Admire Hadar

Tatsuo Taniguchi, assistant trainer
“Early in his career he was a little weak, but now he eats well and he maintains his weight. I didn’t think he would be a horse that would race from a forward position, but he’s proved he’s able to do this. He won his trial race successfully, so looking to this next one, we’ve been careful not to overwork him, also bearing in mind the short time between races. Paying attention to these things, he should be able to run well this time too.”

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“I haven’t worried about his times this last week, but I think his condition is good enough that he can run a strong race.”

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“The 2,000 meters should be suitable for him, especially if he gets to run his own race. I wouldn’t be worried about the ground, and the current going at Nakayama should suit him. He won’t be one of the fancied runners in the betting, but compared to his strong rivals, I don’t think there would be too much difference between them and my horse.”

Junji Shimada, jockey
“He’s kept his condition well and there’s a good feel to the way he’s moving. He’ll be better for his last run, and when I ride him I can tell he’s getting stronger.”

Chevalier Rose

Hisashi Shimizu, trainer
“I don’t think he’s needed to do too much in the short interval between his races. He’s improving and his reactions are different now. He had experience at Nakayama in the Hopeful Stakes, as well as transporting over for it, so I have no worries about those things. Also the fact that he’s always managed to finish in the top five in a race is quite a good thing. Even though this time it’s a Grade 1, I’m not thinking about the other horses, but hope he’ll be able to adjust to things and run his usual strong race.”

Danon the Kid

Takayuki Yasuda, trainer
“His times in training have been good, and he looks well in his coat. There’s still a lot to come from him, although he’s still a bit loose, as well as not changing leads quite as smoothly as he might. It’s possible he’s better racing left-handed, but most importantly he’s more relaxed. He’s back at the track where he became the 2-year-old champion, and where he ran a good race. He didn’t quite get into the flow of things in his last race, and the pace was slow, but this time there’ll be more runners and hopefully a stronger pace, and that should be good for him.”

Yuga Kawada, jockey
“There are plenty of strong horses at this stable, and it’s my job to get the best out of them. With this one being one of the best, and with a view to a run in the Derby, I want to do well with him in this race. He’s certainly developing the right way.”

Deep Monster

Tatsuhiko Kawai, assistant trainer
“His breathing has been good, and he’s worked well in training. He’s had experience transporting to different tracks, and with him not having any bad habits, there’s nothing to worry about with him. I’m looking forward to what kind of performance he can put in this time.”

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“It’s been the pattern with him to give him a break at the farm after a race. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do among this strong opposition.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey
“Looking at his races, he still looks a bit young and immature, but having said that there’s no doubt that he has ability.”

Efforia

Yuichi Shikato, trainer
“He’s coped well with his workload in training. As a 2-year-old, physically and mentally he was a little weak, and his hindquarters weren’t so strong, so it took him a bit of time to recover from races. Over time though, he’s developed well and has become a lot stronger. He’s been working uphill recently and has trained as I would have liked. He has good racing sense, and has run well over the small oval track at Sapporo, so I’m sure he’ll respond well to the course at Nakayama. I’ll look forward to this next race with him.”

Takeshi Yokoyama, jockey
“I took it easy with him this week, as he did his strong work the week before. I felt his times were better than I had anticipated. I don’t think he’ll let himself down in this strong field, and I feel he has a good enough chance to win.”

Elusive Panther

Kazutaka Ikeuchi, assistant trainer
“He’s got a little way to go to get his balance spot on, but nevertheless he knows how to race, and I think he has enough ability to take on a race like this. It’s an extra 200 meters in distance this time, and finding his rhythm will be the key, but he’s had experience these past two starts in taking on slightly longer races, so it should be fine for him.”

Takuya Ono, jockey
“I’ve just made sure his rhythm and responses are good, in what has been light training, and it feels like he’s running very well.”

Gratias

Yukihiro Kato, trainer
“He’s coming along well and looks better for his last race. It’s still early in his career and it won’t be easy in a race like this one, but he does look capable. It was a slow pace last time and I think a faster pace would be much better for him. He really needs a stamina test and to show his turn of foot at the end of a race.”

