Aqua Vernal

Hirofumi Shii, trainer
“I’d given her a rotation different from what she’d had up to then, with her going from the Hanshin Daishoten (second place), to a fourth in the Tenno Sho (Spring), then to a third place in the Kyoto Daishoten in the fall. I think her run in her most recent race was huge. She got good cover early on and then quickened well in the final stage. I thought she’d make it. In the end, I think the deciding factor was the difference in skill over a muddy track. It was the first kind of its race for her and I think she can handle any race now. She came back from the farm three weeks ago and was looking good, both mentally and physically. Kohei Matsuyama rode work last week and he said she felt good. She had one sharpener and this time she’ll be competing against females only. I think she is more than up to it. I’d like her to have a fast track.”

Cervinia

Yu Ota, assistant trainer
“The ground was bad in the Niigata Kinen and she also wasn’t able to get a clear run in the homestretch so she wasn’t able to give it her all (finished eighth). It was frustrating because she was in good shape. When she returned from the farm, I had the impression she was in better shape than before. Last week, she had a long workout with the aim of getting her foundation stronger. She concentrated well and her footwork and balance were steady all the way to the end. Looking at her bloodline, it wouldn’t be unusual if she matures even more. From how she feels working to the right, I’d said she is more suited to right-handed course. The distance and the conditions aren’t bad and I’m hoping she’ll do her best.”

Mizuki Takayanagi, trainer
“After her most recent race, the Kanetsu Stakes on Aug. 8, I sent her to the farm with the objective of racing in the Ireland Trophy after her return. However, just when she was about to return to the training center, she sustained a bruise. So I changed the plans to run in the G1. She was carrying a bit too much weight but she didn’t lose conditioning while at the farm. On Nov. 4 in morning work we were careful to keep her settled and she didn’t look bad. She’s the type that can still access her power even after time off and I think the outer 2,200 course should suit her. We’ll just have to see how she measures up to the sudden step up in the competition.”

Jocelyn

Yuichi Shikato, trainer
“In the Ireland Trophy, she went to the front early and, in hindsight, I guess it made a target of her. It was unfortunate but the content of the race was very good. The winner was a cut above, but this one did a good job too. Afterwards, she went to the farm for a short stay and returned to the training center on Nov. 3. Three days later, she worked alone and her movement was as usual. She’ll ship west the day after her final fast work this week, and we plan to give her gate practice at Kyoto on Friday. She’s a bit too eager and can be difficult to settle, but the jockey has a good grasp on her quirks. She’s much calmer now too. This will be her first time over 2,200 meters, but looking at her bloodline, she should be able to handle the distance. If she can settle, there should be no problems. With a good trip, I think she’ll have a chance.

Juryoku Pierrot

Ryo Terashima, trainer
“We had prepared her in the autumn for a run in the Shuka Sho, but she showed signs of colic so we took very good care of her and didn’t overdo it. She only actually had full rest for two days though and after that, everything went well. She worked over distance three weeks out and two weeks out. We pushed her pretty hard. Reina Imamura gave her a solid workout on Nov. 5 starting behind a partner that moves very well and they finished together. On Nov. 11, Imamura rode her again and I asked for a strong finish, without pushing the filly too much. Imamura said the horse still felt like she was coming back from a spell and wasn’t totally switched on. However, given her temperament, I think she’s right where she should be. I’ve taken a softer approach because once into a race, she really switches on. Her growth since spring is very noticeable. She’s a lot heavier and looks much bigger. I think the conditions this time will work well for her.

