ASK DEAD HEAT (12) is the one to beat after resuming with a sharp fifth at Kyoto, beaten just under two lengths over 3000m after having plenty to do and catching the eye late. He comes back to a trip where his record reads two wins and five placings from ten starts, has already won at this track, and reunites with Naho Furukawa, who has won twice on him. REVE DE L'OPERA (3) resumes from four months off with the benefit of a previous placing at this distance and a one-from-one record with Kyosuke Maruta, so her best figures put her right in the race. BIRTHRIGHT (7) was below his best in two Sapporo runs, but the return to 2600m is a clear positive given he has won and placed at the distance. TAKERU FOCUS (5) brings the most recent winning form, having scored by three and a half lengths at Sapporo, and his two wins and two placings from four runs at the trip make him a serious danger despite resuming.