Contenders for the 57th running of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin in Osaka on Sunday went through their final fast gallops for the 2200m feature on Wednesday.

Duramente, Kitasan Black and Ambitious are the standouts in the field of 17.

Mirco Demuro has the ride on Duramente, but did not ride fast work on Wednesday with the Miho-based stayer worked under an assistant to trainer Noriyuki Hori.

He was given five furlongs over slightly soft ground working in tandem with an open class stablemate and clocked 68.9 seconds with a 12.5 second final furlong under no urging.

It will be Japan Derby winner Duramente’s first time over the Hanshin course but Demuro believes the track will suit the G1 classic winner.

“It will be the inside course with a short stretch, but I think it’ll be OK for him,” Demuro said.

The jockey said the four turns of the race require a horse to hold a good position.

Last year Duramente won the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) at Nakayama coming from far off the pace but Demuro acknowledges those tactics would be tough on the Hanshin course.

Rain may pose a problem for the 4YO but Demuro said “he’s a very strong horse and I very much want him to win.”

The field of the Takarazuka Kinen is chosen in part by fan ballot. Garnering the most ballots was this year’s Tenno Sho Spring winner Kitasan Black.

Trainer Hisashi Shimizu gave him a fast gallop at Ritto with race jockey Yutaka Take replaced by jockey Yu Kuroiwa for the work over seven furlongs.

Kitasan Black worked on the woodchip course with a parner and clocked 97.8 seconds with a final furlong of 12.2 seconds.

Shimizu said: “His movement was good, his time was good and he looked like he had a lot more to give.

“I think we’ll be heading to the race in good shape.”

Kitasan Black has raced successfully over distances from 1800m to 3200m.

“I can’t say what his best distance is,” said Shimizu. “He’s a very versatile horse with good racing sense and he can handle a number of distances.”

It will be Kitasan Black’s first time over the Hanshin 2200m.

Ambitious, a 4YO Deep Impact colt, is in the spotlight winning the G2 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin on April 3.

Ambitious was given a hard gallop up the Ritto hill course on Wednesday with a lower-class horse, covering five furlongs in 61.2 seconds.

“He’s coming off a bit of a spell but his movement is good and he’s light on his feet. I wanted to push him and be sure,” said trainer Hidetaka Otonashi.

“I’m hoping he’ll give us a run worthy of his name.”

Christophe Lemaire rode the 6YO Lovely Day over 6 furlongs on the flat woodchip course heavy from rain.

He clocked a leisurely 83.2 seconds but Lemaire pushed him at the end as he covered the final furlong in 12 seconds.

“It was a very nice piece of work,” Lemaire said. “He was more relaxed than he was last week and he had nice acceleration in the stretch. I’d say he’s in very good condition.”

Two notable absentees are Mikki Queen and Shonan Pandora, the former being rested for an autumn campaign while last year’s Japan Cup winner is sidelined through injury.

Step races have included the G3 Naruo Kinen, G1 Tenno Sho Spring, and the G2 Sankei Osaka Hai.