Four meetings across Japan today as we gear up for yet another weekend of Group 1 racing. We've got cards at Funabashi, Sonoda, Saga and Kasamatsu, with a best bet for each fixture.
Funabashi Race 5 #12 Seiun Grappa
Keen to be with this seven-year-old who is racing very well and going around at enticing prices recently. He won at Urawa three starts back at $16 before running second here at $4.20 in a high rating race. Last start he went around at $21 and found the line well for second again, running another rating that makes him very hard to beat here. It may be his trainer and jockey, who are relatively low profile, that are causing the market to brush over him but his form doesn't lie and I think he'll go close here at a price.
Sonoda Race 10 #10 Zendan Ryu
Good contest at Sonoda with a handful of horses in hot form, but I'm siding with Zendan Ryu who comes here first up from a spell. He won first up when last in work at Himeji over this distance and would go on to win six in a row and 7/8 for the preparation. A couple of his runs at this track and distance rated very highly and I think we'll get a good chance to back him here in a stiff test. We've got the likes of #2 Wonder Heart who has won her last four in a row and went around as an even money favourite last start which will ensure she's kept short in the market. Zendan Ryu will need to improve off his first up run last time in but if he runs to his peak he'll go very close.
Saga Race 4 #8 Super Regina
Not the strongest race for the two-year-old maidens but Super Regina is knocking on the door of a win and is less exposed than nearly all of this field. With just two starts under her belt, this filly ran second on debut (albeit beaten 8 lengths) over 900m before a strong effort last start over 1400m when third, beaten 4.5 lengths. That has her rating on top here and with natural improvement at her third start I think she's clearly the one to beat.
Kasamatsu Race 7 #6 Shadow Artemis
Just the field of eight at Kasamatsu but an open race with a few winning chances. I'm siding with Shadow Artemis who comes off a poor run last start when up in class, finding herself a bit out of her depth. Her win prior at a similar level to this was good and rated well when leading all of the way and a return to that level will have her right in the finish here. She's got good gate speed and will likely lead them up here and the market rarely has her favourite. With #8 Jo Book Luce set to jump a clear favourite off the back of a 3 length win at $1.20 I think there's a chance to get each-way odds about Shadow Artemis which looks a good bet.