RITZ PARTY (5) has the strongest overall profile, with last campaign's Group form and an excellent 1800m record giving him clear appeal fresh. He was third in the G3 Radio Nikkei Sho, beaten two lengths, before finishing tenth but only beaten four lengths in the G2 Asahi Hai St Lite Kinen (Japanese St Leger Trial), and his two wins and one placing from three starts at this distance read well for this. DOGWOOD (3) is the race-fit danger after closing strongly for second at this track, and his one win and four placings from six runs around 1800m make him highly dependable at the trip. MEINER AZZURRO (8) has been fourth in both runs back at Niigata, the latest only two lengths away on soft ground, and his third-up profile gives him scope to peak. DANON FUNSTAR (11) comes through a last-start Nakayama win as odds-on favourite and has only missed the placings once in four starts, though the return to 1800m is the point he has to answer.