3 minute read
Three JRA fixtures this Sunday with some very even racing and tough cards to navigate. The highlight across the day is no doubt the Grade 2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai (2200m) at Chukyo, where talented type Weltreisende brings his Japan Cup placing to the table.
Here's our best for Sunday.
Chukyo Race 10 - #6 Santee Tesoro
Despite coming back to 1400m for the first time, this filly has the class to prevail.
In September/October of last year she won two consecutive mile races at Nakayama by big margins, leading throughout on each occasion. That prompted the Kurita stable to test the three-year-old against the best fillies in the land five weeks ago in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Grade 1 level. She led into the straight again that day but found the opposition too strong in the concluding stages, winding up seventh but far from disgraced.
Being a free-rolling filly, this shorter trip should hold no fears. With the benefit of that last run she will be cherry-ripe and can make it three wins from just five starts.
Seven of the nine rivals are last-start winners, with the pick of those being Alluring View. She won with plenty to spare on debut over 1600m at Hanshin five weeks back and is obviously open to plenty of improvement. From the inside alley she is a genuine threat.
Chukyo Race 11 - #2 Weltreisende
Talented type who brings the right form. The six-year-old returned from a break over 2400m in the Grade 1 Japan Cup where he sat just off the pace and kept coming in the straight, finishing a close-up third in a tight finish. The figure from that race trumps anything he comes up against today but worth noting he has been near that level on a couple of other occasions as well.
Today's assignment is a notch down and with a great draw and leading rider David Egan to steer he looks tough to beat again.
Pradaria is resuming from a spell and looks the main threat. The son of Deep Impact hasn't raced since finishing midfield in the Japanese St Leger and is a winner at this Grade 2 level. Although his best form is over slightly further he will be tough to hold off fresh.
Nakayama Race 7 - #7 Raspberry Mousse
Talented filly who looks well placed to return to winning form. The four-year-old sat off the speed over a mile fresh and wound up strongly, finishing on hard when runner-up. She is a second-up winner and will find this assignment easier. Just two runs ago she tackled Grade 1 company and is stakes placed over the mile the start prior to that. Dropping in company today and with a top rider engaged its hard to not see her in the finish.
Vanguard's Heart is an improving type who appeals as the main threat. After placing at his first two starts he got off the mark with a maiden success at his only start last time in. Given time, he looks an improver and can take up where he left off.
Nakayama Race 9 - #1 Kimiwa Queen
Talented filly who is better that record suggests. The filly boasts three wins and a placing from seven tries but worth noting her three unplaced runs have all come in tougher stakes races. She was a soft allowance winner two back then spelled again, and last time again resumed in similar class to today and was beaten a nose as favourite in a good form race.
The filly goes well fresh, has been enjoying the sharper 1200m journey she strikes today and off the inside draw should have the run off the race stalking the speed. She looks tough to hold out.
Lightly raced mare Zero Gravity hit the line well fresh and looks the main danger. She tackled a similar race to today and kept coming and worth noting she is a second-up winner. With a strong course and distance record the mare looks a leading player in today's race.
