A Shin Fencer

Keiji Yoshimura, trainer
“In the Carbuncle Stakes two starts ago, she broke sharply, was able to get a good position, and showed keen racing sense. Next out in the Silk Road Stakes, I figured there was no sense in trying to push her toward the front and travel from there, so I discussed it with the jockey and she hit the straight in a good position and was able to pull away and win. She has, without a doubt, gotten stronger and I think she has come into her own. She had some time off at the farm and things have gone smoothly since she returned. She’s a good eater. On March 20, she had a good solid workout over the flat course and this week we did just enough to maintain her condition. It would be good if the track had a bit of spring to it like it did for her last race. The competition is high and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Tomokazu Takano, trainer
“There was 1,200-meter turf race at Kyoto on the same day as his last race, the Negishi Stakes over 1,400 meters at Tokyo (on dirt). However, because the left-handed track was the important factor, I chose the Negishi Stakes. The rider said he felt the horse’s grip on the surface was completely different from grass and that there was a huge difference in his performance on dirt. Taking his result in that race into consideration (a 15th-place finish amid 16 runners), I decided to throw out racing on dirt as an option and decided a turf race to the left over 1,200-1,400 meters was best. So, there was the Takamatsunomiya Kinen if he had sufficient earnings and with that, I put in a stakes nomination via special registration. After bringing him back from the farm, last Wednesday I determined we had enough time to have him ready in time. I think things will go well if he breaks well and can run his own race.”

Big Caesar

Masato Nishizono, trainer
“In the Keihan Hai at the end of November, he was able to get a good position on the inside, settle nicely and keep something in reserve. He pulled away nicely in the end and I think the race was very reflective of his ability. Most of all, it was great to have landed a graded stakes win. This year, I’d planned to have him race in the Silk Road Stakes as a prep for here. He was coming along nicely but when he was assigned the top weight (59.5kg), I thought it was too much for him amid the bitter cold winter months, so I decided to withdraw and send him back to the farm. He returned to the training center about a month ago. He had a good workout up the hill course on March 19 under the jockey (Yuichi Kitamura) and all systems look go. Despite his withdrawal from the Silk Road Stakes, I don’t think the rotation makes things harder. He has gotten good results with more time between races. The competition is strong, but he has has come into his own.”

Drop of Light

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“In order to get her into competitive condition, it was necessary to change her training approach. And I think her movement has improved. However, she still has problems in the gate and that has prevented her from getting better results. Jockey Hideaki Miyuki rode her work on March 20 and said she was easy to ride and that her responses were good. Earlier, we could only train her in the trotting ring and up the hill course, but she has settled down considerably and her condition is easier to maintain. She’s good at Chukyo and I’m hoping for a replay of her performance in the CBC Sho, which means I’m also hoping for an inside gate. I’ll also be giving her gate practice. The ground tends to be torn up for this race, but I think that may actually work in her favor.”

Kangchenjunga

Yasushi Shono, trainer
“Before his run in the Hankyu Hai, he’d had one race after the next where he couldn’t draw on all his ability because he’d been boxed in or couldn’t find a good path, but in the Hankyu Hai I had the jockey take him to the outside and there he held his ground. He has gained weight and is looking more and more like a sprinter. The extra weight of more than 10kg is growth. He had a solid workout on March 19 and clocked 50.4 seconds up the hill course. He moved very well despite the bad ground. As for the going on Sunday, I think it’ll be fine if track has a bit of spring to it. He does have a tendency to be a bit sluggish just out of the gate. Since it’s a G1 over 1,200 meters, it’ll be hard to play catchup and the horses up front aren’t likely to slow down. We’ll just have to see how it’ll go.”

Kitano Express

Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, trainer
“The inside draw helped him win his first open-class race last out in the Kitakyushu Tankyori Stakes. I think it was a stronger race than the winning margin (a neck) would suggest. After a bit of time off he returned to the training center on March 4. Jockey Kyosuke Kokubun rode fast work on March 20 and clocked 52.6 seconds up the hill course. A bit more speed would have been good but it was his second time up the hill so I’d say it was enough. He weighs about 520kg now and has regained the weight he’d lost from his last outing. He’ll lose weight with the trip to the track so I’m expecting him to race at about 510-some kg. The pace should be strong, but I think keeping something in reserve for the finish will be best. He can get a bit hesitant running in amid the pack, so I’d like him to be able to go to the outside in the straight.”

