Champagne Color

Tsuyoshi Tanaka, trainer
“He finished 13th in the Mainichi Okan. He had become stronger and I thought he went into that race in his best condition. He was able to quickly gain ground from the gate, but I had hoped he’d ride the pace better than he did. He wasn’t able to keep up with the flow. I kept him at the training center after that and he got a good hard workout last week. After going up the hill course, we took him out to the woodchip flat course and pushed him, but he was lacking somehow. I went easy on him after that and I think we’ll see improvement with that workout. He is getting a bit difficult recently, not being forward enough. With that in mind, the distance should be good for him. I’d like him to get a good position and go with the flow.“

Cosmo Kuranda

Yoshinori Ito, assistant trainer
“In his most recent race, the Sankei Sho All Comers, I had been concerned about the start. His position in the gate was poor, which led to a poor break. The track conditions were unusual, so he ended up racing toward the rear. I’d disregard his run in that race as it wasn’t representative of what he’s capable of. Thankfully, there was no damage so he returned to the training center and we were able to aim him here. Since he stayed at his training base, there were no problems with his preparation and all has gone well. Last week, jockey Yuji Tannai rode him in work. There were two horses in front of him and he followed them the whole way and got a long workout. It was a good piece of trackwork. He was coming off a spell in his last race so this time he should definitely show improvement. I hope he’ll have a chance to race at his best.”

Croix du Nord

Takashi Saito, trainer
“The Takarazuka Kinen was the last of his three starts in the spring and he’d needed just a little bit more (lost by a neck). I’d wanted him to sweep the spring triple crown for older horses but, unfortunately, he didn’t. Nevertheless, his performances were solid in all his races. We brought him back earlier than usual from the farm so we could prepare him slowly. On Oct. 21, jockey Hideaki Miyuki rode with the objective of giving the horse a good overall workout and to up the pressure a bit. Miyuki had ridden him the week before too and, at the time, the horse still needed to improve. This week, I had Cristian Demuro (race jockey) ride him for the first time in quite a while. I wanted him to get a reading on him and also to compare him to last year. Demuro gave him a good strong workout on the flat over six furlongs. Good overall work and we got a good reading on his condition. Demuro told us what changes he saw in the horse and he did mention that Croix du Nord’s balance had improved.”

Danon Decile

Shogo Yasuda, trainer
“He spent the summer without problem and since returning to the training center, there have been no problems with his condition. However, he has developed a tendency to lean to his right and that is causing problems with his taking the bit, so we are working on that. The jockey rode him Oct. 21 and we are discussing a tack change.”

Keita Tosaki, jockey
“I heard he’d been leaning in a bit, but when I rode he felt better than I’d expected him to. He had leaned in his last race, but moved well and when I rode him (on Oct. 21) I pushed him pretty hard and he was fine. He’s in good shape. I think the lefthanded track may be better for him and the distance shouldn’t pose any problems. What kind of run he’ll have will depend largely on the draw. He can race from any position, though I wouldn’t want to be drawn too far out. He has a powerful late kick and I’d like to bring that out.”

Elton Barows

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“He stayed at the training center after the Mainichi Okan. We gave him fast work last week and his time was the usual. He ran very well in the final stage too. I’d say he’s in about the same shape as he was for his last race. He raced to the left in his most recent race and he did lug out a bit turning in to the stretch, but after he changed leads he gained ground well. So I’m hoping things will go smoothly there this time too. As he grows older, he’s getting a bit sour and he doesn’t seem to want to go to the front in his races. The competition will be very strong and I’m hoping the 2,000 meters will work in his favor.”

