Three meetings on the NAR circuits of Japan on Thursday with Kawasaki, Sonoda and Kasamatsu all playing host. We've scoured the meetings and picked out our best bets across the day's racing.
Kawasaki Race 5- #7 Key Fine
Keen on Key Fine to win again here after returning a narrow but decisive winner at Nagoya first up over 1500m. She signalled she's returned in fine order having won two out of five starts last time in and posting strong figures throughout. Others in this field have shown the level required to challenge but are a few lengths off their best at the moment and if Key Fine holds what she did first up she looks a likely winner.
Kawasaki Race 10- #4 Vono
This five-year-old doesn't have the best winning strike rate with 4 wins from 20 starts but is consistently putting up ratings that are very competitive and should go close here. He wasn't suited getting back in the field off a slow tempo last start but ran on well for third, beaten 2.5 lengths. He drew wide there and now draws a good gate, having shown the ability to race handier in the past. If that eventuates, he should be proving very tough to beat from #5 Sanei Wolf who is racing well and rates as a danger.
Sonoda Race 4- #8 Hokusai
Good little clash between a couple of handy horses here and I'm with Hokusai who is a veteran of 73 starts but racing as well as ever, resuming with a strong effort first up when sitting on the pace and just going down narrowly to finish second. He's been remarkably consistent around that level and although he was beaten at $1.90 his ratings still make him the horse to beat. #5 Wonder Luwes is a big chance of starting favourite having started $1.30 last start but Hokusai has the edge on our ratings and I'm happy to back him in.
Kasamatsu Race 7- #6 Spearhead
Keen on this three-year-old colt who has only won once from twelve starts but has run three very good races since transferring to the care of Masayoshi Goto. His win two starts back was dominant and rated very well, winning by 4 lengths on that occasion. He was a touch below his best last start but the ground was testing and he still ran well. A starting price of $3.80 there should ensure we get a backable price here and if he runs to his best he should be taking care of these.
