Admirable

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He has had three races in fairly quick succession, and while it could be said that that’s asking too much of him, he’s made the adjustment each time and won his races. Coming into this race, everything’s been fine with him and as I’ve expected, with the jockey working him well. I think the horse is able to put in a good showing in any kind of race, and all being well, he’ll get a good start from the gate.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“There is no change with him since his last race, and I’ve come to understand the horse well, which is good. Of course, it’s a tough race, but I’m looking forward to what he can do here.”

Al Ain

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He has come on nicely since his last race, where he had to work pretty hard for the win.  His footwork’s good, and he’s showing similar qualities to Orfevre before he ran in the Derby. Al Ain has run well so far, and regarding the 2,400 meters, I don’t think he needs to be pushed too hard, but I’d rather he just take up a good position and see what he can do, ridden to his full potential.”

Kohei Matsuyama, jockey
“I think the horse is in top condition, and stronger than he was for the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). He’s a horse that always tries, and I get the feeling riding him, the distance won’t be a problem. He’s been relaxed in training, and that’s how I’d like to see him on the day. The Derby’s different from other races and it’s everybody’s goal. Fine weather would be good, and looking at last week’s racing, the inside is good, but I’ll decide things on the day.”

America's Cup

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“Before the Satsuki Sho and the transportation to the track, his weight was 454kg, and that’s about what I’d like to see this time too. The horse needs to run with a good action, as when he takes the bit he goes well, and the key over the 2,400 meters will be for him to run smoothly.”

Fuma Matsuwaka, jockey
“He is relaxed and in good shape after his last race. I want to ride him in the best way possible to get a result.”

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“All has gone as expected with him in training. In his last two races, ability-wise, there hasn’t been much difference between him and the winner, and the last race was over the Derby distance, so I think we can take a lot from that. He can be a little unruly in the paddock, but when he gets to the race, he’s fine. I want him to show his best in the big race.”

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“To some extent, the interval since his last run is short, so options have been limited, but he’s trained well, and hopefully he’ll give his best effort.”

Cadenas

Kazuya Nakatake, trainer
“This is the big target for him. We’ve had him training on the woodchip course with this race in mind, and over longer distances. I’ve been satisfied with him in training, and his movement’s good. I think last time was just unfortunate, but I want him to show the potential he has here, as he did in the Yayoi Sho.”

Koichi Shirakura, assistant trainer
“He has had experience at Tokyo, and I think the distance is fine. He has done well leading up to the race, so I want him to show his true strength and ability here.”

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer
“He has been training well on the woodchip course, his movement’s been good, and we’ve been concentrating on his finish. He disappointed on his debut and we don’t know why, but he has run well over 2,200 meters to prove his stamina. He is a horse that can get to the front and keep going, if things go in his favor.”

Daiwa Cagney

Takanori Kikuzawa, trainer
“He has recovered quickly from his last race. There is no tiredness about him, and we’ve just kept him ticking over to keep his condition. I think he’ll be fine with the 2,400 meters, and I have a slight worry about the start in front of the stands, but if he gets to run his best race, I’m looking forward to what he can do.”

Hiroshi Kitamura, jockey
“He is a horse that always tries, and while he’s a bit highly strung, once out of the gate, he gets on with the race itself. I’d like a smooth run throughout the race, conserving him for the long home straight.”

Danburite

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He has posted a couple of fast runs in training, so in his last workout this week, he took it easy. He can get a little tense before the race, but it’s something to be expected, and in his races he’s shown how well he can do. He has further to race this time, but his bloodlines say it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll leave things down to the jockey, Yutaka Take.”

Yutaka Take, jockey
“He was a bit unlucky last time. He shouldn’t have a problem finding his rhythm, and adjusting to the distance looks fine for him. I’d like an inside draw.”

Jo Strictl

Hisashi Shimizu, trainer
“He has trained well with a horse in front, and him finishing on the outside, and his movement’s been good, so I have no complaints in the lead up to the race. It’s 2,400 meters this time, and while I think he can adjust to this, because he hasn’t done it before, there’s no telling what he might do. I’m not worried about the other horses, I just want my horse to run well in the condition we’ve got him in.”