Kamunyak

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer
“She was very strong in the Ireland Trophy and quiet going to the gate, which I think is the main reason she did well. After the race, she went directly to the farm for a 10-day rest, returned to Ritto on Oct. 21 and had gate practice on Oct. 28. The following day she worked up the hill course with minimal encouragement and clocked 54.9 seconds, with a final furlong of 12.5 seconds. On Nov. 5, she started well behind another horse, chased him down and the two finished together. The rider said she was moving more powerfully compared to the previous week, but was still calm and settled. With that in mind, this week I opted for a solo gallop up the hill course and her response when asked to pick it up was excellent. She gave us a strong showing over the 1,600 meters in the spring, but I think she’s more suited to a longer distance. With the starting gate directly in front of the grandstand this time, key will be how well she’ll load. She has matured mentally, so I hope she’ll clear that hurdle.“

Kelly Fled Ask

Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer
“She finished fifth in the Niigata Himba Stakes. The position she got wasn’t bad, but I’d thought she would do a bit better. It was her first race in a while so her responses weren’t as sharp as they could be. She spent a bit of time at the farm after that and returned looking refreshed. We breezed her last week. With less time between races this time, I think it’ll be fine not to put much pressure on her. She’s showing improvement from her last race. She’s calmer now and the more distance the better. She can run any race so I’m interested in seeing how well she’ll do.”

Koganeno Sora

Takanori Kikuzawa, trainer
“The Queen Stakes was a frustrating race. If it hadn’t been for the interference she encountered, she was all set to make full use of what she has. There was nothing wrong with her racing. She got time off in Hokkaido as planned and returned with this race as our target. She worked on Oct. 29 and was well settled and had much more in the tank. Her nerves have calmed down and she’s eager to work. On November 5, despite the heavy ground, she worked around the outside and moved effortlessly. When she pulled away from the others, she had so much left in the tank she was practically playing. I’m not worried about the trip west and she’ll have no problem with the race distance either unless the pace is much faster than usual. She has matured a lot, gotten stronger and I think at 5 years of age, she is coming into her own. A bit of rain would help.”

Laughterlines

Michihiro Ogasa, trainer
“I’d planned to race her in the Mainichi Okan so I’d brought her back in mid September, but she had problems with her hooves, so she went back to the farm. After her hooves were better, we brought her back in mid October and changed our target once again. She has gotten a lot of work. On Nov. 5 the ground was slow and, considering that it was tough going, her footwork wasn’t bad. Her responses were good and so was her breathing. She’s not in bad shape. Her weight hasn’t changed much, but over the summer her core has gotten stronger. She has experience over the Kyoto course and I have no worries about the trip west. She’s much calmer now, so loading into the gate should go smoothly. She has good late speed and the course should suit.”

Lavanda

Naoya Nakamura, trainer
“She finished third in the Ireland Trophy and the two horses ahead of her were strong. Still, she gave what she had so it can’t be helped. She spent a bit of time at the farm just to have some refreshment, and last week she worked over the woodchip course for a time of 79.3 seconds over six furlongs. She works well alone and she moved as usual. She’s not the best going around the bends and right at a crucial point at Kyoto the track slopes downward. So, we’ll just have to see how well she handles that. She’s fine up to 2,000 meters, but I think it may be a bit long for her but, with it being an all-female race, I want her to do her best.”

Koichi Shintani, trainer
“She's been moving well in her trackwork. That said, I'd still like to see her make better use of her body, so there are a few things I'd like to fine-tune before the race. The jockey rode her last week and gave her a good workout and she’ll be switched on with that. I think as far as the conditions concerned, it suits her much better than an 1,800 meters with one turn. The more ground the better. The competition will be strong and I’m interested to see how she’ll measure up. This race will serve as an indicator for what’s in store in the future.”

Lesedrama

Yasuyuki Tsujino, trainer
“From her five starts this year, she has stopped trying in the homestretch in all but the two starts at Kokura. But her margins, even though she was beaten, do show the natural ability she has. I’ve been trying a number of approaches so she’ll have the mental fortitude to keep racing. I’d actually wanted her to come back from the farm a week earlier than she did, but she’d run a fever so we had to wait. She’s a filly that you have to be very careful with her mental state and that takes priority in her preparation. But for now, there’s nothing negative and she’s handling all the work we ask of her. If we aren’t careful, she’ll get in a funk so I’m hoping we can keep her in a good mental state. I’d like to see her run out in front and stay clear of the other horses.”

