Ho O Gaia, who ran an impressive second against colts in the Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu, has been targeting a graded-stakes title ever since. On the 8th, the colt completed his final trackwork at the Miho Training Center woodchip track with an ambitious three-horse gallop against two older horses, showcasing vibrant and energetic strides to finish level with his companions.

With jockey Hironobu Tanabe taking the reins for the first time, Ho O Gaia was flanked by Raggio and Night in London, two seasoned older horses, and faced pressure from both sides without faltering. He extended powerfully on his own accord, clocking 84.9 seconds for 6F, with splits of 37.0 seconds for the last 3F and a sharp 11.3 seconds for the final furlong, finishing evenly with the pair. Tanabe noted, "This horse has light, quick movement and a good attitude. I thought the 2000 meters in his last race might not suit him. A mile seems to be more fitting for him based on how he felt during training. He doesn't seem to be a power type, so I'd like to keep him on the best part of the track."

In his last outing, Ho O Gaia stumbled going into the second corner, nearly unseating his jockey. However, he regained his rhythm, pushed through gaps in the stretch, and surged to finish second. Trainer Masahiro Otake reflected, "The turn of foot he showed after being asked in the stretch was incredible. I think the reason his finish flattened out was the distance." Despite the loss, he left a strong impression with his burst of speed and mental toughness.

Now, after a two-month break, this is his target race. Otake commented, "At Nakayama, you need to be nimble and handle tight turns well, so that will be a key challenge. But I think the distance is ideal." Graded stakes races at this level often attract a field of 1-win class horses, making even passing the lottery draw the first hurdle. Still, if fortune is on his side, Ho O Gaia has the talent to take centre stage and make a mark.