Races ORP Funabashi - JAP

Makes his debut from barrier 1 for Takanori Yamanaka, whose recent first starters have returned 1 win and 2 placings from 9 runners. By Firenze Fire out of Quick Motion, with half-siblings Live Spoon and Cosmo Violet both winners over longer trips. The inside draw gives him a useful starting point, and he has enough background to be considered a genuine placing hope.

Steps out for Nobuhiro Yamada with a profile that reads well for a debut 2yo. The Asuka Queen family has produced Rodeo, a five-time winner, and Lovesong Sagashite, who won on debut at Kawasaki, while Rodeo also scored first time out at Ohi. From barrier 2 with Aoi Shinoya booked, she has the right blend of draw, stable and family pointers to set the standard.

Debuts for Katsuo Ishii with Kenji Okamura taking the ride, which is the obvious positive given his strong local ranking. The family has produced winners Dream Lover and Piyopiyo Pipipi, and Dream Lover was second on debut at Kawasaki. Even so, the stable's recent first-starter figures are modest, so she has to show more than the profile suggests to trouble the main hopes.

Makes her first appearance for Takashi Harita, and the stable's debut record is a strong part of her case with 2 wins and 6 placings from 10 recent first starters. By Mozu Ascot out of Magical Princess, she also has one placed result from the stable-sire pairing. Barrier 4 is workable in this small field, and she looks a sound chance to run well at the first outing.

Begins for Noboru Tamai as a Talismanic filly out of Pandora Fountain. The trainer-sire combination is the main pointer, showing 2 wins and 5 placings from 7 runners, while the stable's only recent debut runner placed. That is useful context, but she sits outside the key selections and will have to produce a sharper first-up performance than the main chances.