Trading Leather, Up With the Birds get in light exercise

Trading Leather, Up With the Birds get in light exercise

Last year's Irish Derby winner Trading Leather was the subject of a positive

report from Pat O'Donovan, assistant to trainer Jim Bolger, after the

four-year-old put in some light exercise over the Tokyo dirt course Monday in

preparation for Sunday's Group 1 Japan Cup.

"He just stretched his legs this morning and he did a right-handed jog just

to let him see his new environment," O'Donovan explained. "He's in good form and

he's moving well."

Trading Leather has not seen the winner's circle since his classic score in

June 2013, but he has been placed in a number of Europe's most important races

in the interim. The Godolphin colorbearer has run just four times this year,

most recently finishing third in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on

September 13.

"He was trained specifically for this race," O'Donovan added. "He's had a

light season and since his last start in September, he regularly did some fast

work once a week. He's had his fast work done and he was very fit coming here,

so all we want to do is maintain his fitness."

Canadian raider Up With the Birds enjoyed an easy morning Monday after

galloping Sunday.

"The gallop yesterday was very easy and quiet," said Mark Ramsammy, assistant

to trainer Malcolm Pierce. "He came out of it very well and he's in very good

condition. We just wanted to let him stretch his legs--not do too much, and he

won't do any more fast work until the race."

Up With The Birds, Canada's Horse of the Year of 2013, won last year's

Jamaica Handicap and added the Nijinsky in July. The Sam-Son Farm homebred was

most recently second in the Knickerbocker on October 11.

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