horses, but haven't been able to sort them out yet. Those are Yuranoto, Gold Dream, Sunrise Soar, Nonkono Yume and Omega Perfume. If I had to put them in order, it would be Yuranoto, Sunrise Soar, Omega Perfume, Gold Dream and Nonko. Not that this order would automatically slide and be applied as the results.

The End

Caterpillar

9:03 p.m. Aw, I've keyed Gold Dream on the third row! If Yuranoto could have broken out of the pack more smoothly...

Though I admit I expected too much of Yuranoto. As you can see from the gap between Inti, Gold Dream, and Yuranoto, the top two horses were a couple of levels above others.

The End

Caterpillar

3:07 p.m. I've reviewed where I went wrong in February Stakes to cash in on Cow again and have realized that I had skipped an important step in my calling. The potential judgement step...

When calling races, I make it a rule to judge the potential of each competitors, in order to figure out whether I should buy the horse or cut it out. But I've been forgetting and skipping this process since last season (it hasn't really sunk into my calling process yet) and it's my umpth time to do it again. What, am I dumb?

The End

Caterpillar

3:36 p.m. I've also realized that I had forgotten to buy the wheel keying horses on 1st and 3rd for insurance. If I had remembered to carry out either of the two steps, I would have had 13,000 yen in my pocket now. It would have payed off my new noise cancelling ear phones.

I've crammed the misses and countermeasures in my head so now I must keep my face up and look ahead. Life goes on. Let alone, this week's Nakayama Kinen has delux names on its entry list, with top horses that want to pep up before going to Dubai. There are the names of Suave Richard, Dierdre, Stelvio, Epoca d'Oro, Lucky Lilac and of course, Win Bright.

The End

Caterpillar

5:02 p.m. And the defending champion Win Bright is the 5th favored... Well, it wouldn't surprise me if Epoca d'Oro who has only won Satsuki-sho is the 2nd favored leaving Mile Chanpionship winner Stelvio in 3rd.

Incidentally, the honorable most favored horse of Nakayama Kinen as of this afternoon while the betting tickets haven't even been sold yet, is Dierdre, who has merely won a filly G1 nearly two years ago.

The End

Caterpillar

2:08 p.m. Presumably, the entrees for Nakayama Kinen can all be in the race so no worries about that. Let's check the incoming news.

The 2017 Elizabeth Queen Cup winner Mozu Katchan is training for Kinko-sho (March 10th), probably aiming for either Osaka-hai or Victoria Mile. Meanwhile, Danon Premium who hadn't been in a race since last year's Japanese D'erby, is also training to be in the same race, Kinko-sho. Well, it's about time. Also, Etario who had been Premium's rival is training for Nikkei-sho (March 23rd), assumingly aiming for the spring Tenno-sho. Good for him, I'd have bought him if he'd been in Arima Kinen.

The End

Caterpillar

2:46 p.m. Time for the barrier draw.

Win Bright in post number 1, Martese Apogee in 2, Lucky Lilac in 3, Siberian Superb in 4, Dierdre in 5, Toruk Makto in 6, Stelvio in 7, Happy Grin in 8, Epoca d'Oro in 9, Suave Richard in 10 and Meiner Sage in 11. Good draw for Win Bright!

The End

Caterpillar

2:08 p.m. Hmmm... The payout will probably be very disappointing but well, let's call Nakayama Kinen anyway.

My key will be Stelvio and Win Bright. I'd suggest buying both of them on 1st and 2nd place if you're buying trifectas. On the wheel would be Lucky Lilac, Dierdre, and Epoca d'Oro. Lucky Lilac on 3rd place. Suave Richard, I think he needs more time.

The End

Caterpillar

4:25 p.m. Win Bright has won Nakayama Kinen two years in a row, yay!

Though my call turned out to be another blunder thanks to Stelvio's reserved position during the race. Those of you who bought the trio, not trifecta, congratulations. I will watch the race a couple more times to fully enjoy it and quit running today as I've been hit with another toothache. Will stay home to switch to some squats instead.

The End

Caterpillar

3:08 p.m. Masami Matsuoka the rider of Win Bright has been mentioning all along that the horse can win a G1. And Win Bright has proven he has enough ability to win one. So here's how to make WIn Bright a G1 winner.

In my humble opinion, I'd aim for Antares Stakes (G3) on April 14th for the next race, given that Win Bright would have a short recess starting this week. He wouldn't have to win Antares Stakes since it's just a prep for Yasuda Kinen in mid-June. But I'd give Masami a strict instruction to go up front. That should pep up the horse's fighting spirit while reducing his physical and mental damage.

The End

Caterpillar

4:42 p.m. February will be over in a couple of days. March is right around the corner. And the step races for the spring classics will be running before you know it.

Tulip-sho will be run this Saturday, with Danon Fantasy the Hanshin JF's champion gathering attention as her first race this year. On Sunday, Yayoi-sho will run reminding me that the classics season is coming around once again, whether I'm in good condition or bad.

The End

Caterpillar

1:12 p.m. I've found a small article in today's horse race news about Epoca d'Oro who came in 5th place in last week's Nakayama Kinen.

I had some personal expectations for him and Lucky Lilac and, while Lucky Lilac proved her potential, Epoca d'Oro turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. One thing is that his weight wasn't increasing. That itself doesn't automatically mean the horse hasn't grown much however, I think weight gain is one of the important aspects in judging the horse's condition. Not enough weight gain after a break puts a question mark in the toung horse's growth.

By the way, the article was about Epoca's next race announced to be Osaka-hai, for your information.

The End

Caterpillar

2:44 p.m. Another piece of news. Cheval Grand is running in Dubai Sheema Classic (turf, 2,410 meters) with Hugh Bowman on his back.

It's amazing how a 7-year-old horse could compete in such top category races over 2 or 3 years of time. I'd really take my hat of for this horse. Wishing him good luck and hoping to see him again in Tenno-sho (spring) when it gets warmer.

The End

Caterpillar