Arctos

Toru Kurita, trainer
“His weak point before was with his right hindquarters, but this is not a problem now. Since a week ago he’s looked good in training and he’s coped well with his training load. His record of four wins from four runs at Tokyo racecourse over 1,600 meters is very good, and so that’s a big plus. The jockey knows the horse well, so I’ll leave things up to him. I think the ground is not an issue and a fast pace would suit too. He’s a big horse with a big stride, so I’m looking forward to his run here.”

Hironobu Tanabe, jockey
“His movement has been good on the polytrack in training. He can race over 1,400 meters or further and he usually starts well. The Tokyo track suits his big stride and he’s run well there. I feel good about his condition. He can adapt to how a race is run, including off the pace, and he’s not worried by the kickback.”

Tadashi Kayo, trainer
“As he’s new to the stable, I honestly don’t know about him before now. He ran a strong race last time and he’s trained satisfactorily since. He’ll have to transport over and also try to overcome the distance of the race itself this time, so these will be other factors.”

Ryuji Wada, jockey
“He seems like an easy horse to ride, but at the same time is switched on and moves well. He’s run well over 1,200 and 1,400 meters, showing good speed, but we’ll have to see how he manages 1,600 this time. He’s full of energy and doesn’t feel like an 8-year-old.”

Derma Louvre

Hirofumi Toda, trainer
“He’s in good condition and has run well in training. He’s versatile in that he can handle any kind of race over any distance, as we saw when he ran over 2,500 meters at Nagoya last year, and I really believe in his ability. One important thing, though, is to get his footwork right so that he runs as smoothly as possible.”

Yoshinori Saito, assistant trainer
“He’s able to handle any environment. He won his first race over 1,400 meters and can adjust to any distance. It’s been a while since he’s run over a mile, but he should do well, and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“He has stamina, and he has experience running at Tokyo. The start on turf will be good too. He always gives his best and has ability to run in a big race with other strong horses. The draw will be important, as well as the pace. He runs on at the end and needs to be kept up to the job.”

Inti

Kenji Nonaka trainer
“He came out of his last race fine and everything’s gone well since, including his times in training. In his last race, he couldn’t quite get a position early because of the outside gate he drew. Ideally, he needs to be well up with the pace dictating things, and finding his best rhythm. The jockey (Yutaka Take) knows the horse well and what to do. This time there’s just the one turn in the race and this should make it easier for him, and I think he’s more balanced racing left-handed. Hopefully things will work out right for him.”

K T Brave

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“It should be good for him to have a change with the conditions of the race this time. Over this trip there are some fast horses, so it won’t be easy to get to the front, and he might have to settle just off the pace. However, with these things in mind and the way the race might develop, I’m hoping he can run a different sort of race and still get a result.”

Yoshihito Nagaoka, jockey
“His movement’s good and he’s gradually been improving with his training. I want to get the best out of him in the race.”

King’s Guard

Ryo Terashima, trainer
“I think racing left-handed is fine with him, and two starts ago at Chukyo racecourse the jockey could get a good run out of the horse, showing good late speed. Again, if he gets into this Grade 1 race well, adjusting to the flow of things and getting to run his own race, he could do well.”

Shinichiro Akiyama, jockey
“He seems in better shape than he was for his previous race. With his good footwork, hopefully he’ll have a smooth run and get to show what he can do at the finish.”

Mikki Wild

Takayuki Yasuda, trainer
“Even though he didn’t get a good result last time, he ran quite smoothly until the closing stages. It was good for him to have that race. The Tokyo mile should suit him. He’s definitely a horse with talent, and last year he did well in big dirt races, so if he can just find a bit more this time, with the condition he’s in, a Grade 1 is within his grasp.”

Satoshi Fukunaga, trainer
“In the Mile Championship Nambu Hai at Morioka racecourse, it was his first experience at the track and he adjusted well to everything, including the fast pace. It’s a different course again this time, and the draw could be a factor, but I’m not anxious about these things, and I’m really looking forward to what he can do this time too.”

Mozu Ascot

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer
“It was a strong win for him last time, especially having to carry 58kg. It was successful from the point of view of how I thought he would run. I think he’s really come on in training, but he’s a horse that needs a bit of care, as he has his own character, and so all being well he’ll get to the race in best condition. I’m not worried about the course or distance, and the start on turf should be a plus.”

Shigeki Miyauchi, assistant trainer
“There hasn’t been that long between his races, so he’s just done enough in training. He won the Yasuda Kinen, so I don’t see a problem with the extra trip, and the start on turf should help him too.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“He took a little time to pick up in his last race, but his condition is better now and he’s stronger. On his dam’s side, there are good dirt horses, and trainer Yahagi understands what the horse’s ability is. I need to be careful about the horse starting well and then finding a good rhythm.”

Yoshiyuki Yano, trainer
“He’s recovered from his usual tiredness after his last start, and he’s worked well in training to show he’s in good condition. I don’t think there’s too much in it between him and some of the other top JRA horses. He should be able to handle the pace, even if it’s quick, and I look forward to his run here.”

Nonkono Yume

Katsunori Arayama, trainer
“He’s been at the farm and has come back just right, and things have been as usual with him. The gates in JRA races should allow him to settle in the stalls without him moving his tail excessively. It’s important that he doesn’t get too worked up. He’s a clever horse, and as long as he gets off to a relatively smooth start, things should be fine with him.”

Sunrise Nova

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“He didn’t start so quickly when he won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai, but finished well to win. Last time he wasn’t quite able to stick with the others at the finish. In training he’s posted good enough times. He’ll be coming to the race fresh, not having had a trial race this time, and his hindquarters have got a lot better since last autumn. He’s run at Tokyo before, and with horses in the field that want to go forward this time, the pace should be slick. Also, with the first two home in the Champions Cup not in the lineup, it gives him a good chance.”

Time Flyer

Kunihide Matsuda, trainer
“It’s the same course and distance as the Musashino Stakes, where he ran a good race, and he’s suited to the one turn over the 1,600 meters at Tokyo. With a slightly more positive run last time I think he could have placed. I have expectations for him to win another Grade 1 race and look forward to what the jockey can do here.”

Shane Foley, jockey
“After he gets into things, he starts to run smoothly. He’s in good enough condition and I think he has a chance.”

Vengeance

Hiroyuki Oneda, trainer
“He’s got a lot better at finding a good rhythm in a race, and then coming with a powerful late run, without having to be brought too wide. The last time he ran at Chukyo he showed how he could run on a left-handed track. He still seems young for a 7-year-old. There should be no problem with the distance or the track, and hopefully he’ll put in another good run, saving things for his strong, late finish.”

Hideaki Miyuki, jockey
“I heard he was a little tired after his last race, but in recent training he seems to have recovered well and his breathing is good. He feels the same as he was for his last race. I think he can run over any distance, ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 meters. He hasn’t had so many races running anti-clockwise, so one of the keys will be to get him to produce a good run again this time.”

Wide Pharaoh

Takashi Kotaki, assistant trainer
“He looks better in his coat now than he did last autumn, and he’s done enough in training as he goes into this race. The Tokyo 1,600 meters is the same distance as his win in the Unicorn Stakes, and that course and distance is good for him. The start on turf should benefit him, as well as having 1kg less to carry, so he should be capable of putting in a good run.”

Wonder Lider

Shogo Yasuda, trainer
“He’s much better for his last race and his training has been good, particularly his balance and footwork. He knows when to switch on and it’s almost as if he gets himself ready for a race. With just the short interval between races, it’s been just right for him and I hope he’ll be able to make his own race, so that it brings out the best in him.”