JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
25th running of the Japan Cup
6th running of the Japan Cup Dirt
November 24, 2005 (Thursday)
Questions asked on behalf of the Press
Mr. Raita Nakano (Radio Tampa)
**Please note that due to recording problems, some quotes were inaudible and are omitted from the text
WARRSAN (IRE, h7, bay)
Trainer:Clive Britain
Exercise rider:Patrick Reape
Q: What was the reason for you to enter him again in the Japan Cup this year?
T: I have to be honest and say it’s the money. The reason for coming back is basically down to the horse. The horse has shown me again the winning desire he’s had all his life. Baden-Baden in particular, once we’ve won there we knew we were going to have another crack at the Arc. If that didn’t work out the Japan Cup was the major end of the season race for him.
Q: What do you think was the reason for his major defeat in last year’s Japan Cup?
T: I’ve brought Patrick Reape his soul mate to explain that because I could never understand how he didn’t run a big race last year. The training and everything we’d done for that horse had gone according to plan, and certainly I was very pleased at what I saw and Des (Patrick) had rode him his work, and he was pleased. Kierren Fallon, a fair judge of a horse, sat on the horse and thought the horse was working great. And yet we came up with a bad result. Des can you add anything to it?
E: Yes, he’s one of those horses that need to get involved a bit. But this time, if we can get him involved he’ll cruise a bit on the bridle and hopefully he’ll give a promising run. He’s been on the dirt and grass, he looks fine, he’s eaten well so I am pretty happy with him.
Q: Do you think he’ll do better than last year?
E: I was really disappointed last year because he felt good. I just want a better draw than 16. If I’m going to get 16, I’ll pack up today for sure. He’s got to run better than last year surely. If you’ve watched the race you can see him, he’s slightly slow away and it goes so quick over here, it’s not like European races where you go out, they jump, they sit and hold. Hopefully he’ll do better this year.
Q: Do you see a difference in the condition of the track compared to last year?
T: It’s been 19 years since I’ve brought a horse over and won the Japan Cup, and many things have changed. The major change is the quality of the horses racing for the Japan Cup. They’re probably the world’s best as you see the European contingents are all Group I winners, in fact a very good Group I winners and yet the Japanese horses have kept pace and even got in front of us in some cases so it’s going to be a tough race. Probably Warrsan is in as good a condition as he has been in any stage of his career, so we have to be more than hopeful..
Q: How big a disappointment is it that Kerrin McEvoy couldn’t come, given that Warrsan runs particularly well with him?
T: Well it was a disappointment but these things happen. You have to live with them. Kerrin had a very good relationship with the horse which was going the right way but due to his accident we had to go for a substitute and who’s better to go than our champion jockey this year, Jamie Spencer, who is riding out of his mind this year. As far as the jockey goes, I have no doubts that he’s a good substitute.
BAGO (FRA, c4, dark bay or brown)
Racing Manager:Alan Cooper
Jockey:Thierry Gillet
Q: What made you decide to enter Bago in the Japan Cup?
RM: The decision to come to the Japan Cup was made quite a long time ago, back in July, Jonathan Pease felt that after King George, we could run three races in the autumn; the Arc, Breeders’ Cup Turf and here if Bago was well. And he came back very well from New York so we got the green light to come here.
Q: How is his condition after traveling around since summer and then to Japan?
RM: His condition is good Jean-Michel and Sebastian has been very pleased with him since he’s been in the quarantine station and he’s been very well since he’s come to the racecourse on Tuesday he’s been very well and Mr. Pease (trainer) got in last night and Thierry Gillet rode him this morning and they find his condition very good also.
Q: Do you have any message for the race fans in France?
RM: We’d just like to win the race and that’ll be in the hands of Thierry.
Q: Since you’ve been riding this horse from his debut, tell us what the strong points of this horse are.
J: He’s always laid back, listens to the jockey and is eager to win.
