At Nakayama feature racing is on the dirt with the Grade 3 Capella Stakes and that race is shaping as a wide open contest over the 1200m sprint journey.
Our Best Bets for Sunday
Nakayama Dirt Race 9 - #3 Campione
Talented colt overdue for a win. Finished off last campaign with a fast finishing third here over the same journey. That rating was below best and went for a break. Worth noting though his last fresh-up rating was in a similar race to this where he finished a game seocnd after pushing forward and boxing on strongly.
That figure is well and truly up to this race and while fresh has recorded a win and two minors from three tries. Jockey Hironobu Tanabe boasts the same record while aboard and from the low draw he can box seat these. The colt is expected to go close.
Best Regard is fitter for two runs back, finishing fourth fresh before placing last time. He will be at his top and expected to give a sight in front.
Chukyo Dirt Race 9 - #2 Meisho Gekirin
This handy colt looks well placed today. Returning and switching back to the dirt, he raced on speed and boxed on well to finish runner-up. Although a nice return the figure was well off what he is capable off, such as his rating when placed in Grade 3 company early in the year in when trying to lead throughout over a little further in the Deep Impact Kinen.
He will strip fitter for the run and off the low draw may well even lead. The colt's best is certainly up to this class and he looks tough to run down today.
Galapagos shows promise and looks the main threat. He got off the mark over 1700m two back then went for a break before resuming with a 1400m placing. The extra trip suits and he can only be improved.
Chukyo Race 12 - #1 Shonan Addeybb
Honest colt fitter for one run back. Was well in the market fresh but drew off the track so forward to press forward, covering ground. After looming up to second the early effort told late and he faded to finish fifth. It will be a different tactic today however drawing the inside gate and will strip fitter. Aside from the fresh-up effort his only other two unplaced runs have been in stakes class and ratings wise is more than capable this level.
This is his first try back to the mile but should be full of running and tough to beat this class.
The filly Goldschmiede hit the line hard fresh for a close-up fourth and looks the main threat. She will strip fitter and worth noting her sole career win was when second-up. She looks tough to stop again today.
Hanshin Race 8 - #5 Rinfrescante
This four-year-old wasn't expected to do a great deal first-up last start judging by the betting and he raced accordingly, finishing fifth over 2200m at this circuit.
Last preparation he was always about the mark, generally in better company than he meets today. The peak performance came second-up when he was beaten just over a length at this track in a stronger allowance race with today's rider Ryuji Wada steering. His stats at the 2400m trip are impressive; a win and four minor placings from five attempts. If he improves with the run under the belt as expected, his best figures suggest he will be very tough to beat.
Black Shield is the obvious threat. The three-year-old tackles this distance for the first time today but he loves the Hanshin circuit and has been finding the line well this prep in 2000-2200m contests.