Our best plays for the day.
Hanshin Race 9 - #11 Sunrise Ace
The Duramente colt is an honest type fitter for two runs back and looks ready to find winning form again. Fresh up he boxed on well to finish fourth over 2000m and improved further last time with a third over the same journey. Worth noting he won his only try when third-up and over the slightly shorter trip today he can return to the winners circle.
Selberg, a fast finishing third over a mile fresh, is fitter again and over the extra trip looks the main threat.
Tokyo Race 8 - #9 Montana Agate
Handy colt long overdue for a win. Has placed at his last six runs, finishing third at both starts last campaign. He hasn't raced since a fast finishing third, beaten in a three-way photo, over 1500m, and looks ideally placed here fresh over 1400m. His sole career win was while fresh and with Christophe Lemaire back aboard he looks the one to beat.
Vers Un Reve won her only start last campaign and rates a serious chance again here fresh.
Tokyo Race 10 - #9 Red Velocity
Consistent four-year-old with a great record at the Tokyo 2400m journey. Last time resuming was a win here at the journey, coming from last as favourite to score. Second-up he again came from the tail and sustained a long run but couldn't reel in the leading pair, finishing third. No doubt he will be given time to find his feet again here fresh but over his pet course and distance will be tough to hold off late.
Hishi Gekko ran a top race fresh at huge odds to place and can threaten again.
Tokyo Dirt Race 11 - #16 Admire Lupus
Super honest five-year-old who has three wins and three seconds from the last six runs. Last time in he had just two starts - both over the mile - when just edged out at Listed level fresh from a break, the tackled open class latest and cleared out to trounce a big field. Course and distance stats are great and leading rider Christophe Lemaire, who know him very well including three wins, is aboard. He looks tough to beat despite the tricky gate.
Desierto is a talented colt resuming and can prove a big threat. He was outclassed at Grade 1 level at his last two but the start prior, also when resuming, was a stakes win over 2000m. The mile will be short of his best but he will be charging late.