Q: What is your impression of the turf course here?
J: I thought that the going suits Bago well this morning at workout.
Q: Will you be able to show his best performance here this weekend?
J: First, let’s just try and win.
Q: How was the horse this morning compared to workouts for his previous races?
J: He was in the States about a month ago in good condition. He is also mentally settled in and supple, so he felt very good.
Q: After winning his first start this season, he has continued to be winless. Is there any reason for his losses?
J: The racecourse was very bad to start off with this year and he’s not suited to that, and after coming off his third in Grand Prix Saint-Cloud we learned that he had a sore back muscle. But he’s recovered from that and we hope to do our best this week-end.
Q: Which horse would be your rival? And what kind of race development do you want to see with Bago?
J: There are many rivals. As for how I run the race, I want to see the starting draw first.
Q: Hopefully this race will take over first place in the World Racing Championship, have you given that any thought, and how prestigious would that be to take over first place in that overall competition?
RM: It would be very prestigious, but I have to confess I wasn’t fully aware that that honor could come to us, and I think the World Series is a very important benefit to international racing.
Q: Is it a coincidence that he never seems to deliver away from home? If it isn’t a coincidence how do you think you might have overcome the problem whatever it is?
RM: I think that it’s true that he has not won away from home, but each race has a different circumstance and I don’t think you can attribute to one particular fault of Bago’s. Each race had a different surroundings, different goings, I wouldn’t attach too much importance to that.
Q: Do you think the rain and the weather compromised his chances at the Arc and Breeder’s Cup?
RM: Very much certainly New York. The ground was extremely deep and compromised his actions and it was very much against him. We’re happy that the ground here is good, on the fast side of good, and we look forward to seeing Bago on that.
Q: In the past, winners of the Prix de l’Arc never came near to winning the Japan Cup. Do you think Bago will be the first horse to break that jinx?
RM: I’m not aware of the history and specific data. All I can say is that Bago is in good form.
J: There is a start to everything, and I hope we will be the first.
OUIJA BOARD (GBR, f4, bay)
Trainer:Edward Dunlop
Jockey:Kieren Fallon
Stable Staff:Robin Trevor-Jones
Q: What was the reason for you to enter her in the Japan Cup?
T: It’s a great honor to be here. She was injured in the beginning of the year, which meant she missed most of the season, so it was a late decision but we’re very pleased to be here.
Q: Compare her campaigns’ of this year and last.
T: When she ran at Royal York, she injured herself and was off the track for half the season. And that injury prevented her from running throughout the summer. And she came back and ran and won very impressively in a Group III race in Newmarket. Then went to the Breeders’ Cup and was second to Inter-Continental. The race probably didn’t work as quite as we wanted, it was a very good ride from the winner, and no doubt that was the best in the day, but the ground softer than we ideally wanted. So I think it’s hard to say that she’s not as good as she was last year, she just hasn’t run as many times.
Q: Do you think that her condition has improved now just before the Japan Cup?
T: Her condition appears to be the same as when she went to America. Her weight is good, she’s traveled well and that is a great credit to my team, Chris and Robin who’s done a fantastic job,. She’s still got her summer coat which is again for this time of the year is good. But we’re realistic enough to know that it’s a very tough race to come to—they have some very good horses from around the world, and we’ll be very happy if she runs a very good race.
Q: What are her outstanding points from your point of view?
J: She’s got a lot of good points, she travels well in her races, she’s got a great temperament, she can quicken, she loved this track. So if she gets a decent draw and providing everything going well I think she’ll run a big race.
Q: How did you feel about her condition?
J: She felt very well in herself. She seemed to be in her best for the moment. Hopefully on the day she’ll be in the same frame. This morning she felt good over the fast track and so I feel quite confident that she’ll run a big race.
Q: With your knowledge on Japanese racing, do you think Ouija Board is suited to the track?
