1:56 p.m. Time for the Yayoi-sho barrier draw.

Last Draft in post number1, Nishino Daisy in 2, Cantor in 3, Satono Radius in 4, Schwarz Riese in 5, Vin Quet Domingoin 6, Lava Stone in 7, Breaking Dawn in 8, Naimama in 9, and Meisho Tengen in 10. The favored horses all drew inner posts, haven't they? A bit of expectation for Satono Radius, though.

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1:48 p.m. I'm on alert for the Tulip-sho today as to see how Danon Fantasy will perform. I think she is currently the closest to winning Ohka-sho.

As for tomorrow's Yayoi-sho, I'd key Last Draft. I know he's the most favored but it can't be helped. On the wheel would be Cantor (another one that can't be helped), Nishino Daisy, Satono Radius, and Breaking Dawn. Our taining squad has reported negative comments on Satono Radius and Schwarz Riese, so I've changed my stance a little bit.

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5:00 p.m. Oh yes, I'd checked the forecast a dozen times and knew that it was going to rain today. It just didn't register in my head.

Meisho Tengen might not have won if it weren't for the soft track caused by this rain. The horse does seem to have a powerful engine, though I'm not sure whether he could make the same performance in Satsuki-sho, now that he's used his blast here.

The lap had been too slow for Nishino Daisy, Masaki Katsuura shouldn't have forced the horse down like that. Keying Last Draft was my blunder, his loss was not just because Christophe couldn't ride.

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2:59 p.m. The top three horses of Yayoi-sho are prioritized to enter Satsuki-sho, so Meisho Tengen, Schwarz Riese, and Breaking Dawn will go to Satsuki-sho I suppose if all goes well.

This week we're having Kinko-sho with another delux entry list. The names on the list are Al Ain, Danon Premium, Persian Knight, Mozu Katchan, and Lys Gracieux and others. 5 G1 horses in one race. If this isn't gorgeous, what is?

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5:14 p.m. While Kinko-sho is run on Chukyo turf with delux members, Hanshin tracks is holding an important step race for Ohka-sho called, Fillies Review.

It's an important race as every year the winner of this race tends to become favored in Ohka-sho, but rarely finishes above 3rd place. In other words, the winner of Fillies Review often becomes just a flashy target for favor which I would gladly cut out from my list.

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5:06 p.m. Although Fillies Review is an important race concerning Ohka-sho, I am not much interested in which horse wins this race (apart from the name).

1400 meters usually end up in a simple speed race without much shift changes. They are thus different from both 1200 meters and 1600 meters. I neither have any idea or much interest in which horse might win, but from expereince, think that horses who performed fairly well in their previous race (1600 meters preferrable) may perform well.

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1:58 p.m. News of Wagnerian entered in Osaka-hai 3 weeks from now has come in. I've been wondering what became of the Japanese D'erby winner, as he'd scratched off from all G1 races last autumn.

Article reports that Wagnerian has done a training together with his elder Makahiki, which generally seemsto have gone well. I'm not going to accept this without question, since you never know until the race is run. I'll just keep in mind that Wagnerian is a Deep Impact Descendant.

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2:27p.m. Time for the barrier draw. Let's see which barrier the delux members have drawn.

Danon Premium in pot number 1, Shonan Bach in 2, Satono Walkure in 3, Suzuka Devious in 4, Tanino Frankel in 5, Persian Knight in 6, Gibeon in 7, Air Windsor in 8, Muito Obrigado in 9, Al Ain in 10, Lys Gracieux in11, Mozu Katchan in 12, and Maitres d'Art in 13.

Oju Chousan who is running in Hanshin Spring Jump this Saturday seems to have drawn post number 11, for your information.

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2:14 p.m. I'm not planning to buy betting tickets tomorrow, just sit back and relax to watch Kinko-sho on TV.

So I'm making my call simple with just Tanino Frankel, Air Windsor, and Muito Obrigado. The key should be Air Windsor not to mention, in case you're buying wheels. My guess is that Tanino Frankel would take the lead to stay in 2nd place.

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9:18 p.m. It looked like an easy win for Danon Premium. I was afraid he hadn't grown so much even after 9 months of long break especially, considering that he was a Deep Impact descendant, but the horse has washed it away with his performance.

Tanino Frankel has managed to take the lead as I'd expected, though the lap he set was too slow that he eventually cashed in on Danon Premium. Lys Graxieu was lucky to have soft track condition, otherwise she might not have reached Air Windsor from her position in the back. And yes, I forgot again to take the weather in account. Stupid me.

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3:27p.m. It's getting warmer by the day and I feel the season is surely shifting into spring. Step races for the spring G1s are also good reminders. Spring Stakes run this weekend, is virtually the last step race for Satsuki-sho, while Hanshin Dai-shoten run on the same day is a step for Tenno-sho (spring).

