Ask Edinburgh

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“He’s had a two-week spell at the farm. Since returning, we’ve relied on the jockey with the horse’s work, and these past couple of weeks, the light training we’ve given the horse has been good, with him doing things satisfactorily. His movement’s been good. The extended distance of the race this time should be fine, and the jockey (Yasunari Iwata) thinks so too. I think the horse can find a good rhythm in the race.”

Yasunari Iwata, jockey
“He looks to be in great shape, and is running well, so I feel good about him.”

Audacia

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“We sent him to the farm, and since his last race, we’ve just had him let off a bit of steam, but he seems better for this. He’s moved well enough in his recent training. He’s had good results racing right-handed, and I think the Kyoto course suits him. If he gets into the flow of things in the first half of the race, he should be able to put his big stride to good use, and I’ll look forward to his run here.”

Akihide Tsumura, jockey
“He’s felt a bit loose previously, but he’s much better now, and has improved since the spring. He’s become easier to ride. It’ll be his first time to travel over to Kansai, so I hope things go well with that.”

Basse Terre

Takashi Saito, trainer
“He seems a lot more muscular and better for his last run. He used his hindquarters better in his last race. We’ve also been thinking of the best way for him when he takes the bit, and what kind to use. We’ve been practicing with this. This is one of the keys leading up to the race, by when we hope to have him doing things just right.”

Takeshi Okumura, trainer
“We’ve been keeping a check on his weight, as last time when he transported to the track, he’d gained about 10kg, so we have this in mind with his training, and by controlling his weight, he looks sharper. He still hangs a little, but is better than before. He’s a strong horse with plenty of stamina, so long distance races won’t be a problem for him. He’s been showing a lot of power when training.”

Congestus

Tomokazu Takano, trainer
“He was at the farm for a while, and he seems different on his return to the stable, looking to be in much better shape. His work on the uphill has been good, and he moved well in his last piece of work this week. The race last time wasn’t run to suit him. I’m not quite sure about the 3,000 meters this time, but I’m not worried about him finding a good rhythm, as he’s a horse with a high-level of control and good racing sense. He improves for a run, and I’m looking forward to how he races this time.”

Danon History

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“He’s in good condition and has a good appetite. He’s trained lightly on the uphill track, as we check his balance in running. His times are average, and we give him plenty of support when he finishes off his work. He’s in good shape, and his footwork and breathing are both good. He’s also managing to run in a balanced way.”

Going to Sky

Yuki Uehara, trainer
“He has a tendency to hang, but recently in his training, we haven’t had to worry about this too much, as he’s improved with more practice, when ridden by Kiwamu Ogino. The horse is physically strong. We don’t know about the 3,000 meters until we try, but the race jockey (Yutaka Take) thinks he has a chance, so I’ll take him at his word. The horse has developed when it comes to getting into a race, so I feel he can stay the distance this time.”

Justin Chicago

Keisuke Miyata, trainer
“I’ve always thought that he’s a horse with potential, and he’s come on a lot since the spring. He seems refreshed after being at the farm, and his body has recovered and he looks well in his coat. He’s been finding a good rhythm in the first half of his training, and running with a lot of power up to and beyond the finish line. Since before, the jockey (Yusuke Hara) has said that the horse has plenty of stamina, and that there isn’t a worry about him transporting a long way to the track. The distance of the race shouldn’t be a problem either. There are a lot of good horses in this next race, but if he shows his best, I’ll look forward to how things turn out.”

Yusuke Hara, jockey
“He’s a tough horse with a lot of stamina, so I think 3,000 meters is good for him. The advantage might be that the other horses haven’t run over the distance,”  

Masaaki Koga, trainer
“Since returning to the stable, things have been as expected with him. One of his first pieces of work saw him training solo, but he ran well and kept nice and straight right up to the finish. We’ve trained him with the image of an actual race in mind. More than times, I think his workload has been more important. The opposition’s strong, but the jockey thinks the horse has enough good points to see things through. It’s about the horse showing his stamina.”

