Cherry Medusa

Trainer, Kazuo Konishi
"This time I didn't get what number we drew. She looked good in work this week. Last race was a Tokyo 2,000-meter race and she had an outside draw. The pace wasn't good for her either. She'd also been in heat for several weeks before that and those symptoms had had their effect. She's improved a lot though and I'm leaving the rest up to Funabashi's top jockey."

Daiwa Desse

Trainer, Kunihide Matsuda
"She'd had nosebleeds so I put her out for a rest for a bit, then brought her back to the training center. That worked out well and she was in good shape for her last race. Even though her results hadn't been so good since she broke her maiden, I had always thought she had power. She's been eating well and we've been able to work her without any changes in her weight. Even though she is long and lean, she has a lot of muscle. She's very calm and relaxed in temperament too. Her sire is Special Week and from her long body I'd say she is suited to the longer distances. The jockey is up for the second time so he's probably gotten a good handle on her. She'll be able to settle well and I'm looking forward to a good race."

Daiwa Zoom

Trainer, Yuichi Shikato
"She's on a roll but it isn't like she all of a sudden changed. She wasn't doing horribly, but she just wasn't doing quite enough and couldn't win. But, with all those races before she finally won, she was able to learn a lot, and I think it will help her with her results from here on out. Before, she was always worrying about the other horses, but now she is able to take an inside course and save something for the end. Her racing sense has improved. She's a bit of a stiff mover but after winning she recovers pretty well. She is a cool horse and can settle well so it should be OK to have a bit more distance. The jump up in level is a question mark but I think she'll be able to make up for it with her experience in racing. Even though it's a G1, I don't think she'll blow it. The track for fast work this week looked like it had a nice cushion to it, so I worked her in tandem, letting the other horse take the lead at a pace of about 70 seconds for 5 furlongs. Although I'd wanted them to stick together only till the straight (not the whole way), she looked good and I'm satisfied with the workout. I've made a bid for the Oaks many times before and this year I really want Zoom to make up for all the times she missed out on winning. I hope she can do well."

Jockey, Kosei Miura
"It'll be the first time for me to rider her in a race though I've ridden her in work many a time. Normally, she's very quiet leaving her stall and riding her she's very quiet too. She's a very cooperative filly. She seems to have come along well after her last race and when I rode her (Wednesday) she didn't feel stiff at all. She was eager to run and just felt good all around. That's the feeling I got on her back. From what I've gathered from riding her, she'll definitely be able to handle the extra distance. And Hiroshi Kitamura, who rode her last time, said the same. In fact, the more distance she has, the better, was the impression. Right now, the Tokyo track is good no matter where you are. The race is long but she's an easy horse to ride so I think I will be able to adapt well to however the race unfolds."

Epice Arome

Trainer, Sei Ishizaka
"I was happy we'd gotten an inside draw for the Oka Sho and was looking forward to some good results, but I think the pressure was really on for her the entire race and that worked against her. We gave her a rest of about 10 days after that and then worked her with an aim to the Oaks. Like last time, she's calm and looking good. She was calm in the Oka Sho and I think she'll be able handle the Oaks distance OK. She's the kind of horse that is better left to find her own position, so I don't think last race was really reflective of what she can do. It wouldn't be a surprise if she could do a lot better this time. In work this week she gave us the same time as Gentildonna, so she's moving well."

Gentildonna

Trainer, Sei Ishizaka
"She'd had a fever before the Oka Sho but the week before it, she'd looked good so I decided it was OK to race her. I'd been able to race her in the Tulip Sho as planned and after that she had improved, which helped her in the Oka Sho. We gave her a rest for about 10 days after that and then had her back in training. Kawada rode her on the 9th in fast work and everything looked fine. These last two races, she's indicated she can handle more distance. Unlike her sister Donau Blue, she hasn't given me the problems in maintaining her condition. Her sister was a bit hard to settle, but Gentildonna has given me so worries there either. The Oaks is it. This is the race where it's all going to come together. We've done what we needed to do and I expect a good race. We did a lot last week in tandem and I don't want her to overdo it. She's had no fever this time and we were able to do everything we needed too. I think she'll run well."

Jockey, Yuga Kawada
"Last week, I was amazed when she showed me what she can do and, when I asked her to pick up the pace, she gave me even more. For someone who didn't even have a chance, to feel the pressure of taking the Oka Sho champion to the Oaks is just a great experience. I'm going to try my best, while still enjoying the experience, to get the very best results."