Nishino Ti Amo

Yuki Uehara, trainer
“From her most recent race, the Ireland Trophy, I had the impression that she’d become rather quiet. Seen from an ability to settle under way this should be a plus but, on the other hand, I wanted her to take the bit more aggressively at times. I put cheek pacifiers on her in last week’s track work and her movement and breathing were good. This week, I put blinkers on her and Akihide Tsumura rode work. She’s very agile, very maneuverable and I think 2,200 meters will suit her. She’s been on her toes since her most recent race, so my expectations are up.”

Queen’s Walk

Yuya Katayama, assistant trainer
“In her most recent race, the Ireland Trophy, she was returning from time off and didn’t race at her best (finished eighth). Her movement wasn’t what it could be. She stayed at the training center after that and all went smoothly. Last week on Nov. 5, Cristian Demuro worked her over the woodchip course and she covered six furlongs in 84.5 seconds, with a last furlong of 10.7 seconds. She’s fully recovered and seems to have no fatigue. We’ve upped the pitch of her training bit by bit and she’ll be at 100 percent for the race. We’ll just have to see how well she can handle the Kyoto 2,200 meters, and I do think the long stretch of the outer course will help. I don’t think the flat homestretch will be bad for her. I hope she’ll be able to turn the tables this time.”

Sekitoba East

Hirofumi Shii, trainer
“The Ireland Trophy was the second week of the Tokyo meet and the track was fast. Considering all that, I’d have to say she really ran well, though she did give up in the final stage. And I’d have to say that the course just didn’t suit her. After a short stay at the farm, she came back to the training center with this race as our target. She worked up the hill course on Oct. 27 and. 29. She looked good. On Nov. 4, Suguru Hamanaka pushed her on the flat and she looked light on her feet. She has always improved with a race as sharpener so I’m expecting that this time as well. She was sixth in this race last year and she’s had the same rotation this year. The distance isn’t a problem and it looks like she’ll go into the race in good shape. I hope she’ll give it her all.”

Takashi Kanari, trainer
“In her most recent race, the Niigata Himba Stakes, it was difficult to make headway, but at the top of the homestraight I thought she just might win it. Given the level of competition, I can’t give her high marks. Given the time between races, we decided to keep her at Miho instead of sending her to the farm. She came out of the race well so she should be able to improve steadily leading into this race. She has once before suffered a mild case of tying up but that doesn’t happen now since she’s gotten stronger. This time, she won’t be competing on the same level as the others, so we’ll just have to see how well she can do.”

Stellenbosch

Keisuke Miyata, trainer
“She’d had a bit of time off before the Niigata Kinen and we had pushed her pretty hard in training working with a partner. However, in the race, the poor ground was a factor and she seemed to quit racing toward the end. She returned to the training center after a bit of time at the farm and she’s been getting a lot of work. I’ve had her enter the track from the front side and have concentrated on her working alone and relaxed so she can refresh. In a race, she’s fine with running in amid the others, so I think she’ll be able to handle the 2,200 meters. Last year, she ran into some serious interference and wasn’t able to give it all she had. I’m not worried about the course or the distance, but I do have the impression that, at present, she’s not where she had been around the time of the Epsom Cup (finished second in early May).”

Voulezvous

Koshiro Take, trainer
“In her most recent race, the Sankei Sho All Comers, I knew she could handle poor going, but it was her first time at 2,200 meters and to have done as well as she did (finished third) tell me she really gave it her all. She went to the farm for a bit and when she returned her muscling was a bit slack, so I’ve been working her harder than I had while she was in Hokkaido and she’s improving bit by bit. She’s much more easy-going than she used to be and her movement is well-balanced now. She’s now able to handle this distance. If she run her own race, I think she can measure up.”