JP - Tokyo City Keiba - Race 2

SIMURGH (12) is the fresh runner with the clearest upside, having placed at both starts and returned a second here when beaten two and a half lengths as short odds-on favourite. The wide barrier is the obvious test, but she has the pace profile to press forward and take up a prominent role. MINNANO BUMMO (4) brings the strongest current form after a half-length second to Blanton Arrow and a solid fourth to Philippine, with proven Ohi 7f credentials. BRIGHT GAZER (6) must rebound from a plain 6f run, though his fourth over 1m two back keeps him in the minor-money mix. BLACK RED (8) is better suited rising from 6f and has placed twice from four tries at this distance, while CORN TOPS (2) needs a tempo from the back but owns a stronger distance record than most. With only Simurgh showing clear leader speed among the selections, the backmarkers may need the race run honestly.