Albert Dock

Hiroyoshi Matsuda, trainer
“We took him to Ujitawara Yushun Stable for the summer. And when he came back to the Ritto Training Center he had better tone than he had in the spring. He really looks like a racehorse now. So, I think for the Kobe Shimbun Hai we miscalculated in that he felt like he was ready but he still wasn’t balanced enough. That made things tough. On Oct. 15, we gave him a strong gallop with another horse. He’s the kind of horse that doesn’t do anything spectacular on the woodchip course. But since the time is short between races, what he did was enough. Things are coming along according to plan. Then we worked him up the hill course on the weekend and this week just a breeze over the course. We won’t send him forward from the gate on Sunday but just let him find his own position. As for how 3,000 meters will be, I’m eager to see just how suited he is to it. Judging from his physical condition, I’d say he can handle it.”

Beruf

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“In the (Asahi Hai) St. Lite Kinen, the pace was pretty slow, enough that he was chomping at the bit somewhat at the first turn. But he still concentrated well. And he wasn’t bothered at all by being brought to the inside going into the stretch. Then, in the end, he came up through a tight spot and split the ranks. Looking at that, I really felt he has matured. I think that race will stand him well this time out. We raced him in the summer so I don’t think he’ll show any big improvement, but his gait didn’t worsen like it did after the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), so things are going as we’ve hoped they would. We gave him a strong gallop on the woodchip course with two other horses and he held his concentration until the end. I think he is in better condition than he was for last race. Running balanced will be key over the 3,000 meters and I at least know that he has the stamina to handle the distance. The question will be whether he’ll be able to concentrate as he did last time out.”

Bright Emblem

Takanori Abe, assistant trainer
“The St. Lite Kinen was a tough race for this horse. Still, the margin between him and the winner wasn’t that much. He showed his strength. We kept him at Ritto (Training Center) as we’ve done before so he was calm when he got there and settled in right away. We took him over the course on Oct. 15 and pushed him quite hard. With that workout I felt that he was good and solid. I think he’s making progress in the right direction. He’s a lot bigger than he was in the spring and I think he has matured. He’s not that agile of a racer so it’ll be tough if the race unfolds like his last one. So, the change to Kyoto should be good. I think he’ll be able to show his strength here too.”

Jun Tsubasa

Kazuhiro Seishi, trainer
“He traveled very nicely in the St. Lite Kinen and then had others closing in on him in the stretch. He’s a very strong horse mentally and when that happens it will make him want to speed up. It was a good race. His fighting spirit flares up easily. We have to be careful to take good care of his mental health. So, in work we don’t just pay attention to his times, but we take care to get him ready both mentally and physically for a race. He handled the last race well, which was over 2,200 meters, but at 3,000 I think the trip will be even more important. He’s a very competitive horse so I’m hoping that’s the kind of finish he’ll get.”

Kitasan Black

Hisashi Shimizu, trainer
“You can say that the trip suited him or that the pace suited him, but for him to have gotten good results in the St. Lite Kinen coming off a layoff shows just how good he is. He had a good summer and he has matured. He’s a big horse. I was hoping to have him sharpen up with that race and then head into this one at 100 percent but we got those kind of results even though he wasn’t 100 percent. It’s proof that he has gotten stronger. Last week in fast work, he ran solidly until the end. His movement was excellent. And this week, we put another horse in front of him from six furlongs and had the rider check his responses in the stretch. I have no complaints about his movement. He is now taking the bit better and he is more forward. He’s switched on in a good way. He’s ready, so there’s no need for any more work this week. I’d say he’ll be showing quite a bit of improvement. Everyone is concerned about the distance but this horse settles nicely. There is early speed in the race and that should make things easier for him.”

Lia Fail

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“The first 1,000 meters of the Kobe Shimbun Hai were run in 62.4 seconds. For a graded race that’s a pretty slow pace. But the runnerup had been traveling midfield and the third-place finisher was far behind. I don’t think at all that this horse just had an easy trip. Even though it looked like it would be a battle of late speed, he won it. Even though he led, he had more to give in the finish, which is really something -- a frontrunner that can accelerate in the finish. All has gone well since. Last week, the track was pretty bad for his fast work and the times were understandably slow. His first furlong up the hill course was done in the 12-second range. The last furlong took some 14 seconds. Not that I really care, but this week his overall time was fast as well and the wrapup was in the 12-second range. He really ran well. He’s won his two runs over turf wire to wire. If another horse goes for the lead, the question is whether we’ll let him. I can’t say yet what we’ll do. But, he won over heavy ground two races ago and over firm ground last race. He looks to be able to handle any going. As for the 3,000-meter distance, the jockey said, ‘He has stamina so it won’t be a problem.’ So, I’m not particularly worried. If it’s the kind of race where the others are saving all for the finish once they’re in the homestretch, then he’ll be in a strong position. But not sure if it’s a heated pace from early on. At least I don’t think so. Again, we won’t know until we try it.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“He was a bit excited before work this week but his movement was really good. I’m satisfied. He was strong at Chukyo, so I was confident last race. He’s big and he’s powerful. He breaks well and he’s easy to control. Stamina is key in the Kikuka Sho, but he’s OK there too. I really have no concerns. Settling well is his forte. I rode the Tenno Sho Spring over 3,200 meters, so I have a good image for the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho. I think he may be the race first or second pick. I really would like to win the last classic of the year.”

