Big Caesar

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“The Ibis Summer Dash was his first race over a straight track, but he seemed to handle it just fine. It wasn’t a poor race either. As far as his prep went, I would have liked to have been able to give him one more fast workout. Now, however, he’s in far better shape than he was for his previous start. The jockey (Mirco Demuro) rode him up the hill course on Aug. 26 and he clocked a solid time. Everything looks to be coming along well. It’s 1,200 meters this time and with the image I have of him, the Hanshin 1,200 meters should suit. He has, after all, won graded races and has a solid record. He is back to his best condition and I think he’ll be able to give us a good race.

Craspedia

Hiroki Kawashima, trainer
“He’d been moving very nicely in trackwork before his last outing, the Grade 3 CBC Sho. However, since there wasn’t much time before that race, we had to train him while at the same time paying close attention to his mental state. Physically, there were no problems. The one problem he did have in the race before was the gate and that went well in the CBC Sho. The race also panned out in such a way that it suited his on-the-pace preference, so I was hoping he’d get his chance somewhere. I really had my hopes up (faded to finish 11th of 18), but I think he did a real good job and was well on his game.”

Diamond Knot

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“He spent the summer at the farm and returned to the training center on Aug. 6. On Aug. 20, he worked on the woodchip flat course and the following week he worked up the hill course. Both were good, hard workouts. His weight hasn’t changed but his movement has improved from the spring and he has matured. Yuga Kawada did a great job in his most recent start, the NHK Mile Cup, but the horse had nothing left for the final furlong. I still think that 1,400 meters is his best trip. With the expected lineup for the Sprinters Stakes, however, I’m eager to race him there. So, I want to see if he can handle that distance. His first two starts were over 1,200 meters, but the older horses may set a fast pace this time and how he handles it will be key. It’s the first week of the meeting, and there are speedy horses in the lineup, first with Puro Magic. So, I think it may be best to race in midfield and go with the flow.

Flicker Jab

Shota Nishizono, trainer
“He had an outside draw in the Kitakyushu Kinen and the mare carrying little weight on went to the fore and the jockey kept an eye on her. It turned out to be an ideal trip. The others were closing in the final stage, but it didn’t look like they’d catch him. It was surely a much stronger race than the winning margin suggests. Flicker Jab had some time off at the farm and returned to the training center with this race as our target. As usual, he worked up the hill course one week before race week (on Aug. 27) and he was moving nicely. Everything has gone well. In his last start, he won despite the shifty ground, but as he has won in record time before, I think it’ll be OK if the times are fast. The ground at the meet begin should be good. I have my expectations up.”

Karpuz Pelus

Tomonori Kanaori, assistant trainer
“She didn’t make the final lineup in the Hakodate Kinen, so plans had to be postponed. She returned to Ritto on Aug. 23. The haul there went smoothly and she felt good in work, with no stiffness. She’s full of energy and if things go smoothly, she should go to the gate in good shape. She was coming off a spell when she took on her most recent start (the June 13 Hakodate Sprint Stakes) and she wasn’t able to pick it up in the final stage. Overall, though, it wasn’t a bad race and I think it’ll lead to improvement this time out. I think she is best when she races in among other horses, so an inside draw would be ideal. I hope things come together well for her.”

Mama Cocha

Hiroshi Kanetake, assistant trainer
“After spending time off in the summer, she returned to the training center on Aug. 12. She still had some excess weight on her, but usually she is even more filled out, so perhaps the hot months had something to do with that. She looks good though. On Aug. 26, she worked over the woodchip flat course. That was her second workout since returning, and at the point she still had a bit to go. But this time, we didn’t see her usual stubbornness and she moved well through to the end. I don’t think that her last two races being over dirt changed anything, but I do think she does best in the summer. As she ages, we’re seeing improvement in how she settles, so I’m very interested in seeing what Yutaka Take will do this time out.”