Hana's Goal

Trainer, Kazuhiro Kato
"In the NHK Mile Cup, there was the accident but, nonetheless, she showed us some good stuff. She ran smoothly and calmly and, considering she was racing against colts, I'd say she really tried hard. After that, as you would expect, she was off her feed a little, but not enough to worry about and she has slowly come back on it. She actually came out of that race better than I'd thought she would so I was relieved. With her, if she has a horse in front, she'll settle nicely. This week, I'd given instructions to work a bit more slowly, but she went up the hill easily. She is on her toes and looking good. She'll be up against other fillies this time out and if she can show us the quick turn of foot that she has, I think we can expect some good results."

I'm Yours

Trainer, Takahisa Tezuka
"Wednesday morning we ran her behind Alfredo and had her move into the inside and finish lined up with him. I hadn't thought the time would be that good but it was actually better than I'd anticipated. I think her movement was good too. In the Oka Sho, I always felt that the top two got it only because we just needed a bit more time. If possible, I want to make up for that and so I've been training her for more kick. She hasn't used it in a race so I can't really say how it is, but I get the feeling it will work in her favor. I haven't talked over anything special with the jockey, but (Craig) Williams is really doing well this year. I think it's OK to leave it up to him. As for the distance, I'm asked a lot about that, but everyone is basically in the same boat. If you look at how the Oka Sho top finishers fared in the Oaks you can see they did pretty well. I felt she wouldn't be an exception and also her pedigree indicates she can handle the distance and that's why I'm taking her to the Oaks. So, rather than having qualms about the distance, I am preparing her so she can handle the distance and I think she'll be OK. After all, the classics are something a horse only gets a shot at once in its life and to have even had a chance to participate is a great honor. And it's a great encouragement to be able to prepare a horse that's considered to have a good chance to win. I would love to have this feeling every year."

Jockey, Craig Williams
"I haven't ridden her but I'm studying her well. She looks good and, from her pedigree, she should have no problem with the distance. I think she has a chance. "

Ice Follies

Trainer, Ikuo Aizawa
"In the Flora Stakes she was a bit keen in the first half but she was still able to race aggressively in a forward position. She quickened in the end but the winner was just too good. She's been coming along well since the first of the month. She is a little bit stiff but for now I'm not worried about it. She's eating well. I'd aimed her for the Oaks from early on. The expectations are high for her but I can't say she'll be able to pull it all together this time. I would like her to be able to race like she did when she broke her maiden, which was to maintain her reserves in among the pack. Matsuoka rode her a week ago and he said she felt in better shape than last race. She's eating well too. She was on the pace last time, but she can race from further back too. We'll be giving good thought to our strategy."

Jockey, Masami Matsuoka
"I hadn't really had any specific strategy for the Flora Stakes. I just planned to take it from the break. The pace was slow so we went from second position. She has good racing sense and can race from anywhere really. She's calm, takes her work seriously, and is an easy horse to ride. Last week in work we put a horse in front of us and pushed her quite a bit, so this week we took it a bit easier. Even alone, she moves, so her time was good and it was a good workout. I think she's definitely better than last time out. The distance won't pose a problem for this filly. In fact, I think it will suit her. Mr. Aizawa will be giving me directions and I will try my best to follow them."

Kokoro Chirari

Trainer, Tomohito Ozeki
"She got good results with her forward position in the Sweetpea Stakes. It was a different style than what she'd done up to now, so that was a definite gain, being able to race now with a variety of styles. She's a tough, hardy horse and she's been handling a lot of work well. She was a little bit stiff the other day but she is maintaining her condition and we're taking good care of her. I debuted her at 1,400 meters keeping her pedigree in mind, but if you put her in behind another horse she'll settle well and there is no worry about the distance. Her time was a little bit fast this week, but she was running nicely balanced so there's no problem. We got our Oaks berth with a bit of pocket change left over, so that will work in her favor."

Meine Epona

Trainer, Makoto Saito
"The Oka Sho went off as I'd imagined it with her taking up a forward position. In the straight she quickened for a moment. But she just wasn't sharp in the finish and that made the difference in the end. Compared to the time before that, after the Anemone Stakes, we had a far easier time getting her fully recovered. We had her registered for the Sweetpea Stakes as well even though I had always wanted to take her to the Oaks. When I realized we had enough in earnings we decided to go straight to the Oaks. I figure it will be a relaxed pace. She has good racing sense and I really want her to be able to use her racing sense, which is her strength."

Meisho Suzanna

Trainer, Yoshitada Takahashi
"It was a tight schedule for the Oka Sho, but we were able to get her back in shape somehow. She ran nice and balanced and quickened well in the straight. She showed that she can race from any position, but I was hoping for a bit more quality. She settles well so I'm not concerned about the distance. I have always thought she was suited to the Oaks. I'm hoping for more than what we got last time out."