Masahaya Dream

Teiichi Konno, trainer
“I think he ran a stronger race last time out than the margin would indicate. Compared to the spring, he is taking the bit better and he is running more balanced. He has also put on muscle on his hindquarters and I think that has helped him be able to wait patiently now. All has gone well since last race. Last week’s workout looked nice and smooth and he responded well. It was a good bit of work. In the spring, he hadn’t shown any particular talent and he needed to settle a bit better. I think in the last race he showed progress in that area. So, now, I think things can be interesting at this distance too.”

Massabielle

Akihiro Nakao, assistant trainer
“His 13th in the Kobe Shimbun Hai did come as a surprise. He had had time off and he was looking good so my expectations were high. But, the slow pace, breaking wide and racing wide made it a tough race. And, he was coming off a layoff and the long trip to the track made it harder. He didn’t lose due to a lack of ability. After that race we took him to Ritto as planned. The transport had taken quite a bit out of him so we let him get used to his surroundings for about a week and he recovered. Last week, we pushed him pretty hard and, despite the poor ground, he gave us more than we’d expected. Having raced him regularly means he’s on his toes. I don’t think his condition is different from what it was when he won in the spring at Tokyo. He settles well so the distance is OK. He can run from any position so if he makes the break halfway decently he should be able to show us what he’s got.”

Mi Corazon

Shinya Hata, assistant trainer
“He’s made the break well in his last two starts. Even though he never has problems in gate practice, when he goes to a race he does, so I’ll see this as progress. He’s always had stamina so I have absolutely no worries about the distance. Jump well, go to the front and hold on and show his tenacity, that’s the best kind of race for him. The members have been different up to now and right now Kyoto is really fast. So, I am concerned about his being able to handle a fast finish and am hoping for rain so we can have a bit slower track.”

Musee Alien

Yoichi Kuroiwa, trainer
“For the St. Lite Kinen he wasn’t too heavy. In fact, I think he was in picture-perfect shape, but he was a bit agitated. I think he’s in about the same shape now as he was then. We just need a bit more of a sheen to his coat. Still he was able to rally and his nicely balanced running, just like in the spring, is something I would like to give him top marks for. If he can run like that, he’ll be able to handle the distance. We have the trip to the track so the numbers may indicate he’s the same weight, but with a race behind him, I feel he’s stronger and his coat looks better. I feel he has improved. A week ago we gave him a nice gallop in tandem with him on the inside. He doesn’t need any more hard work. He got good results in the Mainichi Hai, so I don’t think the trip there will be a problem. None of the horses are experienced at 3,000 meters and I don’t see any one standout. I have my hopes up.”

Real Steel

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer
“For the Kobe Shimbun Hai, I definitely would have liked him to be more relaxed but with the shorter transport to the track, I’d say he was still better than he’d been in the spring. The winner had had an easy time of it in the beginning and that was why this horse couldn’t make it. From that race he learned to hold back patiently and to run nicely in touch with the rider. His weight didn’t drop but he’s showing more definition now. I think he has a good chance of showing improvement. Last week he worked with a partner and that horse was out in front, but we focused on his running balanced to be able to handle 3,000 meters. He’s a fast learner and I’m hoping all the work he’s gotten will result in some good results. He’ll probably be a bit keen at this distance but I don’t think it will be anything too bad, especially since he showed us last race that he could handle a pace like he’ll probably have in the Kikuka Sho. In any case, key will be how he is when he hits the bottom of the hill on the first lap.”

Yuichi Fukunaga, jockey
“His time this week and his movement were both really good. On the hill course he’s eager to run but takes the bit nicely. So, it’s easier to get him relaxed on the hill than it is over the course. But, it’s not perfect. If you look at his pedigree, it’s clear that 3,000 meters is not his best distance. But the fact that he’s being run in the Kikuka Sho means that he’s running to win. I’m going to ride only to win. I’m not going to have him in a position from where he couldn’t win. I’m going to believe in him.”