J: The track is very similar to the American tracks and she has won a Breeders’ Cup and probably the best filly in Europe. She’s a horse that travels good so—she’ll suit here.
Q: Which horse would be her rival? And how would you like the race to run?
J: They usually run on a fast pace here—that would suit. And I think Zenno Rob Roy is going to be a very hard horse to beat—well he’s come to Europe and he just got beaten by one of our best Group Ones and he had a good comeback race he just got beaten and I know Kazu (Fujisawa, trainer) will have him spot on and he’ll be in great form.
Q: Are you happy to have back at a mile and a half again?
T: Very happy, yes. She obviously stayed very well at a mile and a half last year, and it’s probably now her ideal trip. As we all know she tends to hit a bit of a flat spot in the middle of her races and my first reaction after Belmont was that she wanted a mile and a half. She’s good over a mile and a quarter but she’s better over a mile and a half.
ALKAASED (USA, h5, bay)
Trainer:Luca Cumani
Stable Staff:Daisuke Furukawa
Q: Since when did you decide to run in the Japan Cup
T: We decided after we won the Prix de Saint-Cloud. We thought we’d give the horse a mid-season break and bring him back for an autumn campaign. We started in the Prix Foy and we wanted to run him in the Arc but he had a very minor injury—an infection from a little cut in his leg—he had to miss the Arc, and then we ran him in the Champion Stakes, a mile and a quarter, which was too short and the ground was a little bit too soft for him, and then we were going to run him in the Breeders’ Cup but the ground turned up a bit soft so we didn’t run him there and then we came to Japan.
Q: Not being able to run in the two races in France and USA, did you have any trouble adjusting his training or conditioning?
T: It was unfortunate that we couldn’t run him in these other races. But it means that the horse is a little fresher and hasn’t had so many miles on the clock. We are happy that we are here now and happy that we didn’t run in those 2 races. I’m very happy with his training up to this race.
Q: Can we expect him to show his good performance in this race?
T: Hopefully he will show his good performance. A lot will depend on where he is drawn and how the race develops. In the big races like this against very strong competition, in a big field you need some luck in running as well.
Q: What is your impression of Tokyo’s turf course?
T: I think it’s a very nice course, nice wide course, good bend and big steep and it is left handed. The horse goes well under a left handed like he showed in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, I think it is a very fair course and as I said provide that horses don’t have any luck in running, I’m sure that best horse will win.
Q: The races here in Japan tend to go quite fast, and how would he perform in such fast race?
T: I think he is suited in the fast race. He did his best performances in England in strong run races and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, it was a fast race because there were two pace makers, so fast run race horse will helps avoiding bad luck stories because of the field will be more strung out and be less chance of any horses been unlucky because they can find place to run.
Q: Who do you see as your rival in this race?
: I think in a race of this caliber where you have two Breeder’s Cup winners, Better Talk Now and Ouija Board, and you have an Arc winner such as Bago, and you have an international globe trotter like Warrsan. Plus a very top class horse like Zenno Rob Roy, I’m sure there are many other Japanese horses that are not familiar to me at the moment, so it’s difficult to single out one horse as a danger. Every horse has a chance and the best horse that day will win.
Q: How do you think the race will run?
T: I’m much looking forward to the race and we hope we get a good enough draw and we have a good a trip throughout the race. Hopefully if the horse is capable of delivering his turn of foot, he should run very well.
Q: How is his condition up to now?
EHe is in the same condition as he was when he was in England. He is settled in and relaxed.
Q: I understand that he passed up the Breeder’s Cup and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. How did you keep up his condition?
E: Due to the injury we had to keep the training light and gradually adjust him. But the injury was minor so we were able to get back to his usual schedule and he’s in good condition now.
Q: How is his condition compared to previous races?
E: He’s as good as he was when at Saint-Cloud.
KING’S DRAMA (IRE, g5, bay)
Stable Staff: Charleen Hunt
Q: How and when was it decided that King’s Drama would be entered in the Japan Cup?
