Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Japanese thoroughbred meetings for October 19.
NAR racing continues Wednesday with the card at Urawa highlighting the four meetings with it hosting a competitive Conditions event over 2000m.
Racing will also take place at Kasamatsu, Sonoda, and Mombetsu, with each of the respective venues offering appealing betting opportunities.
Exciting four-year-old entire Ranryo O will be looking to add to his impressive record in the feature at Urawa but is sure to face stiff competition from Taka Joe and a few other talented types.
Kasamatsu Race 7 - #2 Mame Nina
In what is sure to be a competitive race, the Masayoshi Goto-trained Mame Nina gets the nod ahead of anticipated race favourite Up Ryujin and Lady Oso.
With Goto training winners at a 20% strike rate in his last 50 runners and jockey Maki Mukoyama in similar form, Mame Nina profiles well for this assignment.
Drawn favourably, expect this daughter of Transcend to race prominently from her inside draw and have plenty left in the engine when they enter the lane.
Mombetsu Race 8 - #4 Kura Rouge
Anticipated favourite Kitano Blue Hallez will take a power of beating however will likely command much of the market attention off the back of back-to-back wins, there in lies an opportunity to back promising filly Kura Rouge.
The three-year-old daughter of Taisei Legend has been kept fresh for this after scoring dominantly last start over the track and trip.
In what should be a hotly run race out in front, I expect rider Manato Kurosawa to take a sit behind the speed from the good gate and be charging strongly at the business end.
Sonoda Race 9 - #3 Meisho Guts
Meisho Guts returned in sound order a fortnight ago when working strongly to line from the tail of the field.
Although yet to win second-up, the I'll Have Another gelding will take great benefit from reuniting with leading hoop Tomohiro Yoshimura – who is 3/3 when partnering and striking at a staggering 48% from his last 50 rides.
Drawn to settle closer this time out of a better draw, expect Meisho Guts to be too strong for them late.
Urawa Race 4 - #5 Win Strom
On his best form Barolo Flavor proves extremely difficult to defeat but maybe vulnerable first-up at a prohibitively short quote, while last start winner Win Strom is sure to be carrying fitness at an each-way price.
Having taken improvement to score second-up at Funabashi over the same journey, hot-hand hoop and regular rider Taito Mori stays on and is consistently busting out a winning strike rate of around 20%.
Having had good success third-up from a spell, Barolo Flavor will have to return near his best to deny Win Strom back-to-back wins.