Mirco Demuro, jockey
“He’s as I thought he would be and moves well with a lot of speed. He’s run and won at Nakayama, so it shows he can do well there. While still a young horse, I can only see him improving. This will just be his third race, but I want to do my best with him here.”

Lagom

Takashi Saito, trainer
“He’s developing nicely and he’s fine heading into the race. I haven’t worried about times in training, but have just concentrated on his rhythm, and stretching out at the finish, he’s shown that he’s running well. The flow of the race will be the key. He raced left-handed at Chukyo last time, but I don’t see a problem going clockwise this time.”

Yuichi Kitamura, jockey
“He pulled a bit early on in the Kisaragi Sho, but he’s adjusted to things in training and I can say he’s running more smoothly now. Over a trip he can use his power and good footwork, so I’m happy with the way he is right now.”

Yoshinori Ito, assistant trainer
“He’s developing gradually, although you’d have to say so far his actual race results haven’t been so good. He can’t really handle a slow and muddling pace, neither a very fast pace, but he can adjust to things fine if a race is run at an average speed. He’s become a bit more serious as he matures more.”

Shizuya Kato, trainer
“His time in training is slow, but the idea is not to go at a very fast pace with him. All connections are looking forward to his run in this first Classic of the season.”

Red Belle Aube

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“He’s mentally strong, so I don’t see a problem with the course, and he knows when to pick up in a race. He has experience transporting long distance to the track, and he’s quite relaxed. Up to now he’s only run over a mile, but I think with his ability he can certainly take on a race like this, and it’ll be all about him saving his legs for a run at the end.”

Yuichi Fukunaga, jockey
“His responses have been good, despite not setting a quick time in training. He previously ran a bit freely with his head in the air, but he seems better now. I think it’s a good rotation coming from the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, and he’s won a race in record time, so I think he can handle a fast pace in a Grade 1.”

Stella Veloce

Naosuke Sugai, trainer
“In his last piece of work, we just confirmed things with him and he seems switched on. He’s improving a lot, especially mentally. It’ll be his first time over 2,000 meters, but he’s not a horse I’d worry about when it comes to the distance. I hope he can just rebound and get a good result here, so that we can look to the Derby with him.”

Hayato Yoshida, jockey
“I haven’t worried about his time in training, where he’s worked solo. There’s a sharp feel to him. It’ll be important for me to get him into a good rhythm in the race.”

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Toru Kurita, trainer
“His breathing’s good and he’s become easier to ride. He’s better mentally now too, as he was just a little too serious previously. It was a good win for him last time, where he showed a lot of strength and some good footwork. He’s quick from the gates, and I’m thinking this time too he can get to the front and run a strong race, although we’ll think about another style of running for him as well. With the way he’s running though, going off at a nice clip could be the right kind of race for him.”

Victipharus

Manabu Ikezoe, trainer
“We haven’t overdone things with him, and just coming here from his last race I’m confident he’ll be fine going into it, as he’s improving a lot. I think he can handle any track, but it’s good that he’s back where he won last time. His career is obviously just getting started, but where he’s at now, I’ll be looking forward to how he can perform this time.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“He’s a horse with a lot of potential. All’s good going into the race, and this week in training he’s run well. He knows when to take the bit and his breathing is fine. Last time he ran with a good rhythm and showed what a good finish he has. I want to do my best to get a result.”

Kazuya Makita, trainer
“He’s kept his condition in the short time between races, and the main thing is his responses are good, so things are as I would expect. Obviously it’s a strong field, but I think if he gets to run according to the flow of the race, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do. He’s a horse that can handle any type of going.”

Yoho Lake

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“The jockey’s got to know the horse and says that there’s no problem riding him. Last week he did his hard training, so he’s just done enough this week. His hindquarters are better now. I don’t think he’ll have any problem with the course, and whatever the ground is like, it won’t matter. He’s a big striding horse and I want to see how he gets on this time.”