E: I have to apologize for not having very much information; I’ve only been with the horse shortly. All I know is that the invitation is why we’re here.
Q: Have you been very near to the horse recently, including his stay in Japan?
E: Yes I have, I’ve become very close to the horse. He’s wonderful to work with; he has a good manner to him.
Q: How is his condition after arriving in Japan?
E: He traveled very well. We were delayed many times, but he arrived in top condition and he’s very happy here he hasn’t had any trouble whatsoever.
Q: His last race was only two weeks ago… just before departure for Japan. Was this decision a sudden one or was it planned beforehand?
E: From what I understand, the last race was his prep race to come here to run in the Japan Cup. Since being here he has not breezed and he will not, because that was his prep race in the Japan Cup.
.Q: So now do you think the horse is fully prepared now?
E: The horse is in top condition, he’s fit. Other than keeping him sound and happy, there’s nothing else that we can do than letting him run his race.
Q: The trainer, Mr. Frankel will not be here for the Japan Cup. Have you been given any specific instructions or anything?
E: Unfortunately he did not. He’s very busy in the United States but I’m sure he’s very honored to have been invited. Hopefully we can take care of business here.
Q: Did you speak with Edgar Prado, the jockey who rode him in his last race, about him riding King’s Drama in Japan?
E: No, I spoke with him several days after he rode him not in regards to the horse but the fact that he was coming over here to ride him. I’ve known Edgar for some years now and he is a very good rider, an intelligent rider, he makes smart decisions and I’m very confident in Edgar riding the horse.
Q: Does the track here at Tokyo suit him?
E: I believe he will like the turf here, he tends to enjoy running towards the front. The turf is firm and he’s a big strong horse. King Drama really likes to run—he has a lot of heart—in the morning’s training he’s really on the muscle he takes hold of the bit and he wants to run.
BETTER TALK NOW (USA, g6, bay)
Owner:Yukari Sekiguchi
Groom:Adrian Rolls
Exercise Rider:Melissa Tenney
Q: What made you decide to enter your horse in the Japan Cup and when?
O: We wanted to bring a strong horse to the Japan Cup and the first candidate had been last years Horse of the Year, Kitten’s Joy. However, due to a sudden retirement, we chose Better Talk Now who had won against Kitten’s Joy last year.
Q: Has the horse recovered from the long trip?
G: It was a long flight, we were delayed in Alaska for five hours. On arrival it did not seem to affect him too much. He didn’t lose too much condition, as he doesn’t carry a lot of condition anyway. But since arriving yesterday, he’s eating up, feeling good and acting his normal self.
Q: Did he adjust to the climate and his surroundings easily?
G: Yes so far he’s done nothing wrong, he’s very used to traveling, and it’s not a problem for him. He’s settled in very well and he’s training very good.
Q: It’s interesting; he’s been winning every other race. Why do you think such a pattern occurs?
G: In fact the horse remains on level par every time we train him. He breeze’s basically the same; he’s not a very fast work horse. He worked the same at the Breeders’ Cup, so that’s just the way the horse is. He is a very quirky horse and he needs some knowledge which we’re pleased that Ramon is coming to ride him, and I think that helps a lot with this horse. He’s just very quirky and he always wants to do the opposite of what you want him to do. Hopefully Ramon will get the job done.
Q: How do you think the Japanese racecourse will suit him?
E: I think the course will fit him well because they’re very similar to the ones in America, it’s left handed. He’s won on firm going, which it is firm here as well as soft. He also looks like he’s going to have a very good pace to run at which is one of the things that he does need to run a very good race.
Q: Do you think the horse took a liking to the course, training him this morning?
E: Yes he seemed like he handled the grass very well. He was very strong in his gallop, and he was still bucking and squealing coming back to the barn, so I think he’s going to handle it just fine.
Q: At the’05 Man O’ War Stakes he won on firm going, and yet he’s also won many on soft or yielding going. How will he do here on a firm track?
