Boldog Hos

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer
“Things have been as usual with him after returning to the stable, and we’ve had plenty of time. He’s been working well, doing things his way and showing progress. His breathing is good, and he’s run well right up to the finish of his work. The jockey (Kohei Matsuyama) is also pleased with him. There’s been no change with the horse after we’ve worked him. I want him to try his best this year.”

Croix du Nord

Takashi Saito, trainer
“We didn’t want to overdo things with him, so we passed on last year’s Arima Kinen. There’s a good feeling about him since he returned to the stable. He was a little heavy then, but has gradually got into a better shape. He’s been moving well enough, and we’ll just arrange things accordingly in the final week with him. It’ll be his first time at Hanshin, but I don’t worry about him running at different tracks. I think he should show his best in this race. I want to see him win another Grade 1.”

Yuichi Kitamura, jockey
“He’s always been in good shape, and he always gives everything he has. His balance is good, and I’ve been able to learn things about him as I continue to ride him. I want him to show his best here.”

Danon Decile

Shogo Yasuda, trainer
“It hasn’t been a disadvantage not going to Dubai, as this race comes at about the same time. His balance is good, and there’s no problem getting him up to speed, so he’s moving well. He’s more relaxed too. It’s easier to prepare him now that it’s not winter. He’s in very good condition. He tried a little too hard in the Japan Cup, compared to the Arima Kinen, when he was calm in the paddock and ran a better race. There are still minor adjustments to be made, and we’ll be thinking things over and monitoring the situation just before the race.”

Ryusei Sakai, jockey
“He’s a Derby winner and a winner in Dubai too. He’s just as I imagined him to be, with plenty of stamina and a strong heart. I’ll look forward to the race and want to get the best out of him.”

David Barows

Hiroyuki Uemura, trainer
“After he won the Osaka Jo Stakes last year, he didn’t run so well from then on because of the hot weather, but in his last race, he put in a strong run. He had a break at the farm after that, with this race in mind for him next. The last couple of weeks, jockey Mirai Iwata has made sure the horse’s workload has been sufficient, and his condition is good. As a 7-year-old, he’s a mature horse. He runs well at Hanshin, and he has won over 2,000 to 2,200 meters, so the flow of the race shouldn’t be a problem. The opposition will be strong this time, but it’ll be interesting to see what he can do.”

Mirai Iwata, jockey
“He’s moved well in training and posted some good times. The distance of the race is a slight worry, with 1,800 meters at Hanshin probably his best trip, but he has won taking in four corners in a race.”

Ecoro Dinos

Ryuji Okubo, trainer
“He’s spent a short time at the farm, and his work since returning has been fine. We’re careful with him. He’s been working well and not stopping at all. I thought his prize money level would be borderline for the Osaka Hai and considered the Osaka Hamburg Cup as an option for him, but due to fewer nominations, we’re back on for the Osaka Hai. Jockey Kenichi Ikezoe has been riding the horse well and getting good results, but with the stronger opposition this time, I wonder just what the horse will be capable of doing.”

Ecoro Walz

Mitsunori Makiura, trainer
“We’ve had him work patiently on the woodchip course, and he’s in the condition that I expect him to be in. He’s finished off his work well, and he’s better for having had a race. He was fourth in the race last year, unable to quite finish off at the end, and it was a pity he wasn’t a little more forward in that race. He doesn’t pull so much now, so I think any kind of race is alright for him. He hasn’t been able to win recently, but he hasn’t been far off the winners in those races. Among this strong field, I want him to do his best.”

Faust Rasen

Kohei Kitamura, assistant trainer
“Things have been fine with him at the stable. We’ve had the jockey (Yasunari Iwata) ride him in training to get a feel for him. The horse has been taking the bit and striding out well, and his footwork is light. He’s had some tough races of late, but over the 2,000 meters at Hanshin, I hope he can get a good start like last time and find a good rhythm. I’ll look forward to what he might be able to do.”

