MUGEN (AUS)

- jogged 3/4 lap, cantered 3/4 lap, jogged 1/4 lap and walked 1/4 lap right-handed on dirt course
(exercised from 7:32 AM to 7:47 AM, ridden by Ho Fai Leung)

“Mugen settled in well arriving in Japan. At the quarantine center, he was very relaxed going into his exercises and jumped well at the gate test on Friday. Today was his first day at the Nakayama course and he cantered on the dirt track. He was concentrated and calm. After that we schooled him around the paddock where he looked very calm and good.

Last season he did well in his first group-one race and then won a race in June. Racing against strong horses helped him improve a lot. In June, the trainer was already planning to bring him here for the Sprinters Stakes and we hope our horse can learn from the good Japanese horses and perform well. Mugen is a gentle horse but again has a really good heart for fighting, he has a strong finish in every race you can see.

The Japanese horses are top level and we can see that by many of them winning overseas. In the Sprinters Stakes, we will be looking out for Victor The Winner, Mad Cool, Satono Reve and Mama Cocha. The Nakayama track is close to the Hong Kong tracks but the only difference is the uphill in the last 300 meters.”

(comments taken from Ho Fai Leung)

VICTOR THE WINNER (AUS)

- jogged 1/2 lap, cantered and galloped 1/2 lap right-handed on outer turf course
(exercised from 7:36 AM to 7:47 AM, ridden by Joao Moreira)

“Victor The Winner experienced racing in Japan last season in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and is also a smart horse, so I think he can handle the track here at Nakayama and the uphill stretch as well. I’m aware that the Japanese horses are fast and strong—it will be a tough race. Although there is a difference between Hong Kong and Japanese racing, we will try our best.

He’s not a very big horse, 1,084 lbs., and at the end of the season in June, he was a bit tired so we gave him a good summer break and decided to bring him to Japan instead of racing him in Hong Kong where he would have to carry a high weight.

The team that is looking after the horse now is the same well experienced team that was here for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March and they are doing a great job. I watched Victor The Winner gallop this morning and I think he’s in better condition than when he was here then, so I’m quite happy. It was a good and smooth gallop with Joao in the saddle and the horse looked happy.

The race is going to be fast-paced and tough with five or six Japanese horses that perform really well. Luckily, I have the top-class jockey Joan Moreira who is well experienced in Japan, knows the track well, and with the 310-meter straight, I think he will run a very good race. I will leave it up to him.”

(comments taken from Chap Shing Shum)

“The horse is obviously in very good shape and very healthy. This morning, he went on into the track for a nice and beautiful breeze up and gave me such a nice feel which got me excited to run him in the race.

I think he has a lot of gate speed which will help him place himself well going into the race. He usually performs best when he’s fresh—back from a good break—so that is the key this time. I have every confidence in him, if not, I wouldn’t have come. I intend to gather more information about him from fellow jockeys. Our biggest rivals this time would obviously be the Japanese horses because they have the home advantage but our horse has a very good chance also.

I have won top sprint races all around the world, just not any in Japan, so I think I’m qualified and experienced enough to do well in the coming sprint race. I had always wanted that chance and I’m hoping we can get a good result with Victor The Winner this time as well.”

(comments taken from Joao Moreira)