Bellagio Opera

Hiroyuki Uemura, trainer
“He’s handled his workload well, and his responses in training have been very good, despite the hot weather, so everything should be fine as the race approaches. Ideally, good ground would be best, but he has gotten results on softer going. I’m not worried about the distance of the race, and it’s a question of what he can do up against the strong horses like Do Deuce. He can run from any position in a race, but he might not be so strong in hot weather, so that is one thing to consider on the day of the race.”

Blow the Horn

Tatsuya Yoshioka, trainer
“His training’s been good these past two weeks, and he’s found a good rhythm in his work. He’s in good shape. He doesn’t need to take up a particular position in a race, but it’s important that he gets to use his good footwork. He’s a talented horse, and I think the downhill section of the Kyoto track will suit him.”

Sho Tajima, assistant trainer
“Things have been as usual since he returned from the farm, so we’ve had this race in mind for him, and after his training, he should be just right going into it. The outer course at Kyoto will be fine for him, and he should respond well enough over the distance of 2,200 meters. I’m not worried about the ground being a bit rough at this time of year. In fact, some rain and tough conditions would suit him, so I’m looking forward to how things turn out.”

Akira Sugawara, jockey
“The stable has the horse in his usual good condition, and he looks very well. He has plenty of stamina, and I can see him running a good race over the outer course at Kyoto, even if the ground is not so good.”

Deep Bond

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“He’s kept his condition, and has been moving well in training with his jockey (Hideaki Miyuki). The horse goes to the race nice and fresh. For the past two years, he’s run in the Takarazuka Kinen, which has been on the inner turf course at Hanshin, but this year it’s the outer course at Kyoto, which I think will make it easier for him. With his age, there’s no great change with him, but he remains in good condition. I hope he’ll get to run another good race here.”

Hideaki Miyuki, jockey
“He’s an easy horse to ride in a race, and he likes to run. There doesn’t seem to be any change with him after his last race. He’s been moving well in training, posting good times too, so there are no problems with him. I’ll look forward to his run at Kyoto this time, where he has handled the downhill section of the track well, picking up speed and running smoothly.”

Do Deuce

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He’s very well now, and is also relaxed. In Dubai, he seemed a little big, and looked more like a miler, but he looks better now, and sharper too. In his final work this week, he chased down his training partner on the turf track, without pulling or overdoing things. It’ll be his first time to race at Kyoto, but I don’t have any worries about that. The turf in Japan is fine for him, even if it’s a little rough, and he doesn’t have to transport very far to the track this time. I’m expecting a good result.”

Yusuke Oe, assistant trainer
“He looks very well, and his responses are very good. He’s a horse that’s won a Grade 1 every year, so that speaks for itself. He couldn’t finish off well in his last race with a lot of horses, but there are fewer runners this time. The course and the distance at Kyoto are nothing to worry about.”

Yutaka Take, jockey
“It was a pity about the result in Dubai. Now he’s relaxed, and looks more muscular. There’s no doubt that his condition is good and that he’s running well. The course this time will suit him more, and as the fans’ number one vote, I want to do well on him.”

Heat on Beat

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He’s in about the same condition as he was for his last race, where he kept on well until the finish. He was fine after that race. He wouldn’t want anything worse than good ground, so hopefully the going will be firm on the day. He has plenty of stamina, and if he can keep his concentration up throughout the race, I think he can run well, even against his opponents here.”

Yusuke Oe, assistant trainer
“He’s worked over a distance in training, and has been good at the finish, concentrating well. He doesn’t show his age, and there shouldn’t be a problem over the 2,200 meters at Kyoto. The only worry is the weather, as he wouldn’t want soft ground.”

Justin Palace

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He’s handled his training routine well since returning to the stable, and his workload’s been good as this next race approaches. His race jockey (Christophe Lemaire) has been riding him. There’s no long transportation to the track this time, so I feel that what we’ve given him in his training has been just right. He’s quite relaxed too. He finished third in last year’s Takarazuka Kinen, and as for the course this year, I think he’ll be better suited to the 2,200 meters at Kyoto rather than Hanshin, so I’m expecting a good run from him.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“His footwork has been very good in training. I’ll look forward to the race, and would like him to show what he did in last year’s Tenno Sho.”

Karate

Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer
“There’s no change in his condition, and due to his age, we can’t expect things to be that different. He’s only won races up to 2,000 meters in distance, so the trip comes into question this time.”

