2019 News

April 5, 2019

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Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) - Comments from runners' connections

*All horses are 3-year-old fillies

A Will a Way
A Will a Way

A Will a Way

Tomokazu Takano, trainer
“She’s just been doing light work and is coming along much as I expected, while not being a horse to post particularly fast times. There is improvement with her. It’s a Grade 1 over a mile and she’ll have the same jockey as last time. It’ll be all about her getting a good run and saving as much as she can throughout the run.”


Aile Voix
Aile Voix

Aile Voix

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“She’s a big horse, and the way she moves, taking the corners at Nakayama wasn’t so easy for her. I think she’ll be better suited to the wider track at Hanshin. She’s developed well since the Artemis Stakes, and she should be able to run well over 1,600 meters. She’s not necessarily so sharp, but her footwork is good and I think she can handle any ground. Hopefully she’ll run well if things go right for her.”

Kohei Matsuyama, jockey
“It’s the first time I’ve ridden her, but she seems to be a good horse with a big stride. She has speed as well. She did her best right up to the end in training.”


Aqua Mirabilis
Aqua Mirabilis

Aqua Mirabilis

Keiji Yoshimura, trainer
“She’s had the ideal prep and we haven’t done too much with her, but also we haven’t kept things too easy either. She’s kept her condition after her last race and has worked well uphill. The jockey knows what to do with the horse. I’m not worried about it being her first time at the track as she’s a smart enough filly, and I’m looking forward to her run here.”


Beach Samba
Beach Samba

Beach Samba

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“She’s had a good workload and handled things well, including gate practice in this period before the race. She’s come along well mentally and physically, and I think she’ll be better for her last run. She gets into the flow of things well, and I think there’s no disadvantage here among this field.”

Yuichi Fukunaga, jockey
“She’s a horse with a lot of speed and potential, similar to her brother Fusaichi Richard. After being at the farm for a while, she’s returned to the stable where things have gone well. One point in particular is that she seems a lot better at knowing when to take the bit, and this gives a much better look to her when racing. The Hanshin outer course is certainly suited to a horse with power, and so I hope she can show this.”


Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3)
Chrono Genesis

Chrono Genesis

Takashi Saito, trainer
“She’s become better recently, and in her last piece of work the pace was slow, but she was able to pick up at the end, and she seems really switched on this time, better than before her last race. Her strong point is her closing finish, so hopefully things will turn out so that she gets to show that. It was a pity she had to settle for second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, so I’d like to win a Grade 1 with her here.”

Yuichi Kitamura, jockey
“She can be a little tense, but her reactions are good, and I think she’s stronger than she was before her last race. Her legs are strong and she gives it her all until the end. I want to get revenge for her loss in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.”


Tulip Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas Trial) (G2)
Danon Fantasy

Danon Fantasy

Mitsumasa Nakauchida, trainer
“She’s got great racing sense, despite sometimes just fighting for her head a bit. She should be fine at the gate before the race.”

Teruhiko Saruhashi, assistant trainer
“She’s worked well with fast times, and there are no worries about the way she’s moving. Her weight has been around 468kg. It will be about her getting into the flow of the race, but she knows how to run. It’s also to be hoped that she stays relaxed on the day of the race.”

Yuga Kawada, jockey
“She’s generally good in her races, but is a strong horse and can be just a little difficult to control. Discussing things with the stable staff, things seem fine with her right now. She is able to be patient during a race, and this is one of the keys with her. She’s certainly developed well so far, her balance is good, and it’s a strong horse like her that can win the Oka Sho.”


Fairy Stakes (G3)
Figlia Pura

Figlia Pura

Takanori Kikuzawa, trainer
“While she’s still developing, she has gotten bigger and her appetite is good. She’ll be in a different environment this time, so we’ll see how she handles that, as well as the actual race at Hanshin. Even though it’s a strong field, I don’t think she’s at any disadvantage, and I’d like her to run well, with a possible view to running in the Oaks.”

Genki Maruyama, jockey
“Her strong point is her closing finish, and so this time too it’s good to have this distance. I’m not worried about getting a good position in the race and getting her into a good rhythm. Hopefully she’ll run well, and while it’s not easy for a 3-year-old filly over the Hanshin mile, I want to do my best to get a good result.”


Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3)
Gran Alegria

Gran Alegria

Kazuo Fujisawa, trainer
“She’s shown speed since her debut. It was a tough race last time against the colts. She’s had a winter break and has come back refreshed. Compared to last autumn, she’s a lot more relaxed, as we’ve seen in her recent work.”

Masaru Oehara, assistant trainer
“She’s a talented horse that possesses speed, but things didn’t go quite right for her last time. It’s important that she runs with a good rhythm. Her speed is her best asset. These things combined would get her to run her best race.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“In the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, she raced against the colts, and I was surprised the way things turned out. It’s best if she runs at a good pace in 4th or 5th position, then she is more relaxed with horses in front of her.”