Jockey, Yutaka Take
"Last week she felt a bit sluggish, but she feels good today [Wednesday]. For the Oka Sho, she had a tight schedule so she hadn't been given too much work, but this time, she's gotten a lot. The distance won't be a problem. She's easy to ride and I think if we can use that to our advantage in the race she has a bit of a chance."

Midsummer Fair

Trainer, Futoshi Kojima
"The final workout was on the hill course and I didn't want it to be too fast. The overall time was a bit fast though. I think she has gained in speed compared to last race. From the beginning of spring, things just weren't working out and we couldn't get ready in time for the Oka Sho. Despite the fact that it was only by a neck, I was very glad to have won the Flora Stakes and gotten a ticket to the Oaks. From her debut, she was actually too fast getting in shape and so it took some time before she could get a win. But, she gained a lot of racing experience because of that, that's the feeling I get. Of course, we don't know how she'll do at the distance, but everyone is more or less in the same boat. From her pedigree, I'd say if she can handle the pace well, things will be OK. The same jockey is riding her again and so I can rest easy with (Masayoshi) Ebina aboard. These days, it's hard to get a horse for the classics and I'm very happy to have one. She won the trial and has maintained her condition. I think we can expect a good race."

Omega Heartland

Assistant trainer, Atsunori Hashimoto
"In the Oka Sho, she moved when and where she could but she had a wall in front. I think she had the staying power needed, but she doesn't have a great kick. I think she gave it her best. We'd wanted to get her at the same weight for that race as she was in the race prior to that but her weight dropped more than we'd expected. We gave her a bit of a rest at Yamamoto Training Center after the Oka Sho and she came back at around 420 kg. Since then we've been giving her quite a bit of work and I think she's gotten back up to nearly the weight she was two races ago. She can run at a good pace for a long distance and I think she's better suited to the Oaks. At the very least, I'm hoping she'll go off with a plus in weight."

Quatre Feuilles

Trainer, Katsuhiko Sumii
"I want to at least be able to upset the top finishers of the Oka Sho."

Jockey, Yuichi Fukunaga
"We worked her hard last week so are going a bit easy this week so as not to tire her out. In the race I want to bring out her sticking power, which is one of her strong points. I think she'll be able to settle well. Last week, her sister Lady Alba Rosa wasn't able to do too well, so I'm hoping (Quatre Feuilles) can do better."

Sunshine

Trainer, Kenichi Fujioka
"Her trip in the Oka Sho looked good and she had an inside draw as well. But, coming into the straight things got a little rough. Still, even after it opened up in front, she didn't give us anything. The inside turf was bad and that may have been a factor. She wasn't in bad shape after that race but we had a lot of time and so we were able to get her over any fatigue and give her a good amount of work. She could use a bit more muscle but when we push her, her movement is not bad. I think you could say we've kept her in good condition. She worked as she always does this week and there are no problems that I can see. Unlike her sister One Carat, she should do well with the extra distance. I'm hoping for a fast track, that's the most important thing."

Thank You Ask

Trainer, Masanori Ito
"I'm just happy to have got a spot in the lineup. She runs from far off the pace so the outside draw should allow her to have a smooth run. I'd say right now she's in the best shape she has ever been in."

Tosen Benizakura

Assistant trainer, Naru Yoshizawa
"She was in great shape for the Oka Sho. But her 10-kg loss may have had some effect on the outcome. She was a touch slow out of the gate and that meant she went from further back than we had planned her to. She has the ability to close well and she just needed a little more in the straight. Still, she was only 0.6 seconds off the winner so we're not devastated or anything. We gave her a rest after that, then came back to the training center on April 25. She has matured mentally and she's no longer so timid. She has more muscle too. I think she'll suit the wide-open, left-handed Tokyo track. From the beginning I had always thought that she was more suited to the Oaks than the Oka Sho. I hope we can look good."

Verxina

Trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi
"Last time we took her to Tokyo, she continued to eat well and there was no big change in her weight. I really am hoping she can turn the tables this time. She got into a perfect position in the Oka Sho even for a mile race and put up a good fight with the eventual third-place filly next to her and beat her. The winner was far away so it couldn't be helped that she was able to pass her. If they had been right next to each other, I think the result would have been different. After that we brought her to Northern Farm's Shigaraki for a bit of a spell. She came back to Ritto on the 20th and since then she's been getting regular work. When she came back to the training center her weight was 446 kg, but even after giving her fast work, her weight doesn't budge and her movement is good. With the warmer weather her tone is good and her condition is improving. Her responses were good in work this week and I'm satisfied with how she looks. Her movement was really good. She was second in the Oka Sho but we'd left a little room for improvement with an eye to the Oaks. From her debut, the Oaks was always the main goal and I'd counted back from that the whole time. I was able to race her in all the races I'd wanted to and she has come along without a hitch."