1

Liberty Island

Crowned this year’s Fillies’ Triple Crown Champion.  Proven filly over both clockwise and counterclockwise.  The current leading jockey Yuga Kawada has ridden her in all starts.  This will be her first time race to compete against older colts/horses, but she has weight advantage.
 

2

Equinox

Justified the World’s Best Horse with setting new track record in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and now aims at extending his winning streak to six at G1.  Likely to break the track record of 2:20.6 set by Almond Eye.

3

Titleholder

Three-time G1 winner showed little in last two starts last term but returned his form to win the G2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) in March.  Recovered from lameness when he pulled up in the G1 Tenno Sho Spring and ran second in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers (2200m) last time.

4

Studley

Has not tasted any success since December 2022 but did go close with second in the open-class race (2000m) in September last time.  No ground concern.
 

5

Do Deuce

The winner of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in 2021 and the G1 Japanese Derby in 2022 won decisively in the G2 Kyoto Kinen (2200m) in February as his seasonal debut, but was forced to scratch the G1 Dubai Turf due to a slightly lameness.  A disappointing seventh in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) last time. 

6

Forward Again

His latest win was 1800m at Sapporo in July 2022.  Finished out of frame in seven starts this term.  A tough task.

7

Iresine

Consistent runner, winning 13 races between 2000m and 3100m, two seconds and three thirds.  Trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, the 6-year-old gelding won all six races over the rain affected track and has no issue for both the right and left handed course.  He has never beaten over the counter clock-wise. 

8

Panthalassa

Landed the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in February will return on the Japanese turf since October 2022.  A definite pace setter. 
 

9

Vela Azul

Captured his first G1 win in this race 2022.  Had been raced on dirt since debut in 2020 up to his first start of 2022.  Hasn’t done much since winning this race in 2022.
 

10

Danon Beluga

Winless since February 2022 but consistent, finishing on the board in all nine starts.  Showed effort but did not reach contention last time in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn.

11

Trust Kenshin

A four time winner at Tokyo.  Showed little in his recent start.  This will be his first race since February when eleventh in the G3 Diamond Stakes (3400m). 

12

Chestnut Coat

A 9-year-old horse from NAR.  A four-time winner at JRA including over this course and distance.  Winless since September 2022.  Had two-digit finishes in last two starts.   Hold-up runner. 

13

Kurino Megami Ace

A 4-year-old filly from NAR.  Won the newcomer race (1700m, dirt) in August 2021 at JRA and took five wins since transferred to NAR.  Will return to turf track for more than two years. 

14

Deep Bond

This will be his thirteenth start in G1 race for the 6-year-old, including a couple of trips to France.  Winless since March 2022, but he has finished on the board in four starts this term. First time appearance over this course and distance since the G1 Japanese Derby in 2020. 

15

Shonan Bashitto

The 2021 JRHA Select Sale graduate for 286,000,000yen finished in the top three in his first five starts since debut but his recent form isn’t good enough. 

16

Impress

Winless in six starts this term.  Showed improvement when third at G3 over 2000m but well beaten over this distance last time.

17

Stars On Earth

The winner of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the G1 Japanese Oaks 2022 has finished in top three in all 10 starts.  Will be her first race up since May.

18

Win Erfolg

Won the 2600m 2-win class in April.  Showed upward curve in the last two starts, finishing fourth at 2600m and fifth at 3000m respectively.  Hold-up runner.