Ask Victor More

Yasuhito Tamura, trainer
“He ran solo in his last piece of work, and picked up well at the finish, not slowing down at all. It was his first run in four months last time, so we didn't want him to have an extra hard race. As a younger horse, it wasn't always easy for him to find his rhythm in a race, but the stable staff have had a lot of patience with him, and through training and his race experience, he's been able to perform well over shorter distances than what he faces this time. Given how things have turned out for him, I'd expect him to run a big race with the experience he's now got.”

Hironobu Tanabe, jockey
“This has been his target race and it's another step up for him. There is a different pressure this time, but the horse is in good condition. I have always ridden him, so I know what he can do, and he's close to winning a Grade 1. I have my own image of the race. He will be marked by others, but he starts well and knows how to race, so I want to do my best to get a good result.”

Ask Wild More

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“I think he's running better now than before his last race, and he seems sharper. I don't think 3,000 meters will be a problem.”

Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer
“Things have been as expected with him as we look to this race. He looked sharp in his work uphill. He doesn't pull, and knows what to do in a race, so I think the 3,000 meters won't be a problem. He has won a graded race in record time, which shows he has ability, and I think he can run well if he gets to run his own race.”

Mirai Iwata, jockey
“He trained hard last week, so this week was light and I just concentrated on the finish. His last race was a good prep to lead into this Grade 1.”

Be Astonished

Yuzo Iida, trainer
“There is no real change with him. He posted a recent time of 51.4 seconds on the uphill, and proved that he's moving well. I worry a little about the distance of the race this time, but he ran better than I expected over 2,400 meters at Tokyo, and gave it his best. The jockey (Yasunari Iwata) knows the horse, and I'd expect him to get a good forward position. It is important that the horse runs at his own pace and can maintain things throughout the race.”

Boldog Hos

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer
“He has worked well with stablemate Feengrotten, and has shown good speed in training. He is better for his last race, and we've been looking to the autumn with him. He has plenty of stamina, and while it takes him a little time to pick up, the 3,000 meters should be fine for him, and I expect him to be able to get a good finish in. The latter is his strong point, and just to be a little more forward in the race might be good. The jockey (Hayato Yoshida) knows what to do, so I'm looking forward to his effort here.”

Dinasta

Yasuyuki Tsujino, trainer
“He has recovered his condition after staying at the farm. His workload has been good enough, and he's soon got his breath back after training uphill. With the training track condition, we were careful not to do too much and mostly checked his balance. While I thought he would be a better horse next year, his progress this year has been better than I would have expected. He is a talented horse, and jockey Kazuo Yokoyama rides him well. I think the 3,000 meters will be fine, so I'm looking forward to what he can do in this race.”

Douradores

Keisuke Miyata, trainer
“The change to a ring bit has helped in his preparations. There is a strong side to his temperament, being by Duramente and having Dance in the Dark on his dam's side, but he should stay the trip. The jockey (Takeshi Yokoyama) has been working him, and the horse has a lovely big stride on him. One of the keys will be the extra distance of the race this time, but he impressed me with his win last time out, so I'm interested to see how he gets on this time too, considering he didn't run in the Japanese Derby.”

Takeshi Yokoyama, jockey
“I have always considered him a good horse. The farm and stable have done a good job in getting him to improve when taking the bit. He has enough stamina, but one key will be how he handles the extra 1,000 meters. It is important to use his big stride to good effect. He is a different horse to Titleholder. I would like an even number draw and fine weather.”

Feengrotten

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer
“He has been running well with Boldog Hos, his stablemate, and his times show that his responses have been good. His experience against older horses at Niigata and the tighter track at Kokura would seem to be beneficial. Blinkers have helped him run straighter and have made him concentrate more. He has enough stamina, plus ability, but the key will be the flow of the race and him finding a good rhythm.”

Fuma Matsuwaka, jockey
“In his last piece of work, he moved well, and his condition is good. He is still young and a bit boisterous, but the blinkers help him to be calmer. He is not the type to suddenly take off, but a more sustained run is better for him, together with a good rhythm.”