Lebensstil

Hiroyasu Tanaka, trainer
“He’s quite relaxed as this is his second time at Ritto. His results have been a little inconsistent, but we’ve been thinking about how to get the best out of him, as he is a horse with ability, and he’s been achieving the tasks we’ve given him one by one. I’ve been pleased with his final preparation.”

Hiroyuki Yamazaki, assistant trainer
“He hasn’t had results in races in the Kansai region. Last summer, he stayed at Ritto before the race, but due to the hot weather, his muscles were not so strong. As he’s been at Ritto before, on his arrival this time, he’s been a lot more relaxed. If things stay like this, we’re able to look forward to this next race with a bit more confidence.”

Matenro Leo

Mitsugu Kon, trainer
“There’s been no problem with him while he’s been at the stable, and he’s in good condition. Jockey Yoshihiro Furukawa has been riding him out and reports that he’s an easy horse to ride, even though he can be a little difficult. His times have been good. This next race is probably one of the best course and distance races for him, regarding how the flow of the race should go. The other horses in the race will be strong, but if he draws a good gate, it’ll be interesting to see what he might be able to achieve.”

Meisho Tabaru

Mamoru Ishibashi, trainer
“We’ve had this race in mind for him since the beginning of the year. He was nice and relaxed two weeks ago, and more recently he’s become a lot sharper under rider Keisuke Dazai. The horse is using his neck better. He was probably in better shape for the Takarazuka Kinen than he was for his run in the Arima Kinen, when he didn’t run so smoothly. He’s moving better now than he did for his last race, and we’re taking care with him. He’s three wins from three runs at Hanshin, and we’ll rely on Yutaka Take to get the best out of him this time too.”

Seiun Hades

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“His training partner has been pretty quick, and it’s meant he’s had last two-furlong times in the 11 seconds range, so he’s been moving well, despite the heavy training track. There’s no damage from his last race, and he’s better for having had a run. I’d like him to get a run on the outside in this next race and get a good finish in, as I do think he has potential to do well in a Grade 1, and that’s what I want him to produce.”

Hideaki Miyuki, jockey
“He’s been working well, and there are no problems with him. He’s in good condition, and is an easy horse to ride.”

Shohei

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“His workload in training has been good, and his times haven’t been bad at all, while he’s been running with a good rhythm. Jockey Yuga Kawada has been riding him, and reports that the horse’s balance is better than it was for the American Jockey Club Cup. The inner course over 2,000 meters should suit him well. He’s a horse that just needs to run patiently before unleashing his run. Some cut in the ground would be fine, and I think he has a good enough chance in this strong field.”

Takeshi Horiuchi, trainer
“He’s kept his condition, and he’s close to how he was for his last race, when he ran well. Anywhere between a mile and 2,000 meters is alright for him. He should get into the race with his prize money level. After his work last week, in this final week, we’ve just checked things over with him.”

Tagano Dude

Toru Miya, trainer
“He’s been fine since returning to the stable on March 18. He’s been moving well and working over a distance with some speed in training. There’s no change in his condition. Despite the strong opponents in the race this time, he always uses his legs well and tries hard, so I’m sure he’ll do his best here. He hasn’t had results at Hanshin over 2,000 meters, but I don’t think that’s a problem. I don’t want things to be too fast, and while soft ground shouldn’t be a problem, he’s the type where good ground would be better.”

Yoho Lake

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“Things have been fine with him. Jockey Atsuya Nishimura has been riding him up against two other training partners on the woodchip course. He’s never been one to really catch the eye in training, and now he’s an 8-year-old, that doesn’t change, but he does things in his own way accordingly. In last year’s race, he was well back, but ran on well at the end to finish third, so he ran a good race. There’s no problem with the Hanshin track for him, and 2,000 meters is his best distance. Ideally there will be some cut in the ground which would help him, and I want him to run a good race this year as well.”