Big Arthur

Kenichi Fujioka, trainer
“Ideally I wanted to run him in the Centaur Stakes, but with the slight hoof problem, we weren’t able to do so. In theory, he’s the type that can come back fine after a layoff. He has looked a little heavy in his work, and in this week’s final workout, he was somewhat better, but still just lacking a bit – taking some time to hit top gear. Having said that, he’s come back before and won after an absence. What’s more he’s a Grade 1 winning sprinter, and after things not quite going in his favor last year, it would be good to get revenge here.”

Yuichi Fukunaga, jockey
“Of course, it’s his first run this year, so that won’t come easy, also considering it’s a Grade 1. But he’s won after a long break before, and I just want things to go smoothly for him in the race.”

Dance Director

Kazuhide Sasada, trainer
“He broke slowly last year, but wasn’t actually beaten by that much in the end. If you consider his performances in the Silk Road Stakes and the Centaur Stakes this year, you can see how he can win a Grade 1. He’s drawn odd-number gates nine times in a row now, keeping him in the gates a bit longer, and possibly resulting in him not quite getting into the flow of the race as he might. This is a key for him. He’s done well in training, his weight’s fine, and he’s probably running better than he was at this time last year.”

Naoyoshi Sasada, assistant trainer
“In the Centaur Stakes, he drew outside, and had to finish running outside in the home straight. If you consider it was the first weekend of the meeting and the fresh going, he did well to get as close as he did to the first two home.”

Suguru Hamanaka, jockey
“He feels light and flexible, and has put in some good footwork in training.”

Diana Halo

Nobuharu Fukushima, trainer
“After her good runs at Kokura, we decided on the Sprinters Stakes. Back at Ritto Training Center, she’s worked well on the course and uphill. We’ll take it easy with her, given the transportation to Nakayama that is involved. Regarding the Nakayama track, she’s won at Hanshin, which has a similar uphill stretch to the finish, so I’m not worried about her handling the course. It’s a big field, but ideally I’d like her to get an outside position in the race where she can see daylight. The jockey knows how to ride her well, so if she gets to run her race, I think she can do well.”

Fiducia

Shigeki Matsumoto, trainer
“She’s an easy horse to ride and has gotten results, so I’m not too worried about her. She’s won at Nakayama in a good time and can act on any going. It’s best if she jumps well and takes a handy position, but gets some cover at the same time.”

Takaaki Yoshida, groom
“She’s handled things well in training, and in her final piece of work she closed well. Her movement’s fine and there’s a good feel to her.”

Fine Needle

Yoshitada Takahashi, trainer
“He’s been handling things fine throughout his summer races, and he seems to relish it, more than taking a break. He’s responded well in training, and keeping things constant with him seems a good thing. It will be interesting to see what he can do among these top class performers.”

Yoshinori Unoki, assistant trainer
“It was a pity he lost the Kita Kyushu Kinen, but he came back even stronger for the Centaur Stakes, and he’s been able to maintain that good condition since.”

Let's Go Donki

Tomoyuki Umeda, trainer
“She’s had good enough results over 1,200 meters to take her chance here. She’s been switched on in training, finishing off her work well, and she should be just right going into the race. It’s been a plus to have the jockey (Yasunari Iwata) up and getting her running smoothly, one of the key points to her. She’s been eating well and was up to 510kgs the other day, which I think is good. She should be fine transporting to the track.”

Yasunari Iwata, jockey
“She was relaxed and ran smoothly in her last piece of work, showing good footwork. She can race from different positions, and if things go well, she has the ability to win. I’ll be doing my best.”

Melagrana

Manabu Ikezoe, trainer
“The jockey has ridden her many times, and understands what she is all about, which is such a big plus. In training, she’s had her usual pattern. We have to be careful not to overwork her, as it then affects her hindquarters. Light exercise (hacking) has gotten her into good condition, relieving any stiffness. As for her racing at Nakayama, you can imagine from her past results the kind of race she’s capable of running.”

Monde Can Know

Takayuki Yasuda, trainer
“We were in the habit of sending him to the farm after each race, but he hasn’t achieved such great results since the spring by doing this, so this time we’ve kept him at the stable. I can’t say there’s much change in his condition, but he’s gone through his paces well in training, including working uphill. I’m hoping that by not ‘resetting’ him each time, he’ll be different. I think he’s suited to 1,200 meters, and all being well, he can produce the goods when it matters. I’m looking forward to it.”

Nero

Masaki Takano, assistant trainer
“Things were a little smoother with him before, but he’s had some stiffness, which I hope by race day will be gone. Otherwise there’s no big change with him, and he does seem more relaxed. It would be good to see some rain.”

Daishi Hidaka, assistant trainer
“He’s picked up well in the last week or so, and I was satisfied with the times he posted in his last piece of work. It’ll be his third start since a spell, and I think he’s in good condition now.”

Once in a Moon

Makoto Saito, trainer
“She’s come along well as a 4-year-old and I’m pleased with her. Her responses in training have been good. Since the ground was bad in the spring, she didn’t get good results in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. I think you’ll find things different this time, providing it’s good ground. I’m looking forward to her run here.”

Red Falx

Tomohito Ozeki, trainer
“His times have been good going into the race, and things are just how I imagined they would be with him. We’ve worked on his cornering and footwork regarding that. He’s refreshed and in good condition. Last year he did fine from a wide gate, and while he’s probably better going left-handed, I think he’s fine with Nakayama. Of course, it’s a big field and the draw counts a bit, but the jockey knows what to do. As the defending champion, you have to believe he can do the same again.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“He seems in good shape. He did well over the longer trip of the Yasuda Kinen last time. This time he’s running over his Grade 1 winning distance. I’d hope for a gate that’s not too wide.”

Rhein Meteor

Takahiro Mizuno, trainer
“The opposition’s strong this time, but if he gets to run a strong race, I think he’s up to it. If he can run like last time, where he was just a little unlucky in the home straight and just failed to peg back the winner, we can expect good things from him. His best style of running is to get a handy position on the inside and save himself for the final run in. I’d hope for an inside draw and to see what he can give this time.”

Yuichiro Nishida, jockey
“Up until the Centaur Stakes, I’d only ridden him over 1,000 meters. But over 1,200 meters, he proved effective. Just at the final turn, we lost a bit of ground, but it was a good performance overall.”

Seiun Kosei

Hiroyuki Uehara, trainer
“Since the end of last year, the horse has really improved, as we saw when he won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. We’ve trained him getting him to run on the outside and finishing off strongly, which he’s done as hoped. He ran well last time on fast ground and didn’t give in. What’s more, he’s just as effective when the ground comes up soft. Of course, it’s a strong lineup, but he’s the spring champion sprinter, so he must have a chance here too.”

Shuji

Naosuke Sugai, trainer
“He’s a horse that managed to finish fourth last year, so he has ability. It seemed that it was a breathing problem that caused his defeat last time. He’s done well enough in recent training, so hopefully he can show more of what he’s capable of here.”

Norihiro Yokoyama, jockey
“He seems fine and there’s no change with him. It’s a question of him finding his rhythm and seeing what he can do.”

Snow Dragon

Noboru Takagi, trainer
“The 1,200 meters at Nakayama should suit him a bit more, as it takes just a little time to shift up through the gears. Being the last week of racing at the track, and hopefully a bit of rain, the course may not be riding so fast, which would also be a welcome for him.”