Giovanni

Haruki Sugiyama, trainer
“His power in the latter stage of his most recent race was what won it for him. He has really gained strength in his hindquarters and his having won under 58kg was a big gain. I think we can head into the G1 with confidence. After returning to the training center, there was no slack anywhere. In fact, he was moving better than he had been in his last race. Last week, Kohei Matsuyama rode morning work, where he worked alone over the woodchip flat. He maintained his rhythm well and we just breezed him. He looked to be running very easily and his overall condition looked good. This will be his first time back at Tokyo since the Derby, and I think then he’d been in too good of shape for the Satsuki Sho. This horse has a lot of mobility and I think it’ll be a good race.”

Ho O Biscuits

Takeshi Okumura, trainer
“He was able to run his own race in the Mainichi Okan and the way things unfolded was ideal. He had drawn wide and did use up a lot getting to the front. I wonder how he’d have done if the gate had been different. He’s a horse that’s very easy to prepare. He improves very nicely. He finished in third place here in 2024 and I think he’ll go to the gate in better condition than he’d been at that time. He has five second-place finishes at the G2 level and I don’t want it to end there. Somehow, I hope he can land one big race. I’m hoping he’ll be able to race at his own rhythm the whole way.”

Jun Blossom

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“He had to carry the top weight of 57.5kg (the two in front of him at the finish carried 55kg) in the October Stakes at Tokyo last out. The Tokyo 2,000 meters suits him, and with the cheekpieces we had him in, he was able to maintain attention. I think the race was characteristic of what he’s capable of. On Oct. 22, he worked up the hill course for a time of 54.8 seconds and a final furlong time of 12.4 seconds. It’s a tight rotation, so I don’t think he needs much work. The competition is going to be very strong this time, but the Tokyo 2,000 meters is his best trip. I hope he can run his own race and draw on everything he has. A heavy track would not be a plus. I hope we get a fast track.”

Masquerade Ball

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“Not being used to the surroundings at Ascot, he was tense and the going didn’t suit him either. He went to the farm after that and returned to the training center in early October. He worked handily on Oct. 14 and as the pace picked up he was concentrating well. He has matured mentally and, compared to last year, he can move more steadily. I think the Tokyo course is the best venue for him and I think he enjoys the course. He won this race last year and since he’s more powerful now, I think he can do well this year too. Last year ‘s field was certainly G1 level, but I think this year the field is even stronger. This horse’s biggest weapon is his late kick. It’s among the best of any horse currently racing in Japan. I’m hoping the race will unfold in such a way as to play to his strengths.”

Nebra Disk

Yuichi Fukunaga, trainer
“He arrived back from the farm on Oct. 9. He’s the type that improves with every piece of fast work. He had a hard workout last week, and with that, I think he’s already showing improvement. He has filled out a bit and I hope to be able to keep that condition for the race. He just reached the open-class level so this race will be tough for him, but I do think he has the potential to perform well in a graded race, including a G1. I’m interested to see how well he can do at his present level and ability. I think a course with one turn and a distance between 1,800 and 2,000 meters is best for him. In his most recent race, he did get overly excited with the gate being placed right in front of the grandstand, so the start in the pocket is better. He’s fine in the rain. Actually, I’d like it to rain.”

Mitsugu Kon, trainer
“Last week, I had his usual rider Norihiro Yokoyama ride fast work. He ran well-balanced and his time was good too. And the rider got a good reading on him. In his last race, the Mainichi Okan, the pace was slow and he looked a bit tense at times. When he’s able to settle well like he did when he won the Motomachi Stakes in early December last year, he can really bring out his late speed. I think 2,000 meters is just about the furthest distance where he can be competitive. It’d be good if he could get an inside draw, then quickly move toward the rail. The competition is strong, so we’ll see how well things can come together for him.”

Realize Sirius

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer
“After returning from the farm he was clocking good times immediately. His recent race greatly improved him, by a level or even two. His movement is sharper now. His overall fitness and stamina have also greatly improved since the Mainichi Okan. Last week on Oct. 21, I had him work alongside Masquerade Ball with Akihide Tsumura riding. The horse handled the long gallop well. This week on Oct. 28, Tsumura rode him up the hill course. He looked especially light on his feet and agile. I’m very satisfied. As for the distance, he proved he could handle it with his second-place finish in the Satsuki Sho, but the Tokyo 2,000 meters is a different animal. It will be a real test for him. He’s only 3 years old and will be up against older, more experienced horses, some of Japan’s best. I want him to rise to the challenge and bring out his best.”

