Our best bets for Sunday December 18.
Nakayama Race 11 - #9 Kingston Boy
Lightly raced entire resuming and looks well placed this grade. The entire hasn't raced a great deal over the year and hasn't started since a solid midfield finish in the Grade 2 Mainichi Okan a few months ago. But he does tend to go best fresh and at today's journey. He has figures consistently up to this grade and with leading rider Tom Marquand booked to ride he is sure to be primed for a big run fresh. As always, he should be winding up strongly over the final stages.
Win Greatest continues to race well and looks the main threat. In a race with most trying to find their best, Win Greatest comes into this on the back of a last start win, albeit in easier grade. He will race forward and at peak fitness will give a great sight.
Nakayama Race 12 - #6 Erika Valeria
Honest staying filly resuming from a year long break. Although yet to win fresh she does tend to run well in limited tries and loves this longer journey. Most of her starts have been in the 2500m-2600m range and has an honest overall career record of a win and five minors from just nine runs. Her last two starts have been in tougher grade than this and she looks ideally placed at her first run for the new barn fresh-up today. Leading rider Mirco Demuro is down to ride.
Handy colt Lyrids looks the biggest threat. The three-year-old hasn't raced since placing in similar grade over 2200m last time and will be partnered by top jockey Tom Marquand. Although having first try at the trip he will press forward and should give a sight fresh.
Chukyo Race 10 - #5 Raketa
Handy filly worth forgiving for a fresh-up run below her best. The three-year-old regularly returns figures in the triple figures but fresh from a spell, although fourth, was well off her best. She drew off the track and pushed forward but a tough run told late and she faded for a safely held fourth. Today though, she draws a far better gate and will only be fitter. If she can return to her standard mark in this suitable contest with a better run in transit she is right in this race.
Meisho Habitan is edging towards a win and looks the main danger. The filly has placed at her last two, the latest when runner-up in slightly easier grade last time. Although wins are rare, she is up to this class and will be running on at each way odds.
Hanshin Dirt Race 12 - #3 Diretor
It is always worth forgiving a good horse one bad run and that is the case with this son of Lord Kanaloa. He was sent out an odds-on favourite eight weeks ago in a similar race to this but after racing on the speed he didn't close the race off and finished midfield. His previous four runs over 1400m yielded two wins and two seconds. His peak rating during that sequence is superior to anything today's opponents can muster.
He draws a better gate today, so jockey Yuichi Fukunaga won't have to use him up early to gain a forward position. If anywhere near his best, the colt can register his fourth win from just ten starts.
Good Deal and Mozu Rickey are smart three-year-olds who excel at seven furlongs and represent the biggest threats. However, both will need to go up a level if they are to topple Diretor if he brings his best.