Isla Bonita

Isla Bonita (JPN, H6, by Fuji Kiseki) comes off a grade-race victory in the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m), his first win in around two and a half years since the 2014 St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m). The 2014 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) victor, whose typical racing style of racing up front but wide would often cost him the chance of winning while almost reaching the leader in second in many of his past races, launched a new tactic in his latest start where he came through between horses from mid-division which proved successful. He drew a rating of 117M for his runner-up effort in the 2016 Mile Championship and his latest victory in the Milers Cup.

Air Spinel

Air Spinel (JPN, C4, by King Kamehameha), who finished second to Isla Bonita in the Milers Cup, was also runner-up in the 2015 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) as a two-year-old. While winless in all three of his three-year-old classics, he turned in consistent results finishing fourth (promoted from fifth after a disadvantage), fourth and third in the Satsuki Sho, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) and the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), respectively. Focusing on mile races this year, the King Kamehameha colt kicked off his four-year-old campaign with a grade-race win in the Kyoto Kimpai (G3, 1,600m) followed by a third-place finish in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) and a runner-up effort in the Milers Cup in which he closed in impressively despite having to travel wide throughout. His best rating was 116L,E after the Derby and the Kikuka Sho, and rated 114M after his mile-race starts this year.

Black Spinel

Black Spinel (JPN, C4, by Tanino Gimlet) is another improving colt coming off the Milers Cup in which he finished a close fourth. While second to Air Spinel in the Kyoto Kimpai, the Tanino Gimlet colt proceeded with a win against the same foe in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai for his first grade-race victory. Although he was unable to reach the front runners in the Milers Cup after racing mid-field behind a slow pace, his finishing speed of 32.8 seconds over the last three furlongs bested the field. He was rated 111M after his last two starts.

Logotype

Logotype (JPN, H7, by Lohengrin) returns this year to defend his Yasuda Kinen title which he won impressively by sustaining his lead from wire to wire against top rated Maurice. He has not registered a win since, but possesses the ability to make the best of the opportunities that come his way. He drew a rating of 119M for his victory in the Yasuda Kinen last year.

Staphanos

Staphanos (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact) has been raced in middle-distance races of around 2,000 meters in the past couple of years but, while proving competitive in graded starts at the distance, his only grade-race victory was over a mile as a three-year-old in the Fuji Stakes (G3, 1,600m). He is well equipped to face G1 company, having finished third in both the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) late last year and second to 2016 Horse of the Year Kitasan Black (JPN, H5, by Black Tide) in the upgraded Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) in April this year – he was rated 118I after the three starts – so if he can click into the mile mode, he could well be right up front in the coming race.

Greater London

Greater London (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) is a considerably lightly raced horse who has had just seven starts since his three-year-old debut, but has had a near-perfect career so far, having won six out of seven career starts and a neck second in his only defeat. While this will be his first attempt at grade-race level, his potential is considerably high and has already proved a different class with easy wins against his rivals in his recent starts. He is rated 105M after his latest victory in the Kochi Stakes (1,600m).