Hagino Alegrias

Hirofumi Shii, trainer
“He’s full of himself now the weather’s not hot, and has been working well in training. He’s nice and fresh, and I’m not worried about his legs, despite his age. He had to carry 59.5 kg in the Sirius Stakes, and he ran well in last year’s Champions Cup, so the course suits him. It’s a strong field this time, but he likes racing to the left, and I hope he’ll do his best to give himself a chance here.”

Helios

Koki Chiba, trainer
“He’s been training with a lot of power, with this race in mind, and I think he’s in very good condition. It’s the best he’s been since coming to the stable in spring. Despite his age, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do in the race.”

Luxor Cafe

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“His breathing and reactions have been good, and one of his strong points is handling the transportation to the tracks well. He seems better than his older brother in many ways, especially ability-wise. We’ve checked over his condition, and with his work on the uphill training track, we have decided to go for this race. He should be able to perform to his best with the ability he has and the condition he’s in, so I wonder how he’ll do amongst this field of horses.”

Meisho Hario

Inao Okada, trainer
“He ran well last time, having been off for a while, and he’s better now than he was for that last race. The jockey also feels that the horse is going well and can race accordingly. He really comes on for a run. With all his experience and ability, I want him to do his best before he retires.”

Atsushi Obayashi, assistant trainer
“He improves a lot for a race. His breathing’s good, and there’s no mistaking he’s in better shape than he was before his last race. The horse understands about the timing of his races. His target’s been a JRA Grade 1 race, so I want to see him do his best.”

Narukami

Hiroyasu Tanaka, trainer
“He’s quite strong willed, but has been calm at the training center. It’s important to get him to run smoothly and with a good rhythm, even when he goes off in front. He has gained more ability since this autumn and has matured more. There’s still more to come from him, even though he has lost at the track before.”

Hiroyuki Yamazaki, assistant trainer
“We’ve just practiced to get him run like a dirt horse with speed and energy, but at the same time keeping him calm. It’ll be his first time up against older horses in a Grade 1, and that will be one of the keys, but I think he’s capable with the power and energy he has. He’s in good condition. There are only two JRA Grade 1 races on dirt, so I want him to show his best here.”

Outrange

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“He’s trained over a distance on the woodchip course and has done well in his work. He only finished seventh in his last race, the Miyako Stakes, but his time was as expected and his condition was good. Two starts ago in the Teio Sho, there wasn’t much in it between him and the winner, Mikki Fight. It’s better if he just has a little time to pick up in his run.”

Peptide Nile

Hidenori Take, trainer
“I don’t think it was a true showing last time in the Musashino Stakes of what he’s capable of. It was a muddling pace too, which didn’t help. He’s remained in good shape since then and still seems like a young horse. He’s quite relaxed too. I don’t think it’s a problem that there hasn’t been much time between races. It’s best if he finds a good rhythm and uses his strength at the end of a race, which he was unable to do last time.”

Perriere

Yoichi Kuroiwa, trainer
“He trained over a distance quite recently, and as he’s had a recent race, we haven’t overdone things with him. He seems bigger, but not loose at all. He came out of his last race well, and his balance seems a lot better now. He had a good summer, and I think he can race at the top level. This next race is also over 1,800 meters, but there are a couple of rises in the homestretch, so it makes for a tough race, and I wonder how he’ll do. Hopefully he’ll get a smooth run and do well.”

Ramjet

Shozo Sasaki, trainer
“There’s a good feeling about him, and he seems better than he was for his last race, and has kept his condition. He has a nice stride, but it takes him a bit of time to pick up if the ground is dry. Racing on the outside at Chukyo can be tough, but he is able to handle this if he keeps going, which he can do. I want him to keep his momentum up in the race. We understand why his results haven’t been so good this year, but if the race is run to suit him, he has a chance and can do better.”

Seraphic Call

Ryo Terashima, trainer
“Looking at the way he’s moving, he really wants to get on and do things. He’s freshened up, and has worked well right up to the end of his training. This will be his third time in the Champions Cup, and the last twice he’s had to race wide and was disadvantaged by that. I hope he’ll be able to take the shortest way round this time, and I really want him to show that he can do better.”

Sixpence

Sakae Kunieda, trainer
“Things have been as expected with him in the time between races, and there are no problems regarding his hooves. He’s trained well on the uphill and his breathing has been good. Even though he’s been racing on turf, I’m not worried about this race over 1,800 meters on dirt. The JRA tracks are easier for him to race on. To be honest, it’ll be tough against these opponents, but I’m looking forward to what he might be able to do in this race.”

Sunrise Zipangu

Kyoko Maekawa, trainer
“When he first came to the stable, I thought he was a big horse with a stride to match. He’s been moving well, and I think he’ll improve more as the race approaches. There have been no problems with his preparation. The opponents in the race itself will be strong, but I hope he’ll do his best and show some of his power in the race, matching the condition he’s in.”

Kenichi Ikezoe, jockey
“He’s been running at a good pace in training. I hope he’ll concentrate well throughout the whole race.”

Tenka Jo

Inao Okada, trainer
“Her reactions have been good in training, and she’s been moving well. The jockey is also pleased with her.”

Atsushi Obayashi, assistant trainer
“She’s had a break at the farm, and on her return to the stable, there’s no change in her condition. The jockey thinks she’s matured a lot more, and there’s a good feeling about her. It’s been a while since she ran in a JRA race, and she’ll be taking on male horses as well, so these are a couple of things to consider. However, she’s a good strong horse. She sometimes doesn’t start so well, so I hope she’ll break well from the gates.”

W Heart Bond

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“She’s more developed now, and her legs are a lot better. I think she remains in good shape, and there’s no downside to what she’s been doing. She’s won three times at Chukyo, showing she has a liking for the track. Obviously, it’s a strong line-up in the race, but with the condition she’s in, I hope she can put in a good challenge, and I look forward to how she gets on among the strong horses in the race.”

Ryusei Sakai, jockey
“She ran a smooth race in the Miyako Stakes last time, and the going and draw were good for us. She’s a strong horse and wants to run, and I don’t have anything to worry about with her. It’s a bit difficult to run on the outside from the rear at Chukyo, so that’s something to consider, but I’ll think more when the draw comes out. She has a good enough chance and I want to get the best out of her.”

William Barows

Hiroyuki Uemura, trainer
“He seems to be in good condition, and his workload has been fine, with what we’ve given him in training. In this Grade 1, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do. The pace will be important, and how he handles things accordingly to run his own race. Racing well forward, even in second or third spot would be good to avoid the kickback.”

Wilson Tesoro

Noboru Takagi, trainer
“The deep dirt track at Funabashi probably wasn’t to his liking last time. We’ve since had him training on the woodchip course, and he should be just right going into this next race. His condition’s good, and he has been moving well in a relaxed manner. Things have been as usual with him. He’s finished second to Lemon Pop two years in a row in the Champions Cup, but that was before he came to my stable, although he does seem well suited to the Chukyo dirt track and runs well there. I hope he can do well again.”