Yasuda Kinen (G1) - comments from Japanese runners' connections
A Shin Forward (5yo, horse)
Masato Nishizono (trainer)
"His times have been just as we expected and we're going into (the Yasuda) with a good feeling. He's definitely in good shape and the distance is fine. Jockey Iwata says he's in better shape than the last time out and he'd be good for 1,800 meters as well. Then there's the draw. We had bad luck with pink hats (No. 8 bracket) the last two races. I hope we can get an inside draw so he won't have to expend too much energy in the beginning."
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Absolute (6yo, horse)
Yoshitada Munakata (trainer)
"We've come along to plan since the Nakayama Kinen and he's moving satisfactorily. He looked good after his fast work. He's got an even better sheen to his coat than last week. The conditions are perfect. We won with bad going before but this is a G1 and it'd be nice if we had clear skies. We've had some time off since the Nakayama Kinen (finished 10th) and I want some good results."
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Captain Thule (5yo, horse)
Ryo Tokue (assistant trainer)
"If we work as usual he turns in good times. We didn't push him and the results are as planned. This amount of work is good for him. All that we need is to get him to the track OK."
Hideyuki Mori (trainer)
"If we push him he can give us speed but we'll put some horses in front of us, make him wait and go for the finish. He's coming along well. He had the break after the Satsuki Sho but he's recovered well. I want to see him win again."
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Faridat (5yo, horse)
Shigeki Matsumoto (trainer)
"They tell me he's an easy horse to ride in morning work but I want to hear that for the races too. We can't get results running him wide. If we get a clear run he can show us some find footwork. We gave him a lot of work this week so there was no need to push him too hard for speed. He has talent and I think he has a chance this time."
Masayoshi Ebina (jockey)
"He was a lot calmer than I expected. He has the ability to really respond well and I hope we can get that out of him when we ask this time."
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Glorious Noah (4yo, colt)
Shinichiro Kobayashi (jockey)
"Last week, he felt like there was still a bit of room for improvement, but this final workout is sure to bring him up to par."
Yoshito Yahagi (trainer)
"I do have some doubts about whether he can handle the turf all right, But ‘challenge' is this horse's key word. He was a bit heavy last week but has improved."
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Live Concert (6yo, gelding)
Toshikai Shirai (trainer)
"He's not a horse that likes tight turns, so he's very well suited to Tokyo. His usual style is to break through the ranks for a clear run. He's in the same shape as last year and I like the look of the competition."
Ryuji Wada (jockey)
"He was a bit jumpy when I pushed him. He looked a bit heavy to me but he ran well and he feels OK."
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Maruka Phoenix (6yo, horse)
Masahiro Matsunaga (trainer)
"I think we could have gotten a better time but the 12.4-second finish was good. And he ran with a nice easy rhythm. Last time out he ran smoothly as well and was able to give us his best. If we can find that rhythm this time as well, we'll be in good shape."
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Maruka Shenck (7yo, horse)
Hiroshi Kawachi (trainer)
"He's on the up and up. We did a fast workout last week and his overall times are fast. He feels good. After that is the draw. I hope we can get something where he can be loaded toward the end."
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Meiner Falke
Masami Matsuoka (jockey)
"I was given instructions to go all out from the break. He feels good and, looking at the lineup, I think we have a chance."
Koji Kayano (trainer)
"Last week Matsuoka rode him and the time was fast so this week we're going a bit easy. He's moving well as he usually does and I also see some improvement mentally. After the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy he showed no signs of tiredness and though we put him out to pasture for a bit of rest there's no change in his condition. He's coming along to plan. He isn't agitated in the preparade ring anymore and is able to relax more now during the race and not get so keen. I'd like him to keep to the front and out of traffic but he doesn't need to lead."
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Reach the Crown (4yo, colt)
Katsumi Ando (jockey)
"He feels better now than he did in work before his last race."
Kojiro Hashiguchi (trainer)
"Thirteen seconds for his final 200 meters during work is too slow. He didn't give me what I was expecting. Perhaps he needs to work with another horse in order to really get his speed up. The last race out he was very eager to run but he was able to wait patiently. I think the mile is good for him. He is huge, big enough that I worry sometimes he's too fat. But I can feel how he's maturing physically and developing quite an ideal body."
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San Carlo (4yo, colt)
Yokichi Okubo (trainer)
"He has definitely improved from last race, where I had my doubts if I should have even used him. He's in good shape now and I think we have a good chance at the win if we get a fast pace for the race."
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Showa Modern (6yo, horse)
Hiroaki Sugiura (trainer)
"He is good shape. The weight he lost before his last race is back. He works better in the cool weather but I think he's going to run well through the end of this meet. If you want to say just how he's changed, it's that he's gotten a lot stronger. I don't know if that is all for the better though. Last race he put up quite a fuss in the van and in his box and was soaked with sweat. So, considering that, I'd have to say that his time last time out was quite impressive."
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Smile Jack (5yo, horse)
Kosei Miura (jockey)
"He doesn't move well when he's working on his own but this morning's work was long and I think it was good for him. This will bring him up to peak. Maybe because the time was fast (6 furlongs in 77.9 seconds) but he was tired at the end. And he did feel a little reluctant. But, his workouts have never been a good indicator of how he'll do in the race, so I'm not concerned."
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Super Hornet (7yo, horse)
Yusuke Fujioka (jockey)
He's coming along to plan and there's no worry with his legs. The only problem is he still doesn't seem to want to move out away from the other horses on his own. He is back in shape physically.
Yoshito Yahagi (trainer)
"He looks good until he gets out in front of the others. I think he's learning to move away from the others as he gets older. I do have my doubts though. He's in good physical shape."
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Triumph March (4yo, colt)
Katsuhiko Sumii (trainer)
"He was able to wait patiently working with the other horses and he no longer keeps shifting right and left but is able to hold steady. He's able to keep his mind on his work and able to control his emotions much more than before. I think he's finally matured and I hope we can live up to the fans' expectations."