Lugal

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“After returning from Hong Kong, he recovered fully at the farm and faster than expected. Things have gone smoothly since. We gave him a strong run up the hill course last week (50.5 seconds over four furlongs) and he has improved. On March 26, I just wanted to give him an overall check and the jockey (Atsuya Nishimura) had strict instructions to just sit tight. Still, he clocked 52.0 seconds up the hill. I think it was a convincing workout. As for whether he’s suited to a left-handed track, it’s hard to say. He hasn’t had many races to the left compared so I really can’t say. He won to the left over the Chukyo dirt and I didn’t get the impression that he was much worse than when racing to the right. More important than his trip, I think, will be the break. That’s the crucial point.”

Mad Cool

Manabu Ikezoe, trainer
“The Hanshin Cup had me wondering if he’d be able to push on and win. The winner was strong and in the end, this one lost. But, on other hand, it did make me think that 1,400 meters might be better for him. He went to the farm afterward and returned to the training center on Feb.27. We gave him the usual training routine and sometimes I add in some pool work. He had a really good workout last week (78.1 seconds over six furlongs on the woodchip course with the jockey Ryusei Sakai riding). He’s now in almost too-good shape. The rotation is different this year and I think the time between races this year may suit him better. I’ve been able to give him one more workout than I usually would be able to. His condition looks good. He moved really well in the Hanshin Cup, but he’s even better now. He hasn’t lost condition since Hong Kong and there’s no racecourse in Japan he can’t do well on. Also, he’s gotten his best results at Chukyo. Key factors are going to be the draw and the track condition.”

Mama Cocha

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“She had concerns with her hooves last spring, and after the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, I wasn’t able to race her, so we waited for the autumn season. This time, in comparison, she has gotten lots of work. She’s six years old now and has filled out. Her body has more breadth to it and she’s mentally very even-keeled. I think she has matured very well and her ability has improved greatly from her 4-year-old year. She has excellent racing sense. She starts well and even though she can get a little strong in hand, she settles well, and can really pick it up in the final stage. I would prefer ground that’s not too heavy. For last week’s fast work, with not much time to the race, I only wanted to fine-tune her, and though I wouldn’t say her footwork was fantastic, it was apparent her condition was and is good.”

Mozu Meimei

Kyoko Maekawa, trainer
“This will be her first race since changing stables and she stayed at the training center the whole time. Her usual groom made the move with her so she has already gotten used to her new surroundings and she hasn’t gone off her feed at all. I can’t say she’s in excellent condition and I’ve heard that she is usually at her best in the summer months. It does look like she’s starting to improve. She had a good hard workout up the hill on March 19. This week we just breezed her up hill. Her footwork is nice and sharp and I have my hopes up.”

Namura Clair

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“I rode work on March 19 up the hill course. Her condition was good and she was fresh. She has filled out considerably and since that was a week ago, I’m sure her condition has improved since then. I think she’ll be in top condition on Sunday. She was off for about three months so she’s fresh and I think she’ll be able to give her best performance. I am confident we can win. The Chukyo course is a bit tricky. Of course, it will depend on the pace but she has raced at this course a number of times and I think she’s familiar with it. She has experience here and has finished second twice. I’m hoping there will be a strong pace. The draw will be important and the way I ride will be different depending on whether we have an inside gate or an outside one. I am still thinking up my plans. I think this year will be her best chance to win this race.”

Off Trail

Keiji Yoshimura, trainer
“Before his last race, the Ocean Stakes, I talked with the jockey and the plan was to have the horse stalk the pace and be in a position to make the top in time.  He seemed to keep up from the break for about the first furlong, but once into the straight was overtaken. If we want to bring out his sharp turn of foot, we’re going to have to focus on the final stage more. I’d planned after that to give him time off if he showed any kind of fatigue, but he seemed fine and since he has come along well with just short rests. So, I aimed him for the G1. Over longer distances, his ability to settle is going to come more into play, so I think he’s better suited to 1,200-1,400 meters. There are going to be a lot of talented horses and I’m hoping there will be a good pace and he’ll be able to keep up.”