Kyohei

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer
“He has been doing steady work on the woodchip course, with the 2,400 meter distance in mind. Looking at his last race, going further might be better for him. On his breeding, the distance shouldn’t be too much of a worry. The key is really for him to have a smooth race, and if the ground comes up soft, he can handle that perhaps a lot better than some of the other runners.”

Meiner Sphene

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“The week before, he did his hard work, so this week he’s done light training, which I think is sufficient. I think he’ll come on for his last race, and while I’m not worried about the distance or the track, we’ll have to see just what he can do against his strong opponents here.”

My Style

Mitsugu Kon, trainer
“The jockey (Norihiro Yokoyama) rode him recently, and put him through his paces on the woodchip course, with this race in mind. The horse is developing, as many of the 3-year-olds now are, and after the experience of his last race, with the adjustments in training, hopefully he’ll be able to put in a better race by being in a more forward position.”

Persian Knight

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He has taken some time to recover from his last run, and he’s not the type to suddenly come good. He now looks to be in good shape, looks better in his coat, and I’m pleased with his condition, by getting him back to where I want him to be. I think the distance will be fine, according to his breeding. I think it’s OK to start slow in the Derby, and race further back or midfield, which is his style of racing.”

Rey de Oro

Kazuo Fujisawa, trainer
“I was successful last week in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), so I’d like to win this time too. Even on his debut at Tokyo, this colt ran well, and I’ve been careful with him, turning him into a good 3-year-old, hopefully. He might have been just a little heavy for the Satsuki Sho, but he still ran on well to finish fifth. It’s better if he gets a good start. He has a lighter feel to him now, and he’s relaxed.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“Since his debut, he’s shown plenty of ability, and we saw that when he won the Hopeful Stakes, showing a good turn of foot. Over 2,400 meters, I think he can demonstrate that again. He is a horse that can certainly run, and I have confidence in him in the Derby. He can start slowly, so I need to be careful about that.”

Satono Arthur

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He is a horse with a lot of ability, and I now think he’s developed well for this particular time in his career. He will have no problem after going a short while without a race. Of course, it’s his first time to tackle 2,400 meters, but I think the Tokyo course will suit him, and he’ll be all right with the transportation to the track. I’m looking forward to it, and I really hope the owner (Mr. Hajime Satomi) can win the Derby.”

Yuga Kawada, jockey
“He has improved in training, and in getting him this far without any problem, all looks to be good.”

Suave Richard

Yasushi Shono, trainer
“He has come back to himself quickly after the Satsuki Sho, and his legs and back are fine after just a couple of weeks since that last run. His times in training have been good, and he’s moving well. I think switching back to Tokyo, the wide course, and also going left-handed, are big pluses for him. Given these factors, he can do well here.”

Hirofumi Shii, jockey
“He is a strong horse, and the type to improve race by race. He hasn’t won since the Kyodo News Service Hai, but that was a good win, and although we won’t know about the extra distance this time until we try, the plan is to run with a good rhythm to the final corner, and then get him to finish strongly down the home straight.”

Trust

Hiroshi Nakamura, trainer
“He is a horse that doesn’t give up easily. His training’s been fine in the short interval since his last run, and his appetite remains good. In the Satsuki Sho, he had to go forward from a wide gate, but thinking of this, the longer trip could be better for a horse that likes to get to the front and try and stay there.”

Win Bright

Yoshihiro Hatakeyama
“He recovered well from his last race, and quickly got back to 470kg, and that made it good to prepare him for this race, and everything’s gone well in that respect. It will be his first time at the distance, so ideally he can produce a run where he can conserve his stamina. I think the draw and the ground will also play a part.”

Masami Matsuoka, jockey
“He is in good condition after getting rid of some stiffness. Last time he started slowly and didn’t handle the ground so well, so a tighter run this time would be good.”