However. I have been hugely disappointed by the entrees of this year's Hanshin Dai-shoten. In contrast with yesterday's Kinko-sho, there are no G1 horses entered, NONE. In fact most of the entered horses haven't even won a G3. The only two horses that have won G2 is Sciacchetra and Ridgeman. Hanshin Dai-shoten has always been the traditional and prestigious step for Tenno-sho. This is almost embarrassing.

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Caterpillar

3:27p.m. It's getting warmer by the day and I feel the season is surely shifting into spring. Step races for the spring G1s are also good reminders. Spring Stakes run this weekend, is virtually the last step race for Satsuki-sho, while Hanshin Dai-shoten run on the same day is a step for Tenno-sho (spring).

However. I have been hugely disappointed by the entrees of this year's Hanshin Dai-shoten. In contrast with yesterday's Kinko-sho, there are no G1 horses entered, NONE. In fact most of the entered horses haven't even won a G3. The only two horses that have won G2 is Sciacchetra and Ridgeman. Hanshin Dai-shoten has always been the traditional and prestigious step for Tenno-sho. This is almost embarrassing.

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Caterpillar

1:36 p.m. Dixie Knight who is entered in Spring Stakes seems to have had a good training with Almond Eye. Hmm, the horse looks like a good one. Maybe I should buy Spring Stakes betting tickets. Nah, just kidding.

Still feeling rather reluctant to think about Hanshin Dai-shoten. The top horses not entered in this race should all apologize to Gold Ship.

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2:07 p.m. The more I look at the entry list of Hanshin Dai-shoten, the more I lose interest...

The winner of this race is said to be the most closest to winning the spring Tenno-sho. How come there are no entries of 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds? In the world of horse race, horses are said to reach their prime in their 4th or 5th year. Yet, there are no entries this year. All the more reason to lose interest, humph.

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1:33 p.m. Let's just check out the barrier draw for Hanshin Dai-shoten, just in case I become motivated somehow.

Lord Vent d'Or in post number 1, Ridgeman in 2, Kent O in 3, Stay In Seattle in 4, Saimon Ramesses in 5, Sole Impact in 6, Kafuji prince in 7, Vosges in 8, Admire Eikan in 9, Sciacchetra in 10, and Corcovado in 11. Period.

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1:55 p.m. Oh, god, I can't make heads nor tails. I tried to cross out horses with less chances and they'd all be crossed out. On the other hand, every horse has a chance to perform well.

If I'm forced to call Hanshin Dai-shoten, I'd probably key Ridgeman on a trio. I just can't get the image of him winning after the loss of Arima Kinen, though considering the potential he should be coming within 3rd place. On the wheel would be Kent O (with a bit of expectation on his sire line), Stay In Seattle, Kafuji Prince, and Corcovado?

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Caterpillar

9:12 p.m. Hanshin Dai-shoten became just the race for Sciacchetra.

With soft track condition and a tight lap, Sciacchetra was able to avoid being squashed in the pack. He was also lucky that the race required power and stamina. But this was Hanshin Dai-shoten, not Tenno-sho. Here I am with a goofy smile head already filled with fantasies winning Tenno-sho (with a big payout!).

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3:51 p.m. Spring Stakes has finished in an interesting ending. Fantasist lost in 2nd, but Yutaka rode him brilliantly taking Satsuki-sho in account. If the horse can keep his condition (and calm), he might perform well in his first 2,000 meter race.

Dixie Knight who did a good training against Almond Eye has also secured a ticket to Satsuki-sho in the best way possible. Although both horses are bound to face tough rivals like Saturnalia or Admire Mars, their performances in Spring Stakes make me raise my hopes.

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4:17 p.m. And before I know it, I'm facing Takamatsuno-miya Kinen again with only 4 more days to go...

Isn't this just like the week of February Stakes? I have a bad feeling about this that I'm gonna run out of time again, just like February Stakes...

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1:13 p.m. While I've been fumbling with this and that, sad news have been delivered. King Halo has passed away.

I remember winning Satsuki-sho for the first time in my life with a quinella of Seiun Sky and King Halo. I can still picture the frozen expression on Yuichi Fukunaga's face when he came out on the turf in D'erby. All are good memories I take out to savor time and again. It's sad to see another great horse go, but would like to see him off with words of thanks.

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6:18 p.m. Okay, today was a national holiday, but I've been busy preparing some stock for weekday lunch that I haven't been able to check out the racing form of Takamatsuno-Miya Kinen.

See, I told you. This is what happens when you have to pay frequent visits to hospitals and clinics. It eats up your time and energy like a monster. That's why I've avoided medical check-ups. I'd rather live short and die young (though am not young any more) rather than have some health problem dug up which might or might not cost you your life. Rock'n'Roll.