Mizuki Takayanagi, trainer
“Last week, she worked alone over the woodchip course. Her movement and condition were good. She has gotten good results over a mile but I have always thought she’d be suited to 1,200 meters. It’ll be a graded stakes challenge but I think she is now in her prime. So looking to the present and looking toward the future, I’m hoping it will be a good experience for her.”

Shinya Yamada, assistant trainer
“On Sept. 2, he worked on the flat course under jockey Heart Kameda. The focus was on the final stage and the rider said the horse was fine, moving as usual. This horse holds up very well in the summer months.”

Heart Kameda, jockey
“In the CBC Sho, he finished in fourth place. The idea was to leave something for the final stage. He broke well and he did tense up, but when he got in some tight spaces amid the others, he didn’t back off. The race certainly added to his racing experience and I’m hoping that with this development, we’ll have some good times ahead.”

Puro Magic

Keiichiro Yasuda, assistant trainer
“Compared to summer of 2025, when she returned from Dubai, this time her preparation was much easier. And because of that, she had more than enough for the Hakodate Sprint Stakes and, next out, she easily won the Ibis Summer Dash. She came out of both races well, with no damage and all has gone smoothly since we aimed her here. On Aug. 26 and Aug. 30, she worked up the hill course alone, as she usually does. And this week, we did the same. Her condition has stabilized in a good way. She’s in her prime now, so I think she should be able to get good results in a race with a hill in the straight. I’m looking forward to it.”

Red Mon Reve

Daisuke Tsumagari, assistant trainer
“He had some excess weight on him when he returned to the training center. That excess has gradually come off and as he got leaner his movement improved. He worked under Kei Oehara over the flat course on Aug. 26. His overall time was good and he also moved very well in the final stage. We’ll give him two more workouts before heading west and I think he’ll be even leaner on raceday. He went through a period where he wasn’t concentrating well but we’ve fixed that and, having done so, it surely was a factor in his performance in the Takamatasunomiya Kinen (finished second). He continues to concentrate well now. I think this will also carry over well to the Sprinters Stakes.”

Koichi Tsunoda, trainer
“He moved powerfully in work under an assistant on Sept. 2. He can really do well when he sets his mind to it. Last time out (the CBC Sho), he was returning from time off (finished 16 of 18 racing under No. 11). This time I’m hoping he’ll get a good gate and have a ground-saving trip.”

Tamamo Icarus

Masaoki Nakata, assistant trainer
“He worked together with a training partner on Sept. 2 over the woodchip flat course, started behind him and finished together. It was a good hard workout and the time was faster than planned, but he didn’t overdo it. His condition has been stable. He has won at Hanshin before, so I think the venue suits him.”

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer
“He moved well in work this week. He didn’t make the cut for a gate berth twice. He’s fine, with no problems. It would be good if we had a bit of rain.”

Daisuke Sasaki, jockey
“In his most recent race, the Seikan Stakes (open class, June 27, 1,200 meters, finished fifth) at Hakodate, the horse directly ahead of me held on to a prime position. This horse was in good form though and I would love to see him win somewhere this summer.”

Yabusame

Mamoru Ishibashi, trainer
“He tends to respond slowly at the start, so we had him train this week from the gate. He does better when there’s some rain and the race times are a bit slower. It’s 1,200 meters this time so I’m hoping he can break well.”

Yoshino Easter

Hidemasa Nakao, trainer
“The heavy track in the Kitakyushu Kinen didn’t cause problems for him and he was able to stay on the pace while carrying 58kg, which I think was quite a feat. At this point in time, I think 1,200 meters is better for him than 1,400 meters. He went to the farm for a bit after his last race and when we saw that he was getting a bit too laidback, we brought him back to the training center. On Aug. 26 we gave him some fast work and got after him with several whacks of the whip, which should improve his responses. The Kitakyushu Kinen followed by the Centaur Stakes is the same rotation as last year. Given his workout, I think he’ll be on his toes this week. I’m hoping this race will tie in well with the main event and my expectations are high.”