Three meetings in Japan today with racing from Ohi, Sonoda and Nagoya. We've done the form and identified the best bets for the day.
Ohi (Tokyo City Keiba) Race 10- #3 Sophia Crown
Keen to be with this resuming filly who was an utterly dominant win on debut at this track over 1600m, leading throughout for a 30-length win. She was solid after that on wet ground before an okay effort at Kawasaki before a spell, also on wet ground. Now with a spell under her belt and back to Ohi, notably on dry ground, she looks awfully hard to beat if she can get back to her debut level. Interestingly she hasn't started shorter than $2.80 which was on debut and with #11 Sengen Top unbeaten from two starts I think Sophia Crown will start second pick.
Sonoda Race 11- #3 Namura Tata
The feature of the day with a handful of key winning chances but I think the important factor to note is the return of racing to Sonoda from Himeji. This four-year-old has only had four starts away from the JRA and won both to start his career at Sonoda over 1400m, winning by 6 lengths and 3.5 lengths in very good style and posting ratings that would be very hard to beat in this. Two placings at Himeji were good but rated quite a few lengths down but now returning to Sonoda and getting to 1700m can only suit. A maiden winner at Tokyo less than a year ago over 2100m means the trip will be no issue and if he can find his best he'll go close.
Nagoya Race 11- #6 Meisho Silt
Another good race with plenty of chances but Meisho Silt just keeps running very consistently strong figures, breaking through for another win last time out here over 1700m. The drop back to 1500m should be no issue given he's run some of his best races over the trip and regular jockey Makoto Okabe is in red hot form at the moment. He's striking at 30.3% of late and 26% here at Nagoya which is far and away better than any jockey in this field. For the leading Tsunoda camp, who are striking at their usual high rate of 21.2% here lately, I think he's a leading contender in a strong race. #10 Aoi Suisei has won two in a row in good style and rates as the main danger but Meisho Silt is a touch more consistent and coming out of better races so he gets the edge.