Pair Pollux

Tomoyuki Umeda, trainer
“I always thought he had it in him to do well, and in the Ocean Stakes he proved he could. I was relieved. Seeing how well he did in that race, I’d have to say that the rather heavy ground in the Silk Road Stakes was likely a factor in his poor result (14th of 16). He stayed at the training center after the Ocean Stakes. Jockey Takuma Ogino rode him alone on the woodchip course March 20 and he clocked 11 seconds flat over the final furlong. He was moving well. Of course, the lineup is going to be much stronger this time, but I think as long as he heads into the race in top condition, he has the ability to finish well. I’m hoping he’ll be able to give him a fast track. We’ll just have to see how well he can measure up against all the sprint specialists.”

Satono Reve

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“After returning from Hong Kong, he went to the farm where he recovered totally and, with this race as our target, he returned early but refreshed on Feb. 21. We’ve been able to give him lots of time and lots of work and all has gone according to plan. His lungs are in excellent shape. Jockey Daisuke Sasaki rode work on March 20 (six furlongs in 81.5 seconds over heavy going on the woodchip course) and he looked good. I’d put two horses close ahead of him by only about 3/4 length. I had them all race together over the last furlong, with no urging, just a breeze so he wouldn’t overdo it. If you ask for it, this horse can get a fantastic time, so I was very careful that didn’t happen. He was basically ready after last week’s workout and his weight was 536kg after work on March 20. It’ll be his first time at Chukyo, but I think he’ll give us a good race.”

Suzu Khalom

Kazuya Makita, trainer
“On March 20, working with two other horses on the woodchip course, he traveled on the inside and moved up strongly to pass the others. His footwork was good and his preparation has gone well. On March 26, jockey Daisuke Sasaki rode work up the hill course with a time of 52.9 seconds over the four furlongs. They finished three lengths ahead of his training partner and clocked 11.8 seconds over the final 200 meters. His time in his last race was slow and I think he’ll have definitely improved from the Hankyu Hai (12th place). He has had good results at Chukyo and I think these are the best conditions for him.”

Toshin Macau

Mizuki Takayanagi, trainer
“The competition was very high in the Hong Kong Sprint and he lost it at the break because he wasn’t able to get a good position on the inside where the going was good. Then, with things tight in the straight, he never really was able to give it his best. For the last two years, he’s taken part in this race after having a sharpener, but this year there wasn’t much time between races, so he’s going in straight off a spell. Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama rode work March 19. Usually we have him chase down a horse in front but this time I wanted to focus on the finish so we urged him on strongly in the final stage. He has improved with every piece of fast work. Last week he weighed in at 490kg and he seems a bit big, but he’s in good shape. I must say that even though he won the Centaur Stakes last year, he is better racing to the right, so I hope to have a fast track.”

Travesura

Atsushi Nishioka, assistant trainer
“After the Hankyu Hai, the jockey said they’d dropped back too far and they had missed the timing at a critical point. Still, I don’t think the margin (0.4 seconds behind the winner) was that bad and the result was nothing tragic. Jockey Genki Maruyama rode work up the hill course on March 19. The horse was keen at places and slow over the final furlong, but the jockey got a good reading on what this horse is like. After that workout, I gave the horse a good check in the afternoon and I think he had already changed quite a bit. Last year we couldn’t race here due to his phlegmon, but he has posted 4-4-3 in this race. This year will be his fourth run and I do think Chukyo is his best venue. I’m hoping for a slow track.”

Win Greatest

Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, trainer
“He had the far outside gate in the Sprinters Stakes. In the Hanshin Cup the ground was torn up, which prevented him from giving it his all. But, last out in the Ocean Stakes, the ground was good, he had a good draw, and his assigned weight was less than usual. He’s 8 years old, but he showed us that he could still give us a good race. Jockey Masami Matsuoka rode work before that race and had said, ‘Ideally, I’d like him to have 2 more weeks of work.’ On March 20, he breezed alone on the flat. This time, he will undoubtedly show improvement. If the ground is heavy or the track torn up, he’s not going to be able to show his best, so the surface will be key. If all the factors come together, he has a chance.”