Saturday has two good races as a warm-up for Sunday,
They are the Swan Stakes G2 at Kyoto and the Artemis Stakes G3 in Tokyo.
The Swan is over 1400m and here the favourite is the Bricks and Mortar filly Cranford on 4.1 with Nishimura riding. The other two in the Suzu Khalom on 5.5 and Aguri 6.4.
The Artemis is over 1800m for 2yo fillies. It's quite close in the market currently headed by Kamunyak a daughter of Black Tide on 3.7 with Kawada riding. Brown Ratchet by Kizuna is on 3.9 with Lemaire on board and Shonan Xanadu is on 4.3 – she's another Kizuna and Ikezoe is the jockey.
Sunday of course we have the G1 Tennno Sho (Autumn) over 2000m. Liberty Island is the lovely daughter of Aussie mare Yankee Rose She's first up since last March when she was third to Rebels Romance in the Sheema at Meydan and before that she was second to Equinox in the Japan Cup. Kawada has the ride and she's on 2.8.
Do Deuce was the winner of the Arima Kinen last December but hasn't done that brilliantly since then and the 3.7 looks too short for us as there are a lot of very good horses in this race making it a real G1. Lebenstil is on 4.0 with Lemaire riding. He's progressed well through the grades and deserves this crack at the top level. There's a big gap in the market after him and the next to feature is Sol Oriens on 14.4. There are several others that have a good chance on current form such as Tastiera, Ho Oh Biscuits, Danon Beluga and Justin Palace. Should be a great race.
