Three meetings around Japan on Friday ahead of another Group 1 weekend with the Shuka Sho at Hanshin. We've got racing at Kawasaki, Nagoya and Sonoda to find our best bets.
Kawasaki Race 10 #14 Red Sparrow
Keen on Red Sparrow here who rated down last start but looks suited stepping back up to 2000m where he was a dominant winner at this track and distance two starts ago. He was able to lead there but was out paced over 1500m last time, settling in the second half of the field and running on to be beaten 2.5 lengths. From the wide draw, expect he's sent forward here and if he replicates his win two starts ago he'll be awfully hard to beat again. #1 Esperto looks the main danger coming off a strong win last time out, but Red Sparrow did beat him by 3.5 lengths when they met.
Nagoya Race 4 #5 Meisho Imoji
The consistent Meisho Imoji looks hard to beat here coming off consecutive placings, the latest when only beaten 0.4 lengths at this track and distance as a $4 chance. Prior to those placings, he won two races in a row in good fashion which rate very well in this field. Even if he's able to hold his more recent form he looks a key chance for the in-form Naoto Takeshita stable. It does look a fairly open race with a few horses capable of challenging, but Meisho Imoji does rate highly.
Nagoya Race 10 #7 Noble Lavender
Open race at Nagoya but I think Noble Lavender can run well and be right in the finish. She stepped up to the 1700m here last start and acquitted herself well, running second in a stronger race. She was utterly dominant prior over 1500m, winning by 8 lengths, and whilst the slight query is that all of her career wins have been at 1500m, I thought she showed last time that the 1700m is fine. She was given a quieter ride than usual last start and I'm tipping she settles handier this time and proves hard to beat. #8 Naomini Deredereya looks a strong danger- there isn't much between them on ratings and she was actually better than Noble Lavender last start, but I'm hoping that means we get a better price for Noble Lavender.
Sonoda Race 10 #2 Miracle Catch
Small but select field at Sonoda and Miracle Catch looks the best bet on the card. This four-year-old filly rates highly off her last start having run second at her most recent start in a very similar race and if she repeats that effort she should prove tough to beat. She does occasionally put in a poor one so I don't expect her to be a heavy favourite however around the $3 mark would be a good bet.