Red Solomon

Yasushi Shono, trainer
“Last time out in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, the jockey followed instructions nicely and rode from a forward position. But, when the pace slowed it became a matter of who had the best kick and that’s where we lost it. Afterward, we kept him at the training center, where everything has gone well. He recovers faster from a race now than he did in the spring and I think that shows he has matured. On Oct. 15, we galloped him but didn’t go flat out. We left a little in reserve. There was no problem with his movement and he has maintained the condition he had. The competition will be tougher and if it comes down to late speed, that will be a disadvantage for us. I can’t say anything about the distance without trying it but if it’s to be won on stamina that will be good for us. I intend to allow him to a certain extent to pick the kind of race he wants to run and here’s hoping the race unfolds in our favor.”

Satono Rasen

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“It turned out that the frontrunners had the advantage in the St. Lite Kinen and since we were eyeing this race we were focusing on his balance. Considering that, he ran very well and I think he’ll be able to use that experience to his advantage in the Kikuka Sho. All is going well. He has gotten thicker, more muscular than he was in the spring, wider in breadth and more powerful. In fast work last week, the horse he was running with could move well and (Satono) Rasen did seem a bit unresponsive. But I think that gallop has sharpened him up. Looking at his last race, I’d say he’ll be able to hold out over the distance. Ideally, he’ll get cover in a decent position. Since he gave us such a nice balanced race last time, it’d be nice if that would serve him well this time out.”

Spirits Minoru

Hirokazu Hashimoto, assistant trainer
“He took the lead last time out, but they moved up on him fast in the backstretch, passed him and he couldn’t do anything about it. I did feel that he didn’t have the fighting spirit he had. But, looking at his past results, I think you could say that he improves with a race behind him. We gave him a short layoff and things are going as planned. When we were in Hokkaido, even if we trained him with another horse it didn’t do much to get him moving, but now he’s more on his game and I think he has improved quite a bit. Even when we work him pretty hard, his appetite stays good and his condition is good. I don’t think we have to insist on the lead. If he can run at his own pace without losing his natural rhythm, then I think that the distance will not be a problem.”

Stieglitz

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He has stamina so long distances are good for him and his win of the Kujukuri Tokubetsu at Nakayama up against older horses earned him top marks. He worked solo on the woodchips on Oct. 15 and moved well. He’s been in good shape following his last start. He has no trouble settling so the distance is not a worry. He has ample stamina and I think he is quite well-suited to the race. Except for the race after he came back from his fracture and the race he suffered the fracture in, he has given us consistent results. The competition will be tough but the distance is very attractive and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Tagano Espresso

Tomoki Igarashi, assistant trainer
“In the Kobe Shimbun Hai he was able to hold back and keep something in reserve and his running was balanced, but I feel the wide draw hurt. He’s still looking good since that race and all has gone well up to now. We gave him a strong gallop on Oct. 15 with another horse. Earlier, he wouldn’t try to overtake another horse, but he’s moving now. He wrapped up ahead of the other horse over the woodchips. His responses were good over the last furlong and his movement was convincing. He is definitely more on his game now. He looks to have improved from his last start. But at this distance, running wide will be disadvantageous, so I’m hoping he can get an inside draw for a ground-saving run and then I think we’ll be able to see better results."

Tanta Alegria

Sakae Kunieda, trainer
“The going in the St. Lite Kinen favored the frontrunners and the race unfolded to the winner’s advantage. So, considering that, I don’t think this colt’s results were too tragic. He’s a bit full of himself so we took him to Ritto so there wouldn’t be worries about transport. We have him used to the surroundings there and going to the track from there should be good. One good result of his last race was that he’s now on his toes. We gave him a fast workout in tandem and he looked good. I think his best is still to come but he has gotten a lot better since the spring. I think the conditions of this race, with the spacious, wide-open track will suit him better than the tighter turns of Nakayama. He has a tendency to not like to be pushed and he’ll clam up, so the longer the distance the better. If he can do well here then we’ll have a lot to look forward to.”

Wonder Atleta

Hiroshi Kawachi, trainer
“Before the Nose Tokubetsu he’d been relaxed in work and having the summer off meant he was fresh. After winning that race we did consider racing him in the Kobe Shimbun Hai but decided to just pare it down to one race, the Kikuka Sho, and not ask him to do too much. On Oct. 16 he worked in tandem over the course and his overall time and final thee furlong time were sufficient. This week we just breezed him solo. If he can settle, he can handle 3,000 meters. His ability to hang on with tenacity, rather than having any great acceleration, is his strength. I’d prefer to get the kind of trip where he can bring out that ability, as opposed to a slow pace and a battle of who has the best late speed.”