Anduril

Taku Fukunaga, assistant trainer
“He’d only raced over 1,600 meters before the Ivy Stakes, so with winning the race he got experience over 1,800 meters and also cleared the trip east. It was a strong win and he displayed his ability. He returned to Ritto on Nov. 28 and worked over the woodchip flat course last week with an older horse. He started behind that horse, caught and passed him and clocked 82 seconds over six furlongs. I don’t see any problems with his movement. He’s 460kg now and I expect his weight to be about the same as for his last race. It’s a furlong longer this time and how well he can settle will be key.”

Ask Edinburgh

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“Last week, he was moving really well in work. Earlier, he would grab hold of the bit and hang to the right, or should I say he was just unbalanced. That, however, has been fixed and there was no problem around the bend. In his work a week before his previous race, he clocked 10.9 seconds over the last furlong. This time he clocked 11 seconds flat, but it’s not just about the numbers. His movement has improved significantly. It’s apparent he has a lot of potential.”

Aurum Ares

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“In his most recent race, the Kigiku Sho, he broke well and he gained ground over the final furlong. It was a good solid race. He’ll have absolutely no problem with 2,000 meters and I think he’ll be fine with the upward slope at the end. In fast work on Dec. 17, he moved extremely well. He worked behind two others, split the ranks and beat them to the end by 3-4 lengths. The jockey said he was very easy to ride. He has only one win but, as far as aptitude goes, I think he totally measures up to the competition. He’s in excellent condition and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Badrinath

Mikio Matsunaga, trainer
“Fortunately, it was a small field in the Hagi Stakes, but he ran a good race too. He did hang to the left like he had in his earlier races, but he’s learning with each race. He returned to the training center on Nov. 28. Everything has gone well since and Ryusei Sakai rode him on Dec. 17. The horse was tense from the time he got on the track and he had the bit in his teeth the whole time.  Considering that, he put in a good effort over the last furlong. I don’t know how he’ll do since it’s his first time at Nakayama, but he’s usually not tense in a race. He has a good temperament so even if the trip is a bit difficult, it shouldn’t bother him. He has been settling well and I’m looking forward to seeing how well he’ll do.”

Yuki Uehara, trainer
“His most recent start was unique in that the field was very small and he, in no way, lost due to a lack of ability. I also thought the race hadn’t taken much out of him, so I decided to race him here as well. On Dec. 17, he worked up the hill course at Miho, with emphasis on his balance and his responses at the end. He clocked 11.1 seconds over the final furlong and, considering the condition of the track, I think that was an extremely good time. He was also in good spirits. Looking at his debut at Nakayama, I think he’s suited to the track. He’s still maturing but I think he has a chance.”

Makoto Saito, trainer
“I had him take on the Sapporo Nisai Stakes as a challenge, thinking that the grass particular to that track, even if rather torn up, would be to his liking. It was his fourth start and he showed a lot of potential (finished second by a neck). He returned from the farm on Dec. 5 and, since he’d gotten training at the farm, he was in good shape. The jockey Arata Saito rode him at length on Dec. 18 and his time was good. I have the impression that he’s more filled out now, but still supple and he seems to be fresh and feeling good. He took the lead last time out but it’s not a must. It’ll be the jockey’s second ride with him and I’m hoping he’ll be able to bring out his ability to race well over distance.”

Justin Vista

Sho Tajima, assistant trainer
“In his first start, he moved early on his own.  In his most recent race, the Kyoto Nisai Stakes, things got tight in the fourth corner and my heart skipped a beat,. but after the jockey moved him out in the homestraight, he showed far stronger determination than I had expected. For him to win in two quite different races has given him experience sure to stand him well in the future. Even with the layout of the course, I do think he’ll be able to bring out his best. He tends to be rather unruly, but I don’t think he’ll cause any problems during the long trip to the track.”

