Alohi Alii

Hiroyasu Tanaka, trainer
“He finished third in his last race, but there are still things he needs to improve on, including his balance. He’s worked solo, as he tends to want to fight. Despite these things, he’s certainly a horse with ability and potential, and a good result here will hopefully lead him into the Derby.”

Hiroyuki Yamazaki, assistant trainer
“He’s been at the stable, and he’s recovered well from his last race, with no tiredness about him. We can look to this next race without any problems. He’s a little difficult when it comes to having a race plan for him, but he ran well enough last time in the Yayoi Sho. We’re still learning things about him, and he’s only won the one race, but hopefully he’ll run well this time too.”

Croix du Nord

Takashi Saito, trainer
“He looks good, and has improved every time with his work since returning from the farm. He’s switched on, and knows exactly when to take the bit. With the warmer weather, he looks better in his coat, and his overall condition is good. I think he’ll look bigger and stronger when we see him on the day of the race. I want him not only to be a good horse for the stable, but also for Japanese horseracing.”

Yuichi Kitamura, jockey
“He’s a horse with real ability, and we saw what he could do in the Hopeful Stakes. He’s been moving really well in training, and he’ll take some beating if he brings his best to this next race. It’ll mean a lot to me in my career to win again with him.”

Dragon Boost

Kenta Fujino, trainer
“His workload’s been good. He seems more mature now, and if everything continues to go smoothly with him, his condition should be fine going into the race. He’s not tired at all. It was good that he handled his last race well over the same course and distance as this next one. I think he can run well, no matter how a race is run. He’s a horse that will develop more from now, but I’m looking forward to what he can do at the level he’s currently at.”

Eri King

Mitsumasa Nakauchida, trainer
“He trained well two weeks ago, and he moved as well as I had hoped. He’ll have to transport over to the track this week, so we want to keep him relaxed. This last week, he’s also worked well uphill, and he shows no sign of tiredness after his layoff. As a challenger here, we’ll just have to see what he can do.”

Taku Fukunaga, assistant trainer
“He recently weighed 508kg, and he doesn’t look to be too big. He’s improved each time we’ve worked him, and he’s been moving well, but it just takes him a little time to hit top speed. With his time off, it means that he hasn’t had races with a lot of runners in them. It remains to be seen how he’ll handle the difficult Nakayama course, and if he’ll get to run smoothly, but hopefully the jockey will do his best on these points.”

Faust Rasen

Shunei Kikumoto, assistant trainer
“He’s worked well on the woodchip course with the jockey (Makoto Sugihara), and he’s in about the same condition he was in for his last race. I’m not sure how the horse might do if the race is run at a fast pace, but I think with it being the last week of racing at the track, the going should be just right. The strong horse in the race will be marked by the others. Our horse’s footwork is good, though, so I think he has a chance. His heart and lungs are strong, and he can be controlled well. It’ll be his third start at the track, and I’m looking forward to his run against his opponents here.”

Makoto Sugihara, jockey
“He’s been as expected in training, and has posted some good times. If the ground isn’t so firm at Nakayama, it will suit him, with the way he picks up.”

Fukuno Blue Lake

Masahiro Takeuchi, trainer
“There was no damage after his last race in the Spring Stakes, and he’s been running smoothly in his recent work. There’s nothing to worry about with him. I feel that he’s improving, so even among the strong opponents here, I think he can run well with the condition he’s in.”

Hiroyuki Uemura, trainer
“He’s been moving well after returning from the farm, and last week he had a good workout. He might not have done enough compared to his training before the Sumire Stakes. He’s still a bit loose, and there’s still improvement in him. In his final piece of work this week, he’s been about the same as he was for his last race. It’s a full field this time, but I’m interested to see how he does, racing among a lot of good horses here, and I want him to get experience in a Grade 1 race and show his potential. I don’t think he necessarily has to lead.”

Giovanni

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He seems to have improved since the Wakaba Stakes. His workload’s been good, and he’s chased down his two training partners well, moving with a good rhythm, which looks to be just right. He’s relaxed when he runs, and he seems to be improving for his training, so I’m satisfied with the way things have gone. I want to see him run a big race this time.”

Kalamatianos

Takeshi Okumura, trainer
“Before his last race, he wasn’t running so smoothly in training, but now he seems to be running straight, with a lot more momentum. This last week, he’s worked right-handed on the inside and close to the running rail, running smoothly and getting better overall. The jockey also thinks the horse feels different now. Despite looking a bit delicate, when he moves that’s not the case, and he has some real power. He might not be one of the fancied runners, but I still think he can run well.”

