Admire Justa

Naosuke Sugai, trainer
“He’s done enough in his work this couple of weeks, so we won’t do much more before he transports over for the race. Of course, it’s a big race with strong opponents, but the reality is he’s never finished outside the first two, and he had the ability to finish second in the Hopeful Stakes. He’s had the experience at the track and the long transportation. I don’t think he has a fixed style of racing, but I want to see him run his best race, running with a good rhythm as naturally as he can.”

Admire Mars

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He’s shown his ability in training, not stopping when running with the other horses on the training track. He’s coped well with his workload. I’m not worried about the distance of the race, and being a fairly sharp track, I think the pace should be good. It should be fine if he gets a good position and runs his usual strong race.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“The horse continues to develop and I think he’ll weigh more this time too. He’s more muscular and his back is stronger. His final training session was good. The stable staff knows the horse well. It’ll be his first time at the track and to take in the four corners, and I think the extra furlong will be fine. There are a lot of good horses in the race, not just the one strong one, and I look forward to it and would like to win the race for the fifth time.”

Breaking Dawn

Masaaki Shibata, assistant trainer
“This race has been on the agenda since his last run. His responses have been good in training on the woodchip course and he’s moved well, coping with the work he’s had. He’s improved for having the strong workouts. I’m looking forward to what he might be able to produce in the actual race.”

Yuichi Fukunaga, jockey
“He ran well in training and wasn’t bothered by the ground. His condition is the best it’s been so far, so the same goes for the way he’s moving.”

Courageux Guerrier

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He’s gradually improving when it comes to keeping his head steadier, and he’s becoming more mature, as well as looking sharper. I was worried about transporting him last time, but he was fine, and it seems better if he goes early and stays overnight. I think he should be fine in a race over 2,000 meters at Nakayama.”

Norihiro Yokoyama, jockey
“I was told he can be a bit highly strung, but I found him easy to ride in training and he ran pretty well. He could be a bit quicker at picking up, but the main thing is to keep him relaxed throughout everything so he can run well.”

Danon Kingly

Kiyoshi Hagiwara, trainer
“As a young horse early in his career, I worry a little, but he won well last time. After that race I think he can handle the extra 200 meters. He’s developed more muscle, but there shouldn’t be much change in his weight, and he’s a lot better mentally now. Speed would be his No. 1 salespoint. I’m not worried about the draw, as we can’t influence that. Hopefully he shows his strength and gives a good showing in this Grade 1.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey
“There’s no doubt he’s come along well and seems bigger and stronger. There’s a good feel to him. Judging from his last race, he should be able to get into the flow of things throughout the run at Nakayama. A barrier somewhere from the middle to the inside would be good, but everybody wants this. I’ve ridden him since his debut and he’s never lost, so it’s a good feeling to be aboard him and I want him to run up to his best here too.”

Takafumi Aoki, trainer
“It’s unfortunate that a horse from the Kanto region has had to withdraw from the race, but on the other hand it’s good to have the opportunity to get a run here, and I want him to do well. It’s not just about him getting a start, but also the expectation that he can run a good race. I think the 2,000 meters at Nakayama will be fine for him.”

Fantasist

Tomoyuki Umeda, trainer
“When jockey Yutaka Take rode him recently in training, he thought the horse was better for having his last race. It was the first time for the horse to run over 1,800 meters and take in four corners last time, but he had no trouble in doing so. It’s a bit further again this time, but if he runs a similar race to his last one, I don’t see that he’ll have any problems.”

Yutaka Take, jockey
“He’s trained well and put in good times also. He’s in good condition. I thought last time the distance might be a bit far, but he made the adjustment well, and I’d like him to achieve the same again this time. Hopefully he’ll get into the flow of things and show the same kind of dexterity that he’s capable of.”

Kurino Gaudi

Norio Fujisawa, trainer
“In training his movement has been good, and at the end of his work he’s finished well after being restrained before the finish. Rather than like his last race, it’s better if he can run like he did two starts ago, saving things in the run, and it will depend on how he gets into things over this distance. I’d like an inside draw.”

Hirokazu Tajima, assistant trainer
“The important thing will be for him to settle well in the race. He has good gate sense, and if he goes off in front like last time I don’t think it’s a problem. It’s also fine if he sits behind with cover. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do running with a good rhythm here.”

Lance of Puraana

Masaru Honda, trainer
“He’s quite calm and moves well, showing a lot of power. He usually starts well and it would be good to see him get into the flow of the race.”