Ryo Takei, trainer
“He’s been demonstrating how well he can be controlled, and since his last race, his condition has improved. Rider Fukamichi Ishigami also thinks he’s come on for his last run. I’m not anxious about him finding a good rhythm, and this is a race I’ve had in mind for him. The distance should be fine for him. His chances will improve if there’s some cut in the ground.”

Lovcen

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He’s been working on the woodchip course with two other horses, and racing on the outside, I’ve wanted him to have a sufficient workload. The jockey (Kohei Matsuyama) said the horse has improved these past couple of weeks, so things have gone well as the race approaches. He’s sure to be watched and marked by other horses in the race, but if he gets a smooth run, I think he can get a good result.”

Kohei Matsuyama, jockey
“He’s improved for his training, and has done things seriously. With his workload, he seems to have reached another level. Looking at his last race, 3,000 meters this time shouldn’t be a worry. He’s a strong horse and I want him to run his best. It’s not easy to be a Triple Crown winner, and of course I feel pressure, with so many people wanting the horse to win as well.”

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He’s worked well with two other horses on the woodchip course, and things have gone accordingly. After his last race, the jockey (Keita Tosaki) said an extended distance would be alright for him. The horse has done well to win his last three races, without being too flashy, so I’m pleased with what he’s done. His opponents become a lot stronger now, but I want things to go well for him and hope he can run a good race over this trip.”

Yusuke Oe, assistant trainer
“He’s developing well, and has been running powerfully in training right throughout.”

M’s Begin

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“The jockey (Mirai Iwata) has worked him on the woodchip course, and he posted a six- furlong time of 83.9 seconds, with a final furlong time of 11.2 seconds. He’s a horse with stamina. It’ll be about him finding a good rhythm, but he did run smoothly in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, and a run like that would be good. I think he can do well over 3,000 meters.”

Narita Esperanza

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“His condition has improved for his last race, and hopefully things continue to go well right up to this next race. I think the distance this time will be alright for him, so I want him to put in a challenge for the race, as I believe he’s a good horse. Further improvement can be expected later in his career.”

Sanono Greater

Kazuyuki Ogata, trainer
“He’s worked with the jockey over a distance in training, and managed a final furlong time of 11.1 seconds. He’s showed that he’s in good shape by stretching out well. As for the distance of this next race, we won’t know until we try, but there’s no problem with him when it comes to finding a good rhythm. His pedigree and the weather are other factors. The Kyoto turf track is currently riding fast, which should suit him.”

Hironobu Tanabe, jockey
“He seems to be in good condition, and there’s no big change with him. He’s been moving well and doing things as I would expect.”

Sea to Summit

Tatsuya Yoshioka, trainer
“He’s relaxed when the jockey rides him, and there’s a good feeling about the horse.”

Sho Tajima, assistant trainer
“He’s in good condition, and it feels like he’s matured over the summer. It’s good that he’s been getting into his races and is able to get to the lead. He’s been at the stable since his last race, and there doesn’t seem to be any tiredness about him. We’ve put him through his usual training pattern, and his workload’s been good. The week of the race, we’ll work him on the uphill. He has good sense when it comes to running with a good rhythm, so I hope he’ll show his best over the 3,000 meters.”

Shonan Gulf

Naosuke Sugai, trainer
“His last race was over a mile, and he seemed to lose concentration. His condition now is quite good.”

Kohei Kitamura, assistant trainer
“He didn’t run in the October Stakes two weeks ago, so we thought we’d keep him with his own generation of horses and try the Kikuka Sho, with the prize money he has. He’s been fine while he’s been at the stable. The race is 3,000 meters long, so we’ll see what we can do to get him to run his best over that trip.”

Shonan Hayanami

Kunihiko Watanabe, trainer
“Things have been fine since he returned from the farm. He seems to be in good condition, judging by his recent six-furlong workout on the woodchip course, which he completed in 84.7 seconds. He’s easy to control, so the extended distance of the race this time won’t be a problem. He’s much better for having had a race, and so we should see a change in him.”