E: For the last year, we’ve thought he was better on soft ground but as he showed in the Man O’ War, he handled the firm ground just as well, so I don’t think whether it’s firm or soft is going to make much difference for him. I think the pace of the race is going to help him more than anything.
Q: What kind of race development does he prefer?
E: We’re hoping that he has a good pace in front of him, which it looks like there always is here, there’s plenty of speed. Whenever he does win there’s always a good speed horse in front of him to set up his late kick.
Q: Who do you consider your rivals?
G: All of them.
Q: Your Better Talk Now finished nearly 8 lengths behind Bago in the Breeder’s Cup Turf. To what do you attribute that poor effort and do you think you can reverse the form on Sunday?
G: We really had no excuse that day, for whatever reason, we went through our usual channels, he seemed to come out of the race okay. There were no problems with him. Like I say, probably the race did not set up for him very good that day…there’s no excuse.
Q: What are the plans for the horse, will the horse go back to the United States?
O: If we win the Japan Cup, the Arima Kinen is a possibility.
⇒ Foreign Entrees – Japan Cup Dirt
TAP DAY (USA, c4, dark bay or brown)
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Jockey:Elbar Coa
Q: What is the major reason for deciding to participate and from when have you planned this in your rotation?
T: We started thinking about coming to the Japan Cup dirt in early September. This horse the year progressed he showed signs that he wanted to have more space in between his races and on the way targeted the Meadowlands Cup as a race on his schedule but the Breeders Cup Classic would have been too close in our estimate timing wise for him, and Japan Cup Dirt became great alternative for that and fortunately you are nice enough to invite us.
Q: After coming to Japan, how was the training, how was the work out and adjustment of the horse?
T: Acclimated very well and today was the first I’ve seen day to see since he is over here with assistant Jose. He’s been really pleased with him. He was keyed up today. First day which is not unusual for him, he usually gets very sharp coming up to a race, definitely feeling well and he got over the ground well, he handled the race track super. We are very pleased with his progress.
Q: Compared to the races back home, how is his condition, is he well prepared?
T: I hope so. He is doing very well, he is a fresh horse, a lot of American horse who’s come over here in the past may not be as fresh as some of the horses this year. They have little more time; they didn’t run in the Breeders Cup. Actually he got good as the year has gone on and hopefully we can come up with a good race on Saturday.
Q: Tokyo race course 2100 m what is the impression of the race course and what kind of the race do you hope to make and who is your rival?
T: Not that familiar with, as far as the rivals Japanese horses. Obviously we don’t know as much bout them as we would like to know. He likes to run, he is always been willing and run well mile and quarter in the Suburban, and Saratoga Cup and extra 16th (of a mile) would have benefited him definitely in Suburban he runs from the mid-pack or what ever the pace dictates.
Q: You have been riding him for the past three races, what is the sales point of the horse?
J: Well in the last race that I rode he showed a lot of improvement. He’s a horse that is improving every time he runs and we really hope that he’s going to adapt to this race and we believe that the distance won’t become a problem. He’s been running better—or more professional—and he’s going to be horse that’s going to be better for next year
Q: Do you have any imagine of how you’ll be running?
J: Not really. I haven’t seen the horses that are going to be in the race, but I don’t think we want to change anything, so we’re just going to run him in the style that we’ve always been doing with him.
Q: Any concerns on Tap Day not being able to run on Lasixs as he usually does in America?
T:No he’s a horse that’s never given any indications that he needs Lasixs to the extent that we’ll be concerned about it. Certainly we do have horses in the States that wouldn’t get by without it but he’s a horse that we don’t always breeze him on it he’s not a horse that we would feel that it would be a factor.
Q: Do you have to train differently for a race like this with the uphill?