King Squall

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer
“Since last week, he’s improved with his training, and there’s no doubt that his condition is better now.”

Yusaku Oka, assistant trainer
“He’s in good shape with the training he’s had. I think he can handle the extra distance of the race this time. He ran at Nakayama in the wet last time, but it probably won’t be so soft this time, so he should run better on firmer ground. His condition should be good going into the race.”

Magic Sands

Naosuke Sugai, trainer
“They took good care of him at the farm, and since returning to the stable, he’s been moving well enough in training. He’s trained without having other horses around him to avoid any stress, but he seems better for his break. If he gets into the flow of the race and finds a good rhythm, I think he can run better than he did last time. He’s learning from every race he has, and this is just the next step for him.”

Masquerade Ball

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“His workload’s been good, and everything’s been as expected with him. He didn’t get a result in the Hopeful Stakes, possibly because of the tight oval track, rather than him having to run right-handed. His condition is also better than it was then. One of the keys will be him returning to race at Nakayama, as well as him taking a little time to get his engine going. I hope he’ll get a smooth run down the outside at the finish, after getting a good position up to the fourth corner. The plan is for the Derby if all goes well here.”

Museum Mile

Daisuke Takayanagi, trainer
“His times in training have been as I would have thought, and we’ve taken into consideration that he has to transport over to the track. He’s better for his last race, and seems to be improving, with the jockey (Joao Moreira) also reporting him to be in good condition.”

Yuichi Tomomichi, assistant trainer
“He’s picked up well in training on the woodchip course, and he’s in good condition. It’s good that he’s had experience running at Nakayama. He’s easy to control, and if the going’s good, he can run better. Hopefully he’ll get into the flow of the race, which is another important point, so if things go his way, he should run well.”

Nishino Agent

Naoto Chiba, trainer
“He’s very well in himself. He can get a little tense, but he’s been getting better as the race approaches, and the jockey (Akihide Tsumura) has been riding him in his work and says he feels good. His times have been quick this past week. The horse’s sire (Isla Bonita) won the Satsuki Sho, and Nishino Agent has already won a graded race over 2,000 meters at Nakayama, so I think he’s capable of getting a good result, taking these things into account.”

Akihide Tsumura, jockey
“He feels better than he was for the Keisei Hai, and he’s done some strong work. His balance also feels very good.”

Piko Chan Black

Yuki Uehara, trainer
“He’s better than he was before his last race, when it comes to running with a good rhythm and reacting well when asked for an effort. He seems calmer now, and it’s important to have him mentally in the right place. He doesn’t seem to be under any stress now. I think if he shows his true ability, there’s not much difference between him and the other horses, and he can do well in this next race, so I’m hoping for the best.”

Satono Shining

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“I’ve always considered him a horse with ability. He’s come along as expected, and he’s been able to save things for a good finish in his training, while being patient and relaxed in the early part of his work. I haven’t wanted to overdo things with him. It was his first time racing on a right-handed track last time, but he ran well, and overcame any difficulty I thought he might have. He should be fine this time with the tight corners at Nakayama, and I hope everything goes well with his preparation right up to the race.”

Tjuta

Koji Kubo, assistant trainer
“He’s kept his condition well, and there’s no tiredness about him. He’s quite an easy horse to control. I don’t think his tenth-place finish last time was so bad, and Ryusei Sakai will be back aboard this time.”

Yusaku Oka, assistant trainer
“I’d like to see him eating a bit more as a male horse, but he lacks a little with his appetite. Apart from this, things have been fine with him and he’s moved well in training. I don’t worry about heavy ground in the race, and as a horse that’s easy to ride, he can adjust to how a race is run. He’s had a couple of runs at Nakayama, and we just need him to produce a bit more there.”

Vincentio

Kazutomo Mori, trainer
“He’s handled his training as expected. When he returned to the stable, he lost his appetite a bit, and it did seem to make him a little slower when getting to the front, compared to his best times in training, so this will be something to think about as the race approaches. This last week, he’s moved better with his race jockey (Christophe Lemaire), and the horse seems fresher now and in good condition, looking sharp.”

Christophe Lemaire, jockey
“He seems very well, and is running with a lot of energy. He has become bigger and is more muscular. He won’t be the favorite, but I think he has a chance.”