With preparations complete, Sugar Kun aims to achieve what his illustrious seven-time G1-winning brother, Kitasan Black, could not: victory in the G1 Japanese Derby. On the 22nd, the G2 Aoba Sho winner had his final workout at the Ritto Training Center hill course. Despite the tight three-week turnaround, he showed no signs of fatigue, displaying a lively stride as he powered up the hill, signalling his excellent condition. Aiming for an unprecedented seventh Derby victory, Yutaka Take will ride him to in a bid for the pinnacle of his generation.

In a solo run on the Ritto hill course, Sugar Kun moved with ease, clocking 4F in 55.6 seconds, 41.0 seconds for the third furlong, and 13.6 seconds for the final furlong. Considering his upcoming travel, the workout was kept light, but the horse remained relaxed throughout, exuding a positive mood.

Interview - Trainer Hisashi Shimizu Interviewer - "It's been three weeks since the Aoba Sho. How has the preparation been so far?"

Trainer Shimizu - "We gave him a short one-week rest, and he came back in great shape. Everything has gone according to plan since then, and I have no complaints about his preparation."

Interviewer - "How was the final workout?"

Trainer Shimizu - "We didn't want to get him too excited with the travel coming up, so we kept it simple with a solo workout. He was very calm."

Interviewer - "How does he compare to his brother, Kitasan Black?"

Trainer Shimizu - "They are similar in temperament, both very relaxed and not easily influenced by their surroundings. Their strides feel a bit different, and they have different physiques. I hope he has the same growth potential as his older brother."

Interviewer - "Any final thoughts?"

Trainer Shimizu - "Being the younger brother of Kitasan Black and having Yutaka Take as his jockey, it's an honour to be on such a big stage again. I'm very grateful. Now that the final workout is done, we'll stay focused until the race."

Interview - Jockey Yutaka Take

Interviewer - "How do you feel about participating with this bloodline?"

Take - "I've been paying attention to him since his debut. We always talked about how great it would be if he could make it to the Derby, so I'm glad it's happening."

Interviewer - "Do you feel he's grown?"

Take - "He was a bit immature both mentally and physically, which is why his debut was delayed. But he has improved significantly since his second race."

Interviewer - "How did you assess his performance in the Aoba Sho?"

Take - "He was a bit excited before the race, but he ran calmly during it. Although the margin of victory wasn't huge, it was a solid performance. Since his debut, he has shown versatility by racing on different tracks and in various conditions. He has a good sense as a racehorse."

Interviewer - "How did he feel in this workout a week out?"

Take - "He ran calmly, and even though I didn't push him hard at the end, his response was good, and his time was faster than I expected."

Interviewer - "How does he compare to his brother?"

Take - "Their physique and running style are a bit different. However, their cardiovascular strength is similar, as both recover their breath quickly after a full-speed run. It's exciting to see how strong he can become, given his pedigree."

Interviewer - "You're aiming for your seventh Derby win. Any final thoughts?"

Take - "I have always felt he has great potential and his pedigree adds to the excitement. He has shown growth, so if he can improve from his last race, we have a good chance."