Masanori Tanaka, assistant trainer
“He’s better for his last race, and things have gone well with him since then. He’s been at the stable the whole time. Of course, there are some strong horses in the race this time, but it will be interesting to see what he can do up against them.”

Mirai Iwata, jockey
“He’s been moving well, and I’ve just confirmed things in training. He’s easy to control. It’ll be interesting to see how he does if the ground is a bit soft.”

Pradaria

Manabu Ikezoe, trainer
“He’s improved for his recent work, and he’s become more switched on now the race is not far off. He’s been closing well at the finish in his track work. With the wet weather, I’m thinking about Friday or Saturday for his last piece of work. He’s a big horse, but he moves well. Compared to last autumn, this year he’s shown he’s in better shape after his good runs in the Kyoto Kinen and the Osaka Hai. He has won a graded race over 2,200 meters at Kyoto, and the downhill part of the track seems to suit him. With not so many runners in the race this time, it should make for an easier race for him, and any cut in the ground wouldn’t be a worry.”

Rouge Eveil

Yoichi Kuroiwa, trainer
“Returning from the farm, there’s been a good feeling about her. We’ve taken care with her, and she’s improving more with her training before this race. Her workload has certainly been good, and she hasn’t lost any weight, like she did before her last race. We’ve made sure there’s no tiredness with her. She should be able to save her legs for a late run, even over the distance of this next race. The heat doesn’t seem to bother her so much, and I think she’ll be fine even if the ground comes up soft.”

Rousham Park

Hiroyasu Tanaka, trainer
“He’s run with a good rhythm in training, even if he’s looked a bit rough when taking the bit. The jockey (Keita Tosaki) feels that the horse is moving well enough. Even against the strong opposition here, he has the ability to do well, and I want him to get a Grade 1 title. The wider course should help him more as a big-striding horse. I have no worries about him, and I think he can still run well even if it’s wet.”

Hiroyuki Yamazaki, assistant trainer
“The jockey (Keita Tosaki) felt the horse was just straining a bit in his work, so we’ve had to consider this. Nevertheless, he’s been moving well and his appetite is good. He’s quite mature now, and his condition is about the same as it was for the Osaka Hai. He ran well last time, but just lost a bit of momentum from the fourth corner and on the run down the home straight, which was a pity. There’s no doubting his strength, though. He’s in good enough condition again to run a big race.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey
“He’s in good shape, and has been moving well. There’s no problem when it comes to controlling him.”

Sol Oriens

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“They kept him ticking over while he was at the farm, and since then he’s been working well uphill. We haven’t worried about times so much, but just getting him to take the bit and run smoothly have been the main points, as well as being careful not to overwork him. There’s no real change with him, and he’s handled everything well in training. We think about different things to get the best out of him, but it’s possible to think too much about it, and we just need to get him to the race in the best possible condition. I think the outer course at Kyoto will suit him, together with the distance of 2,200 meters, and I hope he’ll find a good rhythm in the race and be able to show his good turn of foot at the finish.”

Takeshi Yokoyama, jockey
“I think the outer course will be good for him. He won the Satsuki Sho when the ground was a bit cut up, so it doesn’t matter so much about the going. He’s a horse with Grade 1 ability, so I want to do my best with him against the strong opposition here.”

Struve

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“He’s quite relaxed, and has done some good fast work in training, without catching the eye too much, but that’s usual for him. He recently weighed 479kg after training. This last week, we’ve concentrated on his rhythm and have been careful not to overwork him. With his good results in races, this would seem to be the next step for him to try. He hasn’t had to transport so far for most of his races, but this should be better than Hanshin. It’ll be the first time for him to meet such strong opponents, and they are stronger than the ones in his last two races, so the main point will be how he measures up against them.”

Damian Lane, jockey
“It feels like he’s in good shape. He’s moving well with a good action, so it was a good piece of work from him. He’s an honest horse and is quite straightforward.”

Takashi Saito, trainer
“He had to miss the Nikkei Shinshun Hai earlier in the year with an injury, but since his latest race, everything’s been fine, and there’s no change with him. We’ve made sure there’s no tiredness about him, working him quickly just at the finish of his work. The outer course of the race over 2,200 meters looks good for him. The opposition’s strong, but I feel that he’s in good enough condition to show his ability and run a good race if things go smoothly for him.”