Danon the Kid

Takayuki Yasuda, trainer
“We’ve had him let off some steam and he’s quite calm now. There’s no tiredness from his last race. He worked recently with the jockey and he feels the horse is in good condition. He had another gate test as well. There’s no doubt he’s better suited to Hanshin than Nakayama. He needs to run his own race smoothly and with a good rhythm. It’s an important race for him.”

Kazuo Yokoyama, jockey
“He’s a good horse, and he’s how I imagined he would be. He’s finished off his work strongly and he gives it his best in training.”

Geraldina

Takashi Saito, trainer
“After last year’s races, she’s had a nice break, and returning to the stable on March 7, this race has been her next target. With the work she’s been doing, she’s a lot tighter, and she should be just right going into the race. She stretched out well in her last work this week. The distance of 2,000 meters doesn’t rush her into things, and hopefully she’ll get into the flow of the race and run well. I’m looking forward to what she might be able to do this year.”

Hindu Times

Takashi Saito, trainer
“It’s been quite easy to get him ready for this next race since he returned from the farm. He’s been moving well and has chased after his training partner with a lot of power. He’s in very good condition for a 7-year-old. It’s a strong Grade 1 field, but he’s a capable horse and does well in his races. I think after his latest win in a graded race, he can put in another good performance.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“His final furlong finish in training has been good. He’s an easy horse to control and ride, and he responds well.”

Hishi Iguazu

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“His breathing’s been slightly off, but he’s improved for his recent work and he’s been fine changing leads. He now weighs 498kg. Last year he wasn’t so balanced in his hindquarters, and from the autumn of the year before he wasn’t getting such good results. Taking care with him, particularly with his right hindquarters, this year he seems to be a different horse again. He has plenty of power and the jockey feels good about him.”

Kohei Matsuyama, jockey
“He’s not the easiest horse to get ready for a race, but it feels like he’s improving. It’s a special feeling to win a Grade 1, so I want to do my best.”

Jack d'Or

Kenichi Fujioka, trainer
“In last year’s race, the pace was strong, but the ground wasn’t perfect and he also lost a shoe. His condition now is similar to last year, but he’s had longer between races this time and that’s better for him. The going isn’t necessarily an issue for him, and if he runs with a good natural rhythm, he has a chance.”

Yutaka Take, jockey
“His times and movement have been good in training. He’s a powerful horse with a lot of potential. He’s won many times racing left-handed, but he won the Sapporo Kinen racing right-handed, so I don’t see any problem with the track. More than worrying about the draw, it’s important to get a good start. After not getting a result in Hong Kong, I want him to run well here.”

Killer Ability

Takashi Saito, trainer
“There’s no change in his condition and it’s been straightforward to get him ready for this after his run in the Kyoto Kinen. He’s been training well over a distance, knowing when to take the bit and not leaning at all. I thought he got into his last race well. He won the Hopeful Stakes as a 2-year-old, and while we’ve had to be patient, he’s capable of running well in a Grade 1.”

Lagulf

Yoshitada Munakata, trainer
“He’s trained with two other horses, with him in the middle, and there’s a real feeling that he wants to run. His times have been good, despite him not looking that quick. He now weighs about 510kg. With the transportation to Hanshin, we haven’t overdone things with him in this last week. He’s mentally stronger, and I think as a son of Maurice he’ll improve more from now. He has strong opponents in the race this time, but I want him to be bold and put in a strong run against them.”

Maria Elena

Naohiro Yoshida, trainer
“She’s in good condition and I’d like to see her use her power this time. She was marked as a strong horse in her last race and that might not have helped her chances.”

Toshiyuki Takashima, assistant trainer
“Her responses in training have been good and she’s done her work well. I think she’ll be fine on the inner course of the race and 2,000 meters is her best distance. Last time, and in last year’s Tenno Sho, she didn’t quite run to her best, but I think even in a strong field with male horses, if she runs smoothly enough, there’s not that much in it between her and the other horses. She’ll be better for her last race and hopefully she’ll show her true ability this time.”

Matenro Leo

Mitsugu Kon, trainer
“He was a bit difficult to deal with before, but now he’s older, and since his injury, he’s a lot more settled mentally. He’s a strong horse and, with patience, we can now look to him giving a lot more in his races. He couldn’t put in good runs in last year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), but now he has the ability to run a good race. The jockey (Norihiro Yokoyama) is also a plus for him.”

Naoyuki Morita, trainer
“I’m pleased with the way he’s recovered from his last race and he’s in good enough condition, as he has shown in his recent work uphill. He should improve for his last race, but of course the opposition’s strong this time. Firm ground makes things a bit difficult for him, so softer ground and some rain would both help his chances here.”

North Bridge

Takeshi Okumura, trainer
“I was pleased with his win last time. Over the past couple of weeks, his workload has been good and things have been as expected with him. He’s running well and I’ve made sure not to overdo it with him. Racing to the right on the inner track, and the distance of the race, should be fine for him. He’s had experience transporting to Fukushima racecourse, but it’ll be his first time to go to Hanshin. One point is he’s so used to being at the Miho Training Center, so I hope he can adjust to the different environment.”

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“It’s a tight rotation after his last race at Nakayama, with just one week in between races. In his last piece of training this week, we just took it easy with him. There’s no change in his condition and things have been as I would have expected with him.”

Potager

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He’s kept his condition after his last race and has been working well on the woodchip course. I think he’s better over the four corners of the 2,000 meters at Hanshin as opposed to that distance at Tokyo. He’s a horse that always tries his best, and in that way he should run well in this year’s race too. He takes a little time to get his engine going, so he doesn’t need an overly quick pace.”

Yusuke Oe, assistant trainer
“We’ve taken care of him after his last race. Since a week ago, he’s picked up well again in training as this next race approaches.”

Stars on Earth

Mizuki Takayanagi, trainer
“She’s been improving nicely as the race gets nearer. She recently weighed about 490kg, and even allowing for some weight loss with the transportation, she’ll still be bigger than she was for her last race. She’s a lot more balanced now, and the strength she has puts her in a good position to take on the male horses here, so she should run well.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“She’s felt good in training, and I’ve been pleased with her responses and footwork. She’s a lot bigger now, and as a 4-year-old more like an adult. I look forward to riding her this year.”

Weltreisende

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He’s back to moving in his usual way, and his workload has been sufficient this time. I think the track and distance will suit him, and with the condition he’s in, I look forward to another good run from him.”

Yuki Iwasaki, assistant trainer
“He has impressed his track jockey, Yuya Mizuguchi, who has been pleased with the horse’s movement. We’ve worked him uphill and there’s been no problem with his footwork. He’s more mature now and shows a lot of power. With his race sense, the 2,000 meters on the inner track will be fine for him, and the stable would really like to win a Grade 1 with him.”

Yuga Kawada, jockey
“It’s a long time since I’ve ridden him and he’s a different horse now. His back is stronger and he knows what to do when it comes to racing. He’s a big horse and runs well, and I want to get the best out of him in this next race.”

Wonderful Town

Yoshitada Takahashi, trainer
“He had been off for a long time, but gradually he’s come back to himself and there’s a good shape to him now. His recent work has been good and he’s recovered well since his run in the Chunichi Shimbun Hai some races ago, and that’s been encouraging. In this condition I’d expect him to try his best this time, and even among these top horses. I want him to put in a good challenge.”

Ryuji Wada, jockey
“There’s a good feeling about him now. I think he can run well, even against the other strong horses.”