3 minute read

This G1 to be run at Kyoto has attracted a very competitive field.

And it includes an Anglo-Irish raider in Charyn who may give this race a real shake up.  We like him particularly because he was bred at Grangemore, formerly owned by our late friend John Colleran who bred the dam of Scorpion and the grand-dam of Zipping amongst many other good horses.  Ryan Moore will be on board and he's second favourite on 4.7.

Favourite at this time is Namur who won this last year and since then has raced in Hong Kong and Dubai but this is his first outing since then.  C Demuro has the ride.  The talented Brede Way is on 5.2 with Lemaire in the irons – he's won four of his six starts this year and was second in the other two.

Also strong possibles are Soul Rush on 6.3 who is very consistent and Jun Blossom on 8.4 who has a great turn of foot and has established some top Mile times.  This is tougher but if he gets a chance to get through the field he could provide an exciting finish.

On Saturday in Tokyo the babies come out to play in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai over 1800m.  We don't know much about these runners so far – there are 9 of them in the field – but the Morning Line has Croix du Nord on top on 2.2.  He's by Kitasan Black and Kitamura rides.  Red Kingly is on 3.6 – by Saturnalia  he's the mount of Lemaire, and Satono Shining is by Kizuna with Matsuyana riding.