Yoshihiro Furukawa, assistant trainer
“He continues to keep his condition and has moved well in training. He’s improved mentally and is more adult now. He’s not the type to worry about when transporting to the track. If he gets to run his own race, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of performance he can put in.”

Last Draft

Hirofumi Toda, trainer
“We’ve had the horse working with his race jockey (Andrasch Starke) and he knows well about him. In training the horse has shown his powerful movement, and I think taking this to the race, he should be able to run well without any problems. He takes after his sire Novelist more than his mother. He goes into the race in good condition and I’d like the ground to be firm.”

Meisho Tengen

Kaneo Ikezoe, trainer
“He’s improved with his training and has chased down his training partner to finish well. With the transportation in mind, we’ve kept things simple this last week. He’s a lot tighter now and has improved with his races, particularly since last autumn. It’s a Grade 1, but last time he experienced the track and the travel over, so there should be no problem with those things. He takes just a little time to hit top gear, so I hope the pace is not too frantic.”

Naimama

Yoshinori Muto, trainer
“While he hasn’t quite shown his best in his last three races, I don’t think there’s that much difference between him and the other runners. He currently weighs around 463kg, and he’s pretty much how I imagine him to be, not losing any of his condition, and actually getting bigger. He has a big stride, so he can’t quicken so fast, but with his stamina, getting into a good position and racing to utilize this would be ideal for him.”

Nishino Daisy

Noboru Takagi, trainer
“I don’t know why he failed last time, but the ground might have been a factor. He lost his condition a little after that, but has since regained it and has trained well on the woodchip course. There’s a bit of trial and error with him, and this time we’ll revert to using a bit we used before and fitting the shadow roll again. He’s probably better with horses behind him, and a fast pace on good ground would suit him.”

Masaki Katsuura, jockey
“He’s become better physically and mentally, and doesn’t seem so immature now. There are different ideas from the work riders on how to ride him, but to be honest it’s the horse that knows what he wants to do, and the most important thing is getting him to run with his best rhythm.”

Satono Lux

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He’s improved as we get nearer to the race. He recovered well from his last start, and in work this week, he’s looked better than the previous week. Compared to when he was a 2-year-old, he’s developed a lot more. Hopefully he’ll manage things well over the 2,000 meters at Nakayama and we’ll be able to look to the Derby with him.”

Saturnalia

Yasuyuki Tsujino, assistant trainer
“Things have been fine with him, his breathing’s good, and he’s run well in training with control and power. It’s easy to adjust things with him. Compared to how he was in the Hopeful Stakes, he’s a lot tighter now and there’s a good shape to him. He’s come along very well, and in his past three races I don’t think he’s been fully extended. He’s from a good pedigree, and I hope he can pass the test here in this Classic race.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“He felt good in training last week and posted a good time. This week it’s been easy with him, but he’s run well with good responses and he’s in good condition. I really want to win with him and he represents my best chance of winning both this race and the Derby.”

Schwarz Riese

Atsunori Hashimoto, assistant trainer
“Previously the horse’s balance was not so good, but in his last race, the Yayoi Sho, he ran well, with the jockey getting a good feel for things and riding him carefully. It was a good race to go into this one next. Obviously it’s early in his career, but with only having had two races, there’s a fresh feel to him. I’m hoping he’ll get a good position in the race and he’ll put in a good run.”

Tagano Diamante

Ippo Sameshima, trainer
“In his last piece of work, the ground was soft, but he moved well and clocked around 13 seconds for the last furlong. The horse has a good closing finish. After his last race, the jockey said he’d be better suited to a longer trip. The horse can be a little difficult, but after riding him I think the jockey can learn a number of things. It’s a big thing for the horse to have had experience at Nakayama, and I want him to do his best here.”

Velox

Mitsumasa Nakauchida, trainer
“He’s gradually getting better and shows this. His times are also good. I think his condition now is better than it was for his last two races.”

Teruhiko Saruhashi, assistant trainer
“He’s the type that transports well and there should be no problem with him once he’s there, as he usually continues to eat well. For the most part he begins his races well, and he should be able to handle the Nakayama track. As long as he handles the corners well, he must have a good chance.”

Yuga Kawada, jockey
“I think the horse has learned from his previous races, and can run well however a race is run. He’s trained well, especially picking up just before the fourth corner. I’m pleased he’s got this far in his career with no problems, and even though there’s a strong horse in the race, I want him to put in his best effort here.”