Kawasaki – Race 6 #11 Thinking I'll
This five-year-old mare finished off her last campaign in fine form with a string of good efforts at this track and there was plenty to like about the fresh effort where she led and fought on to go under by a neck. She will only be improved by that outing and doesn't have to lift a lot to beat these. Takara Cheetah resumes after finishing her last campaign with a closing second at Funabashi. Has an honest record at this distance and draws nicely. Santerno was below market expectations last time but has claims off an-all-the way win at Urawa two back.
Kawasaki - Race 10 #4 Nyanchinnon
Nyanchinnon looks very placed to make a winning return. Hasn't raced for 11 weeks but was in fine form at the end of last campaign, recording two wins and a second from his last three appearances, all with today's rider Takehiro Kasano aboard. Won his only attempt at this track so ticks plenty of boxes. Elaborate has been consistent with a string of top-four finishes and looks close to a win after placing at his last two. Only missed by a neck last time and is well drawn so could threaten from a favourable draw. Googol Dreams was solid in fourth last start and is suited back to 2000m having won at the journey two back.
Nagoya – Race 11 #1 Nobori Starry
It's very hard to knock the form of Nobori Starry who comes into this event off a string of top-two finishes. Made it three wins from his last four starts when scoring by one length over 1500m last time. Up in distance but he loves this track winning seven of 11 attempts and he is drawn to get a soft run. Smart Sabre was a recent winner here and he could be close to another success after finishing less than two lengths away at his last couple. He is honest and deserving of respect as is Shirakami Road who extended a sequence of top-four finishes when running on to place last time and he gets another 500m to work with.
Mizusawa – Race 10 #7 Strong Force
Strong Force has gone from strength to strength since joining the Isao Sugawara yard with four wins and a second in five attempts and today's hoop Shinobu Murakami has been aboard in each of those. Scored in good fashion over this distance last time to be unbeaten at this track and his form stands out in this line up. Dharmawangsa has plenty of ground to make up on Strong Force after finishing midfield behind him last start but he was well in the market there and was a course and distance winner two back so is capable of better. Logan is close to a win having missed by just a neck in his last two runs.