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2:10 p.m. Oh god, the barrier draw has been announced while I haven't done anything yet.

Snow Dragon in post number1, Rhein Spirit in 2, Mister Melody in 3, Seiun Kosei in 4, Teehaff in 5, Ares Barows in 6, Shonan Anthem in 7, Let's Go Donki in 8, Nac venus in 9, Love Kampf in 10, Hiruno Devaro in 11, Logi Cry in 12, Danon Smash in 13, Peisha Felicita in 14, Mozu Superflare in 15, Dea Regalo in 16, Daimei Fuji in 17 and Daimei Princess in 18.

Ooooh, poor Snow Dragon! He wouldn't stand a chance unless it rains (quite heavily, at that) starting from this post! Oh, come on! This could be his last race, you know?

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2:16 p.m. I've done the best I could with time I had left.

I would key Logi Cry and Danon Smash on a trio. On the wheel would be, Ares Barows, Let's Go Donki, Nac Venus, and Mozu Superflare. I've pondered the situation but decided that both key horses have a chance to win. I want to buy trifectas, though am undecided which key horse to put on 1st place, or whether to keep Mozu on 2nd or not. Donki will probabaly stay in the 3rd row.

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9:30 p.m. I've been wondering where I went wrong.

True the lap was tight and it took Mozu Superflare some time to catch Seiun Kosei who took the lead, but 33.2 seconds for the first 3 furlongs is not a murderously high lap for a sprint race.

And I thought it might become tough for Mozu with only two weeks' gap since her last race so I can understand her loss. So what could be tha factor that could have given advantage to the top 3 horses? What?

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3:27 p.m. It's the lap. It's gotta be the lap.

The only reason I could think of about Takamatsuno-miya Kinen to end with such a huge payout is the lap time. It wasn't incredibly high, but it was enough to sink the favored horses that had hidden damage or stress.

I need to analyze this well however, we're having consecutive weekends of G1 races now that the spring season has begun, and Osaka-hai this weekend won't wait. Must finish my review in a zip!

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3:26 p.m. All right. Now let's shift our minds to the coming Osaka-hai this weekend.

Here are the names of G1 horses on the entry form: Al Ain, Epoca d'Oro, Kiseki, Sun Grazer, Stelvio, Blast Onepiece, Persian Knight, Makahiki, and Wagnerian. 9 out of 15 horses entered are G1 winners. That means the odds will be split.

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4:23 p.m. On the same day as Osaka-hai, Dubai is holding a G1 day with Almond Eye entered in Dubai Turf, 1800 meters.

Almond Eye will be running against Without Parole, Century Dream, Loxley or Dream Castle, together with two other Japanese horses, Diedre and Vivlos. The race is going to be the first step of her overseas challenge but I'm expecting good news delivered by next Monday morning. This is just going to be a stepping stone for this great horse, if everything goes without incident.

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2:38 p.m. The retirement of Snow Dragon has been announced.

About time! The horse is 11 years old, you know? And he's a G1 champion horse! The way they've made him run up until this age, using him as a practice horse in his last race was almost insulting. I'm glad he's going to be a sire in his second life, he fully desrves it.

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2:32 p.m. Time for the barrier draw.

Makahiki in post number 1, Wagnerian in 2, Al ain in 3, Epoca d'Oro in 4, Muito Obrigado in 5, Kiseki in 6, Blast Onepiece in 7, Sungrazer in 8, Air Windsor in 9, Stay Foolish in 10, Persian Knight in 11, Stervio in 12, Stiffelio in 13, and Danburite in 14.

Now that the post numbers have been announced, the remaining questions are the weather (track condition) and the lap.

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1:34 p.m. I was taken by surprise when I checked the odds yesterday around 6:30. Makahiki had suddenly shot up to the most favored. A minute later as I reloaded the page, Epoca d'Oro took his place, and then replaced by Kiseki. I learned that this is what happens at the start of online betting. The odds shot up and drop down because everyone throws in their bet all at once. By 7:30, things seem to have sttled with Blast Onepiece, Kiseki, and Wagnerian in plausible order.

It took me a long time to come to a conclusion this week because there seemed to be no outstanding horse. Eventually, I picked Stelvio as my key. On a wheel of Epoca d'Oro, Wagnerian, Kiseki, Sungrazer, and Persian Knight. I'm still undecided about squeezing in Blast Onepiece. On trio, to be on the safe side.

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7:21 p.m. Almond Eye has won as expected, while her brother has sunk to the lowest place in Osaka-hai, thanks to Genki Maruyama who stuck him in the pack. Lord Kanaloa descendants are not to be squashed in the pack.

On the other hand, Kiseki has come in 2nd which is very promising considering his next race, Tenno-sho. I'm sure he will pay me back then.

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Caterpillar