Six-year-old gelding Rhinebeck, born of illustrious parents, carries the legacy of greatness. His father is the history making Deep Impact, who achieved an undefeated Triple Crown and a total of seven G1 victories. His mother is Apapane, the who secured the Fillies' Triple Crown in 2010.

Whilst being one of the most promising horses with the expectations of his generation, Rhinebeck has yet to claim a victory in a major stakes race. However, since undergoing castration surgery following a 14th-place finish in the G3 Niigata Daishoten last May, he has been showing signs of improvement, winning the Toho Stakes and delivering a strong performance to finish a close second in the previous Yonago Stakes.

Observing Rhinebeck's powerful movement in the final workout of the week, Assistant Trainer Ishibashi expressed his satisfaction, saying, "It's evident that he's moving smoothly and in great shape." He added, "In his previous race, I felt the effects of the castration surgery as he made a strong comeback towards the end. It was a performance worthy of praise." It seems that the surgery has had a positive impact on this exceptionally well-bred horse.

Since finishing eighth place in the Shinetsu Stakes last year, Rhinebeck returns to Niigata. Ishibashi, with conviction, stated, "He had a good race, finishing fifth in the Niigata Daishoten, and now that he's matured, I believe he's more than capable of performing well. I have high hopes for him." With his sights set on following in the footsteps of his great parents and achieving his long-awaited first major title, his journey is one to look forward to.