Ambitious

Yukio Higashida, assistant trainer
“He’s very relaxed and it looks like there are no problems with the way he’s coming along.  If he can run positively, that would be the best thing for him.”

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He ran well last time under the same jockey, whose judge of pace is very good. Because it’s his first race for a while, we’ve increased his workload a bit, but he’s handled it well. This time he needs to stay an extra furlong, and it’ll be touch and go. This will be the key, I feel.”

Cheval Grand

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“It was a good run last time in the Tenno Sho (Spring), particularly if you consider the distance of 3,200 meters. He’s been training well and following the usual pattern. Coming back in distance is ideal for him, and if the ground isn’t too bad he’ll be fine. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do here.”

Curren Mirotic

Osamu Hirata, trainer
“It was just his second race of the year last time, and he only just lost out. He runs well at Hanshin, and the best for him is to get a good start and take up a forward position, which is when he runs his best races. He’s looked good in training and has posted good times, so you have to believe he can do something here.”

Duramente

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“On June 21st, his weight was 520kgs. His movement looks sharp. Since his injury and the trip to Dubai, obviously these things have influenced his development, but we’ve let him come along naturally without pushing him too hard. It would be easy to overdo it, so the way we’ve gone hasn’t caused any problems, but he’s a top performing horse and he looks to be in good condition. He’s been working with the jockey since last week. He’s used to the travelling from Northern Farm Shigaraki (training farm) to the Miho Training Center. It’s typical for him to lose 20kgs on his return as he’s a nervous type.  This time he’ll travel over for the race on Friday, and hopefully come race day he won’t have lost too much weight. I believe this is one of the key points.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“His movement has been good and he’s the same as always. He’s not tired after the trip to Dubai, and it feels like he’s matured more. It was a pity about his last race, but the winner’s a great horse and it was a high-class race. It’ll be his first time at Hanshin, but the inner course and short straight will suit him. Once into the race, I’ll decide on things. It’s a strong field and I’ll need to get a good position, as it’s hard coming from too far back. The weather’s a worry, so I’ll need to take that into consideration as well. But he’s a great horse who’s always been there at the finish, and I really want to win again with him this time.”

Fame Game

Yoshitada Munakata, trainer
“In the Tenno Sho (Spring), it would have been good to have been a little more forward, and he started slowly too. After that he went to the training farm and recovered well in a short time, so we could go for this race. He’s been training and running well. One thing with him is to keep him running straight, and the cheekpieces seem to have the desired effect. He seems to have matured and we hope he’ll run smoothly here. It’s the inner course, so we don’t want to be too far from the leaders.”

Hit the Target

Keiji Kato, trainer
“He’s a bit unreliable, but on his day he can perform. After all, he finished fourth in this race two years ago. If the going is good and he can run his race with a bit of bite to it, he’s capable.”

Kitasan Black

Hiroshi Shimizu, trainer
“It’s great to be the fans’ top choice for the race. He’s a great horse who’s so versatile and has terrific racing sense. The jockey (Yutaka Take) combines well with him, and coming back in distance this time is not a worry at all. His experience at the track as well points to everything being able to go right for him. He’s worked hard in training, and I feel just a little sorry for him putting in all the hard work, but he seems to thrive on it and has a great appetite.”

Last Impact

Norihiko Kishimoto, assistant trainer
“He’s been working with the jockey recently, and just this last week he’s improved noticeably. His leg action looks good, the strength is there, and I think he can run a good race. Hopefully the going will be good on race day.”

Lovely Day

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“After the trip to Hong Kong and the tough race there, he’s had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki (training farm) where he has recovered well. He’s come back into training fine, and even though his rotation going into the race this year is different from last year, with the condition he’s in, he’ll be able to run well. I’d like the ground to be firm though.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“The horse is well and has been putting in fast times. Everything seems good with him and it really feels as if he wants to run. I want to try and get a good position. He’s easy to ride in a race and always gives his best. I want to ride him in a similar way to the way he won last year. Soft ground is a worry, but it’ll be a great race with so many strong horses. I believe my horse really has potential.”

Marialite

Takashi Kubota, trainer
“I wanted her to win the Meguro Kinen, but she was just a bit unlucky. Probably the 2kgs weight advantage for the winner was the difference. She’s recovered well from that race and we didn’t send her to the farm. She looks well and full-bodied. Her training has gone well, showing good rhythm in her running. She always puts in her best performance in her races, regardless of the opposition, and I’m not anxious about her here.”

One and Only

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“His movement has been good. There doesn’t seem to be any lasting effects from his overseas trip, and I couldn’t be happier with the condition he’s in.”

Hironobu Tanabe, jockey
“I think more than his times, his rhythm and balance are impressive. He’s just how I thought he would be. He’s not one of the popular picks, so it takes the pressure off, and I hope to ride him the way he’s usually ridden.”

Satono Crown

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“In my opinion, I think he’s the No. 1 rival to Duramente. They’ve both had this race as their target, so it’s been quite a task to get them ready for it. We never quite know what will happen in racing, but both of them come into this race capable of good performances. Satono Crown has shown a lot of determination in his recent training. We’ll take a look at his condition and decide whether to transport him with Duramente or wait until Saturday.”

Satono Noblesse

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“The opposition’s strong and there’ll be things to contend with, but I’m happy with his condition and am interested to see what he can do here, hoping the ground doesn’t get too soft. His movement has been good. As with some horses bred at the Mejiro Farm, they seem to get stronger with age. It would be good to win with him here.”

Staphanos

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“His last run was the first in six months, so finishing second to a horse that won in record time was no mean feat. He’ll come on for that, and although there’s an extra furlong to run, I think he’ll handle it. Of course, it’s a Grade 1 with great horses, but hopefully he’ll do his best.”

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“I wanted him to win last time, but going so close meant we could look ahead to another race with him. He’s trained well as we have kept in mind this race on the inner course.  His reaction has been good.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey
“He feels good and just a little heavier. If the ground’s a bit easier, I think that would be good, and I think he’ll improve from his last race, where he just felt the effects of his long layoff.”

Toho Jackal

Kiyoshi Tani, trainer
“He has shown good finishes in his training, and on the ground this week his responses have been good enough. For a horse of his size, he doesn’t get irritated so easily.”

Manabu Sakai, jockey
“There’s a fair run to the first corner, so getting a good position shouldn’t be a problem. He seems to be in better condition than last year, and has developed more mentally. I’m confident with him here.”

Touching Speech

Sei Ishizaka, trainer
“She seems very well in herself. After she’s run once, she tends to be able to improve and that will be the case here. I think the 2,200 meters is better for her. She’s a ‘power type’ horse and I think if the ground is soft she can adjust.”

Suguru Hamanaka, jockey
“Her responses have been good, together with her condition. She’s capable of anything really. Even with cut in the ground, I think she can handle it.”

Yamakatsu Ace

Kaneo Ikezoe, trainer
“He was sixth last time in the Naruo Kinen which was run in record time. He has the ability to grab the lead, and if he can just hang on that’s the ideal. He won the Fukushima Kinen on heavy ground and against good horses.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong when it comes to his current condition. He’s been doing his work very well and with good responses. Amongst this field, it’ll be tough, but I want to ride him in a way where he can give a good account of himself.”