Regaleira

Tetsuya Kimura, trainer
“She went into the All Comers from time off, but she really made a tremendous effort the entire race. She did well but the finishing order was unfortunate (fourth). I blame the track condition. As a trainer, saying that is a bit embarrassing, but it was truly difficult for her. After that race, she went to the farm for a bit, then returned to the training center about three and a half weeks ago. Mirai Iwata rode her on Oct. 21, over seven furlongs on the woodchip flat. I didn’t give him any specific instructions. I just wanted him to get a good reading on her. I did ask him to give her some distance and that’s how it played out. She moved well. For the final work I wanted to check how settled she was and if she made an extra effort right before the finish line. And she moved just fine. She’s a real trooper and always gives it her best.”

Sakura Farrel

Noriyuki Hori, trainer
“He returned to the training center on Sept. 30 and after work on Oct. 22 he weighed 520kg. He sometimes goes off his feed, but this time he has been eating well. He’s in good health and his training has gone well. He looked good in fast work two weeks ago, with good responses. Last week, he moved on his own and his lap times were naturally fast. His breathing was good after the workout. He is something of a difficult horse. He leans to the left and he’s difficult to settle. I’ve asked Daisuke Sasaki to have more contact with the horse and I approach every training session with clear objectives. He finished a far second in the Sapporo Kinen and I think he has what it takes to compete well here.”

Seiun Hades

Shinsuke Hashiguchi, trainer
“He did a good job of winning the Mainichi Okan even though he wasn’t in peak condition. And with that race, his physique has dramatically changed. His coat has a good shine to it too. He’s in much better shape than I’d thought he’d be. He worked together with a training partner on Oct. 21 and had a lot left in the tank. If the rider had gotten after him more he’d have posted a good time. He has definitely improved. The week of the race, I’ll just see to some finishing touches. Last year, he raced here coming off a spell, but this year should be much better. And having a rider in the saddle who knows this horse well is a confidence booster. His best course has always been the left-handed, spacious Tokyo course, so I don’t think the longer distance will pose any problems. His work to the left has always been good and he has a big stride. He is quick away, so he should get a good position with little trouble. I think he has ample chance this year.”

Shake Your Heart

Toru Miya, trainer
“He won the Sapporo Kinen strongly, by a 2 1/2 length margin. It took him a while to win a race at the 3-win level but thanks to all the training he had, he has really gotten strong. He has had a lot of training on the hill course up until now and last week he worked over the woodchip course. This week, we breezed him over the same, both times under the jockey Yoshihiro Furukawa. It’s a G1 and the competition is going to be tough, but a fast pace will be good for him. The left-handed track should be a plus too. The conditions are better this time, but he is affected by a change in surroundings. The trip to the track should take about 10kg off him. That, however, was also the case in Kokura, where he got good results (second place in the Grade 3 Kokura Kinen in Sept. 2025). I think he’ll be able to show his ability.”

Tagano Dude

Toru Miya, trainer
“He finished 11th in the Challenge Cup and it wasn’t a bad race. He was able to draw on what he had. He’s always been a type that improves with each race, so I was concerned about how he would perform coming directly off a spell. His most result wasn’t actually a surprise. Last week, I had him work with two other horses with him on the far outside. I think he is showing improvement after his most recent race. The 2,000 meters is his best distance and a change in course isn’t something that usually raises concerns. That said, he is going to need help with the trip. Even with the poor going in the Takarazuka Kinen, he was able to gain ground very well, so he should be able to do well even if the ground on Sunday is a bit soft.”