T: No, we have done anything different in term of that. He is a big strong horse as you’ve seen. Don’t feel like that’s going to be a big problem. He is kind of a stayer he is not the kind of horse on the lead and hill won’t affect him and come flying from the back. He never gave any indication that he is going to give up in the end of a race. I think he is well suited for that. I didn’t give him a heavy work out this week. If you look back at his past performance, he works easy half mile once a week. He is an easy horse to train and good feeling horse. We try to keep him that way and that’s been the key to give 6 to 7 week in between the races keeps him on the edge and that’s when he runs the best.
LAVA MAN (USA, g4, dark bay or brown)
Owner: Jason Wood
Trainer: Leandro Mora
Q: Arriving in Japan, how is his workout and the condition of the horse?
T: Seem like he has pretty much acclimated over here he is happy as soon as he arrived from the quarantine. In the last 2 days, nothing but motivated so looking forward to the race.
Q: Lava Man has a good record until the last 2 races. In the last performance, he was defeated unbelievably, what was the reason for this defeat in last race?
T: Blame it on the trip. That trip was not too good. He was not a happy horse there, by the time he was up to the gate, he was ready to run away so, he did better here because he seems to like it here—he’s at home.
Q: Within in the United States, the transportation was not working for him but he traveled a great distance this time but no problem with his transportation with him this time do you say?
T: This one was very excellent and also, on the truck to Belmont, he looks like he moving in to the barn on the same day is probably not so happy. He is kind of a horse that likes to feel like at home. He already acclimates here and that’s why we feel comfortable about it.
Q: What is your impression of the dirt track here at Tokyo Racecourse?
T: Very good. The track is excellent but it’s a little sandy on top but has a great bottom which most horses would like to have and something to grab on. It’s not as deep as people think it is. The only concern is uphill but we tried one and two and three but we’ve done well so we’re looking forward to see if we can do it again.
Q: Do you have any specific image of how you want to run your race?
T: In the USA, if you tell the jockey about what to do, then in less than 5 minutes he’ll forget all about it so what you’re going to is, they’ll go there and do what you can and you sit up and ride and go for it.
Q: What is your motivation as a team compared to the time that you came with Fleetstreet Dancer who won the year before last?
T: Well it was a very given race—we got lucky that it rained that time and the horse really loved the mud so that’s one advantage on our situation but this time I hope it doesn’t rain. He (Lava Man) is the opposite of him.
Q: Have you done anything differently in preparation for the race this week?
T: Well his work is already done. He has trained up to the race and had one super breeze back in California and I was very happy with it and that’s as much as we want to do for the race. All we have to do is to keep him happy and healthy.
Q: Given Lava Man’s best races like the Hollywood Gold and the Pacific Classic, he’s run on both Lasix and Butazolidin do you have any concerns about him running without either of those aids this time?
T: Usually, those sorts of horses sometime have a big impact and I hope goes our way—hopefully he doesn’t need it and so it’s a great test for him here.
Q: Obviously a great claim for 50,000 dollars—you’ve already won the Hollywood Gold Cup. What would it mean to win a race like this compared to some of the big races in the United States.
O: Just being able to be here has been a wonderful experience and the feeling you get when you win the Hollywood Gold Cup to be able to come here and take part and if we get lucky and win I get chills thinking about it—it’s just something that you dream of.
Q: After you win the Hollywood Gold Cup, being that there’s a huge bonus to the winners of this race as well. Did you target this race specifically after you’ve won that to come here.
O: Well initially we really hoped we would have been able to go into the (BC) Classic but since we weren’t nominated after our Jockey Club performance Niel said that option was out. And with that being the case this option became available and we were fortunate to be invited so that’s kind of how it unfolded we had some thoughts of it but really our first opt was the Classic.
ECCENTRIC (GBR, g4, chestnut)
Trainer:Andrew Reid
Jockey:Darryl Holland
Q: When and why did you decide to come to Japan Cup Dirt?
