Tokyo will host the Grade 3 Kyodo New Hai for three-year-old colts which is a fascinating line-up including the promising Harbinger colt Phantom Thief.
Our Best Bets for Sunday
Hanshin Race 11 - #12 Do Deuce
Talented galloper back from a campaign overseas where he tackled two feature races in France, finishing fourth in the Prix Niel then well back in thePrix Arc De La Triomphe.
Three starts back, Do Deuce was a Grade 1 winner and he has won at that level twice. In fact he's raced four of his eight career starts at the top level for two wins and a placing. He has a strong record fresh, regular rider Yutaka Take is aboard and he is very well placed at this level.
Efforia, himself a three-time Grade 1 winner, is second-up from a break and looks the main danger. He returned in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen for a fast finishing fifth and is well placed in this company.
Hanshin Dirt Race 10 - #8 Stable Ask
Lightly raced mare who doesnt win out of turn but won't get a better chance. The mare has been runner-up at her last three starts, the latest when fresh over the same journey on the Chukyo Dirt in similar grade. As usual, she settled well back and came with a big finish but couldnt reel in the winner.
At Hanshin she has started five times for a win and four minors and two of her three career wins have been on dirt. In a race with many struggling to find their best form, she looks poised to break through for a long overdue win.
Lightly-raced filly Per Aa looks the main danger. She was an effortless winner in slightly easier grade last time, making it three wins from just six career starts. The four-year-old races on speed and will give a sight again.
Kokura Race 10 - #1 Sincere Wish
Talented filly returning from a break. Raced three times last campaign for a win and two seconds, the latest a narrow runner-up in similar grade in what has proven a strong form race, trying to lead throughout but going down to Rouge Eveil.
She was narrowly beaten in the Grade 2 Flora Stakes last April so is up to a race such as this. She is also a fresh-up winner and will give a big sight.
Enishino Uta has the same form coming into this race and looks a definite danger. She, too, has a win and two minors from her last three and was narrowly beaten last time out. With a big finish the mare will be winding up strongly again.
Tokyo Dirt Race 7 - #5 Night Castle
This promising colt returns from an 11-week break and faces a far easier assignment than his two runs last campaign.
Last prep the Otonashi stable sent him around in the Listed Hagi Stakes first-up over 1800m at Hanshin and the three-year-old did a great job to finish second after racing in the leading division. The bar was set a little higher at his next outing and the colt did well from a wide gate to finish fifth in the Grade 3 Nisai Stakes over 2000m.
This campaign launch pits him against a field of modest allowance horses, save for Finger Click. From a perfect gate jockey Keita Tosaki can find a handy position and on what we have seen to date he should prove far too good.
Finger Click is the other runner with black-type form. He battled on steadily to finish fifth at his latest outing in the Listed Junior Cup over the mile at Nakayama 38 days ago. That form should see him in the finish.