Ho O Catherine
Ho O Catherine

Ho O Catherine

Toru Kurita, trainer
“She ran well two starts ago in the Fairy Stakes, but she wasn’t quite at her best last time. She’s probably better over 1,600 meters, as it’s not so hectic for her. On the day, I’d like to see the track in good condition.”

Takuya Ono, jockey
“She seems like she could be tense, but riding her I don’t get that feeling. I think the ground contributed to her defeat last time, so ideally the ground should be good and she can get a good position and save herself for a run at the end of the race.”


Juranville
Juranville

Juranville

Ryo Terashima, trainer
“Last time she hadn’t run for about three months, but still did her best among horses which were also returning from a break. She’ll be much better for that run, and she’s not quite so nervous now. She usually starts well and is good at getting an early position in a race. If the race develops well for her, she should have a chance.”

Fuma Matsuwaka, jockey
“She’s finished off her run well in training and she feels good. Her condition is fine. Bearing in mind the distance of the race, a run on the inside to save ground would suit her well.”


Meisho Keimei
Meisho Keimei

Meisho Keimei

Katsumi Minai, trainer
“She’s in about the same shape as she was for her last race. Her good point is her racing sense. Her first run over a mile was three starts ago in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, so it’s her second go at the trip this time. It was difficult the first time she ran over a mile, as she drew a wide gate, but still put in a fair run considering. It’ll be interesting to see what she can do among these horses this time.”


Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue (Japanese 1000 Guineas Trial) (G2)
No One

No One

Kazuhide Sasada, trainer
“She felt a bit loose early on in her career, but seems a lot tighter now. There’s no tiredness about her and she’s come along as expected. She’s developed well enough to think of a Classic race for her. I think she’ll be fine over the extra distance this time. The race will be run differently from last time, and the opponents will be strong, but I still think she’s capable of getting a good result.”


Noble Score
Noble Score

Noble Score

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“In the horse’s training, the jockey (Yasunari Iwata) has been impressed with her and thinks she’s in a good enough condition to get a result in the race. I’m looking forward to her run.”

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“Everything’s been constant with her and she has kept her condition very well. For a small horse, she has a lot of power. I think she’ll respond well with the rise at Hanshin, and if she gets into the flow of the race, she should be able to run on well at the end. We’ll see what she can do in this Grade 1 race.”


Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue (Japanese 1000 Guineas Trial) (G2)
Pourville

Pourville

Hirotaka Hanada, assistant trainer
“She’s been eating well, and while there hasn’t been a great change with her, she’s maintained her condition. She ran in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, so I don’t see a problem with the distance. Just like she’s done over 1,400 meters, she should be able to jump well and get a good position, and then race well accordingly.”

Shinichiro Akiyama, jockey
“She runs very well within herself, and I would like her to be able to respond well over the mile distance.”


Red Aster

Sakae Kunieda, trainer
“She’s done light work, but her footwork is good. She’s a sharp filly. She’s also easy to ride, and I hope she can run to her best here.”

Yutaka Horikiri, assistant trainer
“She’s still a young horse and is a bit childish. She eats a lot and is filling out nicely. There’s no doubt about her ability to get to a race and run well. Even though she’s only had two starts, she has good racing sense and will only get better from now. It’ll be interesting to see how she gets on here.”


Regard Calme

Yasuhito Tamura, trainer
“It’s been important not to overdo things with her, so in training, especially if the ground has been heavy, she’s just been doing enough, but I feel that she’s running well and I can see her getting better. She’s won twice over the difficult Nakayama mile, so I think that’s a plus. It will be the third time her race jockey will have ridden her. As for the transportation, she’s traveled a number of times between the farm and the stable, and even though this time it’s longer, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Obviously the draw, the weather and the track condition will be factors, but I think the way she’s running she has a good chance.”


Artemis Stakes (G3)
Schon Glanz

Schon Glanz

Kazuo Fujisawa, trainer
“Her weight might have increased a little, but with the transportation that should be fine. I’m pleased to have such a good jockey aboard. He won the race for me in 2004 on Dance in the Mood. It’s been easier to get the horse ready this time, and things didn’t go so smoothly in her last race. Hopefully there’ll be a fast pace this time and she can close well at the finish.”

Hideyuki Chishima, assistant trainer
“I don’t think there’s much difference between a lot of the horses in the race this time, but still it won’t be easy. I’d like to see her run the same kind of race as when she won the Artemis Stakes.”


Shigeru Pink Dia
Shigeru Pink Dia

Shigeru Pink Dia

Kunihiko Watanabe, trainer
“She recovered well and quickly from her last race, and I think she’ll improve for that last run. She missed the start last time, but still managed to finish with a good closing run. That’s been the case in training, and despite the track condition, she’s still managed to do that. While she is a bit highly strung, I think it’s a good point in a Daiwa Major filly. I hope she can race about midfield in the race and save herself for a late run.”


 

Sources: Net Keiba, Keiba Book, Sports Hochi

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