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SAKAI ASKS AND LEMON GOES POP, SURGING CLEAR WITH PLENTY OF ZEST

SAKAI ASKS AND LEMON GOES POP, SURGING CLEAR WITH PLENTY OF ZEST Feb 23, 2023

The impressive Lemon Pop secured a significant first top flight victory with an emphatic success in the 1600m Grade 1 February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday. The 5yo Lemon Drop Kid entire had already established himself as one of Japan’s most exciting dirt horses and was making his debut in this highest echelon having won seven of his ten previous starts, including a cosy verdict in the same venue’s 1400m Grade 3 Negishi Stakes on his previous appearance.

After showing good speed from the gates, Lemon Pop briefly led before tracking the leaders in sixth as Shonan Nadeshiko cut out the running in the highlight. Ryusei Sakai raced four wide path on Lemon Pop turning for home and the Hiroyasu Tanaka-trained horse cruised up on the bridle to challenge Shonan Nadeshiko, Keiai Turquoise and Helios for the lead over 300m from home.

SWEENEY OBVIOUSLY THRILLED

Lemon Pop streaked clear soon after, with Red Le Zele launching a late bid inside the final 200m. The dual Dubai Golden Shaheen runner-up could not get near Lemon Pop, who held on well to score by a length and a half. Harry Sweeney, president of Godolphin in Japan, said: “We are both thrilled and relieved.

Thrilled that Lemon Pop has won a Grade One race at his first attempt and in good style. After his first two races, we were convinced of his ability and believed him to be a top flight horse, but some slight soundness issues intervened which kept him off the track for a year. Kudos to our veterinary and training teams for giving him all the time he needed.

“We are relieved that he now has a JRA Grade One success on his curriculum vitae which will be very important for his next career whenever he finishes racing. There are in fact only two Grade One races on dirt in the entire JRA calendar and the second of these is over 2000m, which would absolutely be too far for Lemon Pop.

Indeed, we needed to lean significantly on Lemon Pop’s trainer, Tanaka, to get him to run in this 1600m race so hence another reason for us to be relieved. “Keita Tosaki, who had ridden Lemon Pop in all his previous seven wins, decided to get off Lemon Pop to ride another horse. We had to scramble to find a replacement and we are delighted with Sakai’s performance today.

“Lemon Pop has been invited to Dubai but we won’t be making a decision on this for some time yet.” The winning jockey added: “I am grateful to be given the chance to ride such a strong and favoured horse and am happy we won. He responded well and pulled away strongly all the way to the wire.” Sweeney has extra reason to be delighted: he purchased the horse, bred by former Darley executive Olly Tait and wife, in the name of his Paca Paca Farm for $70,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale.


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