NAR racing continues Wednesday with meetings scheduled for Kawasaki, Sonoda, and Kasamatsu. Kawasaki headlines the day's racing with it hosting what is sure to be a thrilling Conditions race over 1600m for the two-year-olds. With a solid card set for Kawasaki, there also looks to be appealing betting opportunities across the other two venues.
Sonoda Race 3 - #2 Smalt
Looking to get off the mark early at Sonoda with Smalt, who has left an impression in his first two starts. While Smalt is yet to produce the same figures as some of his more experienced threats like Clione and Pikku Prinssi, the way the two-year-old colt has savaged the line for second in both efforts suggests he is close to a peak performance. With anticipated speed drawn outside of Smalt, I'm expecting jockey Osamu Shimohara to land in a favourable stalking position from his inside draw before letting rip with a strong turn of foot over the concluding stages. What is also worth mentioning is the impressive form Shimohara finds himself in, shouldering a winning strike rate of 32% from his last 50 starts.
Kasamatsu Race 3 - #8 Run This
In what looks a competitive race between three of them, I'm siding with the four-year-old filly to get the job done. Boasting a terrific record over the track and distance, I'm suspecting Run This to muster enough speed in the early going to settle in front of her immediate danger Grace Muse. In a race that is lacking any obvious speedsters, if in-form hoop and regular rider Makoto Okabe can land in a prominent position I'm sure there will be plenty left in the tank when straightening to stave off her challengers.
Kawasaki Race 4 - #3 Letter Man
Hard to see Letter Man being denied this time around if he's able to produce an effort similar to his last start performance, when beaten a neck at Funabashi. Taito Mori who once again reunites, managed to improve this entire many lengths at the latest when stepping out to the mile and has elected to remain aboard the six-year-old despite partnering rival Ocean Wind to her last start victory. With a favourable racing pattern, Mori should be able to provide an economical ride for his mount from the low draw and prove too strong at the business end.
