KOCHI 20 Sep 2026
GOING:
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Race 4 1400m Track: |
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Not much gate speed on show enabling Cool German to roll to the front. FRERE FILLES (5) looked good in winning by five lengths at Kochi last week as a prohibitive odds-on favourite, and his local profile is the most persuasive in the race. The only restraint is the 1400m, where he has placed three times from five without winning. TRUE KNIGHT (2) is the main threat fresh, bringing three wins and three placings from eight starts, plus a Morioka Dirt win two back before a third at Mizusawa as favourite. HIGH CRITERIA (6) has been racing at stronger venues and was beaten just under five lengths at Chukyo Dirt first-up, so the class angle sees him as a player. KAZU LAPONIAN (3) resumes after poor local runs but has enough setup positives to be a place contender if returning in better order.
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| 1 | 53875 |
INITIAL T
TERUYUKI KUNISAWA 5YO CHESTNUT HORSE 56.0KG Worked home fairly from a long way back when fifth at Kochi last week, beaten six and a half lengths by Slaylar, but he was unwanted in the market and never looked a winning hope. His previous run here was also plain, finishing seventh behind Snow Cruise and beaten over 10 lengths. The class drop helps only slightly, and his 1400m profile demands a clear lift. |
1 KONDO SHOGETSU |
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| 2 | 1513x |
TRUE KNIGHT
MAMORU TANAKA 4YO DK B HORSE 57.0KG Returns from a four-month break after a third in 3yo+ B2 at Mizusawa, where he was favourite but still beaten eight lengths behind Break Bounds after giving away ground. His previous Morioka Dirt win over 1600m, beating Tokino One Carat by a length and a half as an odds-on favourite, reads well for this grade. With three wins and three places from eight starts, he has the right profile to make a strong fresh bid. |
2 SHUJI AKAOKA |
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| 3 | 7190x |
KAZU LAPONIAN
HIROKAZU MIYAGAWA 7YO CHESTNUT HORSE 57.0KG Kazumi Yoshida Returns from an eight-month break after two heavy local defeats, finishing last at Kochi in consecutive runs and beaten over 16 lengths each time. There was no obvious excuse either day, with his latest effort behind Carlino coming at long odds. The class drop and winning rider returning are genuine positives, and he did win once from four starts this season, but he profiles as a minor-money chance needing a much sharper return. |
3 MASAYOSHI YAMASAKI |
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| 4 | 27978 |
MINATONO SOTA
TERUYUKI KUNISAWA 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Settled well back and was never in the race when second last at Kochi last start, beaten over 11 lengths by Dixie Vogue at long odds. That followed a seventh in 3yo+ C2 over 1600m here, beaten over 13 lengths by Misterio despite sitting near the top of an open market. He has won at this track and distance, but recent form says he needs a sizeable turnaround. |
4 MASASHI UEDA |
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| 5 | 0x121 |
FRERE FILLES
YUJI UCHIKOSHI 7YO CHESTNUT GELDING 57.0KG Dominated at Kochi last week, scoring by five lengths from Kiichi Ded Mirror as a prohibitive odds-on favourite, and the manner of that win gives him the clearest current form. He had also run second here the start before when near the top of betting behind Ask Duramente. Two wins and a placing from three track runs is a strong platform, though his 1400m record is place-heavy rather than winning. Still the one they must beat. |
5 MINORU MIYAGAWA |
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| 6 | 648x7 |
HIGH CRITERIA
TATSUYA NAKANISHI 6YO BAY GELDING 57.0KG Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. Returns from a six-week freshening after finishing seventh at Chukyo Dirt, beaten just under five lengths by Justin Le Mans at long odds, without finding a turn of foot. His Kyoto Dirt run before that had more merit, closing off for eighth and beaten just over four lengths by Julnar. The class drop and a prior 1400m win keep him relevant.. |
6 TAICHI NAGAMORI |
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| 7 | 73006 |
CHEEK TIME
TERUYUKI KUNISAWA 5YO BAY MARE 55.0KG Koji Oka Came under pressure late when sixth at Kochi last start, beaten just over eight lengths by Dixie Vogue at big odds. The run before was weaker again, finishing tenth behind Snow Cruise and beaten over 15 lengths after giving away a big start. She has placed four times from 17 attempts at this track and distance, but without a win here, and the recent margins leave plenty to find. |
7 SEIYA TATARA |
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| 8 | 09454 |
COOL GERMAN
TOMOHARU EBESUMOTO 6YO BLACK HORSE 57.0KG Tetsuji Kawakami Made up good ground for fourth at Kochi last week, beaten five lengths by Slaylar at generous odds, which was a better effort than his fifth at Sonoda when only fair to the line. He generally needs to be produced late, so the race has to work out for him, but he has won within the past 12 months and brings a more credible place profile than several of these. |
8 TAKUYA OKAMURA |
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