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He won his debut racing wire to wire over a heavy track and showed off his strength nicely. He worked on the flat course at Ritto on Dec. 17, starting behind a training partner. He didn’t quite catch him, but he ran well in the final stage. He moved well before his debut and  has always done well in morning work. He’s leaner now with the one race under his belt and I expect to see improvement. He’s switched on as well and I think he’s going to do a good job here. He doesn’t have to lead, but he will be near the front. I think Nakayama will suit him.”

Mikio Matsunaga, trainer
“In his last start, he got clear of a tight spot in the final stage and overall he skillfully executed the race. Between races, we’ve given him schooling for his one problem area, the gate. He has already traveled twice from Ritto to the Kanto area, and I think the more relaxed 2,000-meter trip should be good for him too. Though the competition takes a sudden leap up, he did just win a race, so I’m interested in seeing just how well he can do.

Mitsunori Makiura, trainer
“In his recent race, he was still physically immature. You could see this with him coming  into the straight on the wrong lead, and yet, he won. On Dec. 17, he worked over the Ritto flat course together with another horse. We had him wait behind the other horse before letting him catch and overtook him. He’s still immature, but I’m looking forward to seeing how well he can do at his present level of development.”

Noche Cerrada

Yoshiaki Sugiyama, trainer
“He was in good condition and it was great that he was able to race in the Kigiku Sho. I had told the jockey (Cristian Demuro) I just wanted to have the colt get a good experience, but as it turned out he gave him a good run over the best parts of the track and he was able to run well at length and finish in first place. He said there’s still a lot of room for improvement, but it was a strong win nonetheless. This time the field will be big and a different level than what he’s experienced until now. I’d like to see him to gain experience with each race he takes on.”

Hideaki Asari, trainer
“There are times when he has no desire whatsoever to race, but if you can get him to the gate in a good manner, then he can run like he did in his most recent win. I tried him in blinkers, but he didn’t race to his fullest ability wearing them. After his two races over the span of only one week, he muscle tone actually improved and he seemed to be in a better mental state as well. With how he’s looking now, I think he can perform at the top level. The distance should suit him as well.”

Makoto Saito, trainer
“Last out on Nov. 15, he raced from the same midfield position he had in his debut (finished in third place), but he broke through the ranks in the final stage and won. He has recovered from any damage he incurred in that race. On Dec. 18, Mirai Iwata rode him over the Miho woodchip course, with him starting behind a training partner, catching and passing that horse. This week, I had an assistant trainer just breeze him up the hill course. I don’t anticipate any problems with the change to Nakayama this time. He has potential and I’m looking forward to seeing how well he’ll do.”

Shonan Gulf

Kohei Kitamura, assistant trainer
“Last week on Dec. 17, he worked over six furlongs and his time over the last three furlongs was 36.6 seconds. His movement was good enough and he’s done all the work given him. This week, we had planned to just breeze him, but instead, had jockey Kenichi Ikezoe get after him once up the Ritto hill course (clocked 54.9 seconds over four furlongs). He should be ready with that work. The most important thing is that everything has gone well up to now. It will be his first time to travel east and his first time at Nakayama. He has both speed and power and I’m hoping he’ll put in a good race that will stand him well in the future.”

Yutaka Okumura, trainer
“He won a maiden race on Dec. 14 and it was his second race over the longerdistance of 1,800 meters.  He took away a lot from this race because he learned to accelerate once again after settling into position. Even though the jockey moved him out a bit early and the horse did lose some concentration, he still was able to win with ease. He came out of the race well. This time it’s a furlong longer and he has the hill in the straight to deal with. He’ll certainly have a lot to do, but I don’t think there’s any big difference between his ability and the ability of the others.”

Minoru Oguri, trainer
“He raced from toward the rear in his most recent start (finished sixth of 11 runners 0.6 seconds behind the winner). I did get the impression that the Kyoto 2,000 meters just didn’t suit him. Last week, I had the jockey Atsuya Nishimura get a reading on him and he said he felt good. His responses are better and his last race has sharpened him up. His balance is much improved as well. It’s a G1 and the lineup is strong. Depending on the draw, I’d like to try a different racing style this time. Of course, I’m eager to see how well he can do here.”