Del Avar will look to bounce back in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. After finishing fifth in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, where a slow start and poor positioning proved costly, he still managed to clock a final 3F of 33.3 seconds, matching the winner and showcasing his potential. Trainer Mikio Matsunaga reflected, "It was tough from that position, but he still closed well. I heard he was unsettled until the second corner, and it might have been different if he had a horse to challenge at the finish."

The colt has been focused on improving his barrier work since his last outing. "We've been concentrating on his start, and now, while he might not be explosive, his acceleration is much better. If he can settle in mid-pack, that would be ideal," Matsunaga said, expressing optimism about the progress. "He's moving and responding better than last time," he added, noting the signs of improvement in Del Avar's third career start.

The shift from Tokyo's wide, two-turn 1800m course to Nakayama's tighter 2000m circuit could also play to his strengths. "I think he'll handle four turns better. He's fine with running in a pack, and a large field with some chaos could work in our favour," the trainer said, welcoming the change of venue.

While stablemate Yamanin Bouclier will have legendary jockey Yutaka Take chasing a record of winning all JRA G1 races, Del Avar will pair with Kosei Miura, who is aiming for his first G1 victory. Matsunaga, fielding two horses in the race, cheerfully said, "I'd love for Yutaka to win, but I also want Kosei to win." With Miura entering his 126th G1 ride in search of a breakthrough victory, this promises to be a must-watch contest.