Cosmo Kuranda, who showed his class with a 2nd-place finish in the G1 Satsuki Sho and a 6th-place finish in the G1 Japanese Derby, completed his final track work at Miho Training Center ahead of the G2 St Lite Kinen, working alongside Emerillonne on the woodchip track. While his time of 6F in 87.0 seconds with splits of 38.2 and 11.8 was not particularly fast, he displayed an effortless, sharp performance throughout the work.

Trainer Shizuya Kato, who observed the gallop, was pleased, saying, "It wasn't a hard training session. We aimed to keep it easy without leaving him tired. I think it was a good piece of work." The horse has been carefully conditioned leading up to the race. Kato added, "Even after strong gallops at Miho, he's maintained his condition, and he's become a bit more mature mentally." While there has not been a dramatic change since the spring, Cosmo Kuranda is steadily progressing.

The current turf at Nakayama is producing fast times, with record-breaking races taking place on the high-speed track. Regarding the surface, Kato reflected, "I used to think he needed a track with more give, but I'm not concerned about that anymore. He has high potential and can handle any track conditions." Having finished 2nd in the record-setting Satsuki Sho, Cosmo Kuranda has already proven he can handle fast tracks. Given his past success at Nakayama, the conditions for this race could not be better.

Last week, Kato's stable celebrated victory in the G2 Shion Stakes with Christmas Parade, marking a perfect start to the autumn season. "Winning a graded stakes has raised everyone's motivation," Kato said with a smile. With momentum on their side, Cosmo Kuranda, runner-up in the Satsuki Sho, is ready to continue the stable's streak and aim for a second consecutive graded stakes victory.