Yutaka Take back

[specialweek]

The local champ is back in the saddle after less than two months out with a fractured pelvis. He is doing trackwork this week and is due to return to race riding this upcoming weekend :)

[specialweek]

Take has been allowed 8 rides over the two days at Kyoto course as a precaution in his return to race riding.
In other news, two Japanese horses have been nominated for Arlington Park in August.
Machikane Kinnohoshi for the Millions and Diamond Biko for the Beverly D. handicap.
Possibly Take and Kent Desmoreaux to ride one each or one jockey to ride both.
Both horses to run here in May as indicators of
their prospects.
No Reason who won the 2,000 Guineas at the weekend will enter for the Derby next month but has not been around the Tokyo track so it may have a race before the derby to acclimatise to the track.
Jungle Pocket will be worked by Yutaka Take in his preparation for the Tenno sho on the 28th of April. The Japan Cup winner has improved his condition since his last run and is racing better as he tended to hang badly in the straight at his last start.
Finally, the introduction of Trio betting on provincial tracks which began April 2nd is still being worked on with the Agriculture ministry.
Initially only races with 9 horses or less are allowed to have trio betting as this is the same number as the bicycle race fields.
Not sure of the thinking but maybe by June this number will be increased to cover a large field.
It seems the NRA and JRA are in a mini war with the Agriculture Ministry over various issues. Field sizes on Provincial tracks, types of betting and expansion of betting shops (WINS) throughout the country.
With revenue falling over the last 5 years, they are loooking at ways to increase the interest and investment in racing.
SW