A mafoo with John Moore's stable gives Yasuda Kinen contender Joyful Winner some tender, loving care after his hitout at Fuchu racecourse yesterday.
Moore has been alarmed by reports that the Tokyo course has a pronounced leader bias and will walk the track today with jockey Darren Beadman in a bid to ensure their strategy in Sunday's big mile race is a winning one.
Moore came to Tokyo assuming that the normal Yasuda Kinen pattern would prevail - that is, the winner would settle in the second half of the field and come with a strong, late burst down the centre of the track.
'A number of the locals have told me the track here has been playing in favour of horses near the front of the field, which is a real concern,' Moore said. 'This horse is at his best when left alone in the early stages and saved for one strong finishing burst and when ridden that way, he shows a terrific turn of foot, running times in the high 21s for his last 400.'