Gaia Force

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“We haven't needed to do too much with him after his trial race, so I consider him to have done enough in training. This week he strode out well enough. There has been no problem after his knee injury. All the horses in the race are 3-year-olds, and rather than be concerned about the distance, it's all about a horse's strength, I think. He has won over the inner course at Hanshin, so I have an image of how he should run. I don't think there'll be a problem with him getting into the race, and he'll be going into it in good condition.”

Kohei Matsuyama, jockey
“He has taken another step up in his training. He is an easy horse to ride and gets into a race well. We will have to see how he handles the distance of the race this time. He should start well and find a good rhythm. He will be marked by the other horses, but despite this I want to give him the best ride possible.”

Justin Palace

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He trained well recently on the woodchip course, and his workload has been good. He seems better for his last race, and he's more relaxed since the summer. There is a slight concern with him at the gate, but last time he got away well and got a good position in the race. With such a good run in his last race, it was a good prep for this one. I have considered him to be a horse that can run over a trip like this next race, given his pedigree on his dam's side.”

Katsuma Sameshima, jockey
“He can misbehave a bit, so I have to be careful controlling him, but he's a strong horse and has been training well overall. One point is how he does at the gate, but last time he jumped well and was able to run a good race. The course is a little difficult, and it will be tactical regarding the draw and where the other horses are in the race. It is a strong field, despite the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and Derby winners not taking part. I hope for a smooth race, where Justin Palace can run with a good rhythm.”

Noboru Takagi, trainer
“He did some good work last week, so he's really switched on now. We have fitted him with cheekpieces. I think the long distance of the race should suit him.”

Seiun Hades

Yasuyuki Tsujino, trainer
“He is better for his last run. The jockey (Ryusei Sakai) has been getting used to the horse in training. He is still a little weak at keeping things together for the whole race, but he ran well last time, and over the 3,000 meters this time, if he finds his natural rhythm and it brings out the best in him, he could run well.”

Pradaria

Manabu Ikezoe, trainer
“We have had some leeway with him, and the jockey (Kenichi Ikezoe) has had some good contact with the horse, and feels he's in good shape. His breathing's good and he has a lot of stamina. He is an easy horse to ride, and I'm not worried about the 3,000 meters trip. I hope he can put in a better performance this time.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“His time in training this week was around 53 seconds, about what I thought it would be. These last couple of weeks he's felt good. He is relaxed too, so with the condition he's in, I'll look forward to his run in the race.”

Seiun Hades

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“He is better for having had a race, and using the blinkers in training has helped him. I don't think there's a problem with the distance of the race, and we still haven't seen the best from him. He will need to find his best rhythm and save as much as he can for the finish.”

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“In his training this week, he worked on the turf course, giving chase to a couple of other horses. We have had this race as his target. I feel he's a horse with stamina and suited by longer distances. He didn't always produce his best in the spring, but I've always considered him a capable horse. There shouldn't be a problem with the time between his races, and the jockey (Yuichi Fukunaga) has struck up a good partnership with him.”

Shelby's Eye

Daisaku Matsuda, jockey
“He is still got some improvement in him, but he is coming along well. He knows how to race, and there isn't a difficult side to his character, so running over the long trip shouldn't be a problem.”

Shihono Speranza

Suguru Hamanaka, jockey
“He has stretched out well at the end of his work and has shown good speed. He has won over a long distance and he has stamina on his side.”

Verona City

Shozo Sasaki, trainer
“He worked uphill this last week with a rider from the stable. The rotation has been good and his condition is fine, so I'm happy with things. He finds a good rhythm in his races usually, so he should do well over the extended trip this time. The distance is an unknown for all the horses. He just needs to find that little bit more in a race, so I'm looking forward to his run and hope he can produce that this time.”

Teruhiko Chida, trainer
“We have just been keeping him ticking over, as he's had enough races over the summer, and I don't want him to lose weight. He is well, and things have gone as expected with him. He is easy to control, so getting into a race isn't hard for him. I am not worried about the distance either. The jockey (Yutaka Take) gave him a good ride in his last race over a trip, and it's great to have him ride the horse again. With his second-place finish in the trial race, I want him to put in another strong performance this time too.”