Just the three meetings around Japan on Friday with Sonoda, Ohi and Kasamatsu all hosting. Ohi looks the pick of the cards on a fairly quiet day ahead of a big weekend of racing around the country.
First bet of the day at Sonoda with a five-year-old entire who looks nicely placed to record his second career win, having run very well here last start. He made good ground in the straight to run second, beaten less than half a length and his ratings are superior to this field. He can mix his form a bit but has a handful of runs that go close to winning this and if he holds his form he should be going close. #6 Clever Bird can improve after a poor one last start- he's usually more consistent and should be in the finish.
This four-year-old looks a good bet here given I think we'll get a better price than his level of ability. He was awful first up here over 1870m which just didn't suit at all. The race was run at a fast tempo and he was found out at the longer distance than he's used to. He went on a winning streak of 7/7 for the new stable last preparation, but all those wins were over 1400m or 1500m when leading. Forgive the first up run, back to his favourite distance of 1400m here, if he shows anything near his best he'll be very hard to beat.
Rose Tiara looks well placed here in this field at the weights. As a three-year-old filly she carries 53kg here and off her last start effort she rates best in this line up. She may not have the peaks that some other horses do but we should get an each-way price about her and that looks reasonable. She struggled two starts ago at this distance but nothing went right there as she got back to last. She rated highly the start prior at the 1600m when leading so it should hold no fears. #5 Mizuiro Kikyo is the logical danger with a strong record, having won 2/3 this time in.
Tipping Reconnect here who, at her best, should be too good for these. Her best scenario is 1400m on dry ground which she didn't find last start as favourite, beaten 4 lengths. Her run prior over a mile was very good and she has figures over 1400m that are very good for this class of race. Drawn barrier two, she has a good chance of finding the lead and if that eventuates, she'll be very hard to catch. It's a fairly open race with a few horses capable of challenging but I think Reconnect is the likely winner and should be a clear favourite.