A Shin Hikari

Masanori Sakaguchi, trainer
“After his exertions in Europe, he had a break at the farm, but came back quite early to Ritto Training Center at the end of August. He exercised in the pool and on the uphill track, and his weight was 510 kg. There was no change to his usual condition. In last year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) he couldn’t find his rhythm. I think he’s in the condition now that he was in before last year’s Mainichi Okan. He’s a speed horse and running at his natural pace is what he needs. He’s been flying in his work and seems to have more muscle now as a 5-year-old. We need to just take care when getting him onto the track, that’s a slight concern.”

Yutaka Take, jockey
“I’d like to get a good early position and have a ground saving run on him. It’s a difficult race to lead all the way in. It’s his last chance to win a Grade 1 in Japan, but I hope what he’s achieved overseas can be found again here to show the Japanese fans what a good horse he is.”

Admire Deus

Mitsuru Hashida, trainer
“His preparation has been good this year going into the race, and we have no problems with him. The jockey thinks the 2,000 meters at Tokyo suits him. With the condition he’s in, he should be fine, and running a similar race to last time, where he was kept going right to the end, would be the aim.”

Ambitious

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He probably got beaten in the Mainichi Okan just on the weight difference with the winner alone. Nevertheless, it was a good run on ground that he needs. In training, his breathing’s been good and he’s done just what we’ve asked of him. The important point will be the flow of the race. If he gets to run like he did last time, he must have a chance.”

Clarente

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“The horse is in good condition and he’s been training as I’d hope, especially in his fast work. He improves when given work to do. Going left-handed over 2,000 meters at Tokyo poses no problems. I’d like to see him race towards the front, and while his age may be a factor, I want him to race well and give it his best shot here.”

Masakazu Ikegami, trainer
“He’s been relaxed and doing fine in training. He’s put on some weight. With his age, we feel it’s better for him to have some space between his races, and to go into a race feeling fresh. Of course, the opposition’s strong, but if he can show a burst of speed towards the end of the race, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do among this field.”

Historical

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He’s come out of his last race well, and in training things have been satisfactory. He put in a good run in his last race and a similar performance here is what we’d like again.  It’s a strong line-up, but he’s well suited to the Tokyo course, I believe, and if he gets to run his race, I wonder how close he can get. I’d like a fast pace for him.”

Logotype

Logotype (horse, 6)

Tsuyoshi Tanaka, trainer
“I was so pleased he won the Yasuda Kinen after going three years without a win. So much was down to the staff at the farm, the stable, and the jockey. I always believed he would win again. This time it’s 2,000 meters at Tokyo, and it’s certainly a strong race. He doesn’t need too much work, and a light training program is fine for him. There’s one fast horse in the race, but I think Logotype will be able to match him. We’ll have to see what jockeys Take and Tanabe decide to do.”

Hironobu Tanabe, jockey
“He could run at his own pace in the Yasuda Kinen, and ran well right to the end. I think he lost last time because of the layoff. He’s a horse that gets better with a race and I want to think of this upcoming one. He generally starts well, and I want to get into the flow of things without losing any ground anywhere in the race.”

Lovely Day

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He has trained well and done everything we’ve asked for. It is 2,000 meters at Tokyo and hopefully the current state of the track won’t change. I think he’s in a similar condition to last year when he won the race. I’m looking forward to the race.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“He’s always tough, and is stronger since returning in October. He won last year, so must have a chance again. The shorter distance than the Kyoto Daishoten will be better. The Tenno Sho (Autumn) is a big race in Japan and I want to win. I’m hoping for dry conditions.”

Maurice

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“He came back from the farm to the Miho Training Center at the end of September. He weighed 540 kg and had gained weight, but we could train him taking things into account.  His right and left foreleg action is unbalanced, so it’s been important to work on this, but he’s clearly better cornering to the left, and given the long straight at Tokyo, he should be fine. As for the distance, on his breeding it’s not a worry. What’s important is the rhythm he can find in the race.”

Atsunori Hashimoto, assistant trainer
“I don’t think the distance is a problem. It’s just a question of measuring up to the strong opposition over this trip, whereas we know he’s done it very well over a mile.”

Real Steel

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer
“He came back from the farm and his breathing was not good. But in October, there were still days of 30 degrees, and he sweated and still showed some signs of tiredness. Since then, however, he’s progressed well. In training, his lead horse was not so fast, so his time was a little slow, but his movement and breathing were good. We try to keep him more relaxed. While the field is strong, there is no problem with the condition he’s now in.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“I like the challenge of riding horses like Real Steel. I want to ride him in a similar way to how Ryan Moore rode him in Dubai. It’s my first time to ride him, so I want to do my best.”

Rouge Buck

Masahiro Otake, trainer
“She came back from Northern Farm Tenei (training farm) to the Miho Training Center on October 20th. Her weight was 443 kg, 10 kg less, but since then her appetite has been good and I think by the time of the race her condition will be fine, which is the main point, more than the strength of the opposition. She gets the 2 kg allowance, but the draw counts a bit over the 2,000 meters at Tokyo. I don’t want an outside gate. Jockey Keita Tosaki knows the horse well, so I’ll leave the rest to him.”

Satono Crown

Atsunori Hashimoto, assistant trainer
“He’s become better in training and has done his work without fuss. He feels more like he’s in the condition he was in when he won the Kyoto Kinen. He needs his fighting spirit. He wasn’t so good last year, but I can see him running a better race this time at Tokyo. A firm track would be good.”

Satono Noblesse

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“It’s been as usual with him in training, and his work on the woodchip course has gone well. I believe this is his best distance, but as for the long straight, we’ll just have to see how well he can do in the condition he’s in.”

Staphanos

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“Last year, after returning from overseas, it was difficult to get him ready. His first race this autumn wasn’t bad, and I feel he’s improved since that run and since the spring.  I’m looking forward to his run this time.”

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“He’s quite an easy horse to handle, and he ran well last time. He goes into this race very sound, and ideally he can run like last year when he finished second in the race. If things go smoothly in the race, he has a chance.”

Yamakatsu Ace

Kaneo Ikezoe, trainer
“I think this distance is better for him. The Tenno Sho (Autumn) field must be strong, but he’s shown improvement, and I want him to give a good account of himself here.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“He posted a pretty good time in his latest work. Of course, there are strong horses in the race, we expect that. I’d hope for an inside gate.”