T: Condition of the track looks as if it would suit. The way Eccentric runs so, we thought it was a good place to come and Mr. Tanaka wanted to come to Japan. We are lucky enough to be nominated.
Q: You said the track is good for him, looking at the actual dirt track for yourself, how do you feel about it now?
T: It looks very good. Reasonably firm and not as quite as elastic as the poly-track back home. Certainly the hill would suit him perhaps he might even like a bigger hill.
Q: After coming to Japan, how is the condition of the horse?
T: He is relaxed and looks good in his condition.
Q: Do you think he will be able to show his best performance in Japan?
T: I’ll have to ask the horse for that one.
Q: What kind of race do you hope to see and which is the rival horse for you?
T: Really not worried about it for ourselves and we got to wait and see what the draw looks like to how we run the race. He liked to be towards the front but he doesn’t get upset by the horses in front or coming up on his side. He is a pretty relaxed horse when he runs.
Q: You talked about the position, is there any specific position do you prefer?
T: I think we’d like to be number 6.
Q: Why is that? Is there any reason?
T: I think some of the winners come from the 6.
Q: You mean in the past.
T: Correct.
Q: You’ve run three races and won two of them, what is the good point of the horse?
J: The horse has a very good tactical speed and stays very well. If they have a really good pace, then you can slow him down and allow the race to happen at the front. But, if they are little bit slow for me, then we can make his own way and he is very hard to pass.
Q: What kind of race do you hope to show?
J: I think the main thing is to just bounce him out well and get a good position. See how the race pounds out. I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of pace in the race so I think the main thing is to be positive and then position from there.
Q: How confident are you?
J: The horse is very well and he’s traveled very well. I suppose it’s up to me to do my job and bring him back home safely.
Q: You noted that he trains on all-weather tracks? How can you say that this track will suit him?
T: I think that the surface of the race course will suit him and it’s got a hill in it and we’ve got a hill at home.
At Tokyo Racecourse November 24, 2005 (Thursday)
⇒ FOREIGN ENTRIES-JAPAN CUP
ALKAASED (USA, h5, bay)
--cantered
(exercised from 8:00 to 8:18, ridden by D. Furukawa)
BAGO (FRA, c4. dark bay or brown)
--jogged, cantered, walked, cantered then galloped and timed over 6 furlongs over turf
(6F: 81.5,5F: 66.4,4F: 52.7,3F: 38.5,1F: 12.3)
(exercised from 7:49 to 8:13, ridden by T. Gillet, jockey).
BETTER TALK NOW (USA, g6, bay)
--galloped 1 mile and jogged 1-1/2 mile
(exercised from 7:55 to 8:15 ridden by M. Tenney)
KING’S DRAMA (IRE, g5, bay)
--jog to canter over the dirt course
(exercised from 7:55 to 8:03, ridden by C. Hunt)
OUIJA BOARD (GB, f4, bay)
--cantered 1 lap over turf
(exercised from 8:00 to 8:18 ridden by K. Fallon, jockey)
WARRSAN (IRE, h7, bay)
--did not enter track today
⇒ Foreign Entrees – Japan Cup Dirt
ECCENTRIC (GBR, g4, chestnut)
--breezed over 7 furlongs (not driven)
(5F: 70.4,4F: 55.2,3F: 41.0,1F: 15.3)
(exercised from 7:45 to 8:07 by K. Reed)
LAVA MAN (USA, g4, dark bay or brown)
--walked 1/4 lap, jogged 1/2 lap, cantered 1 lap then galloped and timed over 6 furlongs
(6F: 86.3,5F: 70.3,4F: 56.4,3F: 42.2,1F: 14.1)
(exercised from 7:50 to 8:03 by A. Romero)
TAP DAY (USA, c4, dark bay or brown)
-- jogged 3/4 lap, canter to light gallop 1-1/2 lap, jogged (right-handed) 1/4 lap
(exercised from 7:57 to 8:13 ridden by J. Sanchez)
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