Away cleanly from stall nine, Peptide Nile raced prominently through the early stages as the hulking Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn})–a son of dual Grade I-winning juvenile filly Weemissfrankie (Sunriver)–led from 29-10 second favorite Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Tracking four wide on the turn while traveling well within himself, Peptide Nile was held together into the long straight and went up to challenge Don Frankie for the lead about five off the inside with a bit more than 200 metres to travel. Wilson Tesoro was still plugging away between the two of them, but Peptide Nile proved not for catching from there and scored comfortably in the finish. Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) ran home gamely for second in his first go on the dirt, while Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) came from well back to win a photo for third. Wilson Tesoro faded to eighth, while the unexposed Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) beat just two home as the 21-10 chalk.

“The pace was tough, but he ran a great race,” said jockey Yusuke Fujioka, winning his second Group 1 on the JRA. “We were able to sit in a better position than expected, but I didn't imagine he would take over the lead that early and that easily. The wire seemed very far today. His last start didn't turn out as hoped, but as long as he's able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I'm sure we can look forward to solid performances in the future.”

Pedigree Notes:

A member of the third-last crop of the outstanding King Kamehameha, Peptide Nile is one of 100 of his black-type winners and became the 68th to strike at group level. He is a 15th elite-level winner for King Kamehameha and fourth of those on the dirt, joining Hokko Tarumae (Jpn), Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) and Jun Light Bolt (Jpn).

Queen Olive has a 3-year-old filly by King Kamehameha's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)-winning son Rey de Oro (Jpn) and a yearling colt by top dirt sire Sinister Minister. She is due to Drefong this term.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥233,160,000, Tokyo, 2-18, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:35.70, ft.
1–PEPTIDE NILE (JPN), 128, h, 6, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
1st Dam: Queen Olive (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Olive Branch (Jpn), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Sopranino, by Theatrical (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kazuhiko Numakawa; B-Kineusu Farm; T-Hidenori Take; J-Yusuke Fujioka; ¥123,612,000. Lifetime Record: 20-8-1-1, ¥262,596,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gaia Force (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Natale (Jpn), by Kurofune. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (¥30,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-KR Japan; B-Oiwake Farm; T-Haruki Saugiyama; J-Yoshihito Nagaoka; ¥49,032,000.
3–Sekifu (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Henny Hughes–Siyabona, by Kingmambo. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Akira Nakatsuji; B-Bamboo Farm; T-Koshiro Take; J-Yutaka Take; ¥30,516,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NO. Odds: 37.00, 12.00, 47.20.
Also Ran: Tagano Beauty (Jpn), King's Sword (Jpn), Red le Zele (Jpn), Mick Fire (Jpn), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), Don Frankie (Jpn), Alpha Mom (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Dura Erede (Jpn), Speedy Kick (Jpn), Omega Guiness (Jpn), Karate (Jpn), Champagne Color (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.

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Looking to make it back-to-back successes in the world's richest horse race following the stunning all-the-way victory by Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last February are Japan's champion dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid); reigning G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}); Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), last year's G2 UAE Derby hero and runner-up to White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic; and the MGSW/MG1SP Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro).

Lightly raced for a 6-year-old, with just 14 starts under his belt, Lemon Pop won last year's G1 February S. and ventured overseas for the first time for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. An outpaced 10th behind Sibelius (Not This Time), the chestnut successfully stepped up in trip and wired the G1 Champions Cup in his first try over nine furlongs last December. Connections have opted for the path of greater resistance for his seasonal debut a week from Saturday.

“There's going to be plenty of competition there and that nine furlongs will test him now because we're not absolutely sure that's his best distance,” Godolphin Japan President Harry Sweeney told the TDN's Emma Berry in a recent interview. “But anyway, the option really is either to stay at home in Japan and run in the February S….or to go abroad and run in the Saudi Cup. So that's what we're doing.”

Say hello to four of Team Japan's G1 Saudi Cup contenders!

LEMON POP #レモンポップ
DERMA SOTOGAKE #デルマソトガケ
USHBA TESORO #ウシュバテソーロ
MEISHO HARIO #メイショウハリオ#サウジカップ | #競馬 | @JRA_WorldRacing pic.twitter.com/iloUlALcVU

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 15, 2024

A field of 16 will be drawn Friday for Sunday's February S., a 'Win and You're In' challenge race that offers a berth in the field for the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. But while the February does not lack for quantity, the racing calendar dictates that the country's stars are elsewhere.

“In truth, [the Saudi Cup] hurts the February S. a little bit, which is only one of two Grade 1 races in the JRA calendar on dirt,” Sweeney opined. So you have horses like Lemon Pop, Ushba Tesoro, Derma Sotogake all going to Saudi. Whereas in a different era they would all run in the February S.”

The Japanese have been major players in the brief history of the Saudi Cup races, and their other main chances include defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint; Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G3 Saudi Derby; and Remake (Jpn) (Lani), who will try to improve on his third-place effort in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

The American representatives also touched down in Riyadh late Wednesday evening, including the Saudi Cup-bound White Abarrio, National Treasure (Quality Road) and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming).

Three of Team USA's G1 Saudi Cup contenders arriving to quarantine at @JCSA_Racing.

SAUDI CROWN
WHITE ABARRIO
NATIONAL TREASURE #TheSaudiCup | – pic.twitter.com/XMtfiinzPl

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 15, 2024

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Question: What is the only race in the history of the Dubai World Cup that has never been won by the host?

That statement feels like an enormous anomaly, given all the success down the years at old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and here at Meydan Racecourse, but true it is all the same. It is a record that Harry Sweeney, the president of the Japanese arm of Sheikh Mohammed's global operation, hopes will change this weekend when American-bred and -sourced Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) takes on five U.S.-based sprinters and significant Japanese-bred challenge in the 1200-meter race.

Moments after the clean chestnut, bred in the names of former Darley executive Olly Tait and his wife, completed some light work under the early-morning lights at Meydan Wednesday, Sweeney graciously took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about the acquisition of Lemon Pop, his rise to Group 1 winner and what the future may hold.

Alan Carasso: First of all, how has Lemon Pop come out of his victory in the G1 February S.?

Harry Sweeney: Yeah, he's come out well. It's a five-week gap, which we thought was reasonable, between the February S. and this race. He's a 5-year-old, but he's still very lightly raced. He's only raced 11 times. But I watched him warm up down there [in the 1600-meter chute] this morning. He's not at times the most fluent of movers, but he's moving well now. So I'm very pleased with that. The trainer seemed happy with him. He traveled reasonably well, a little bit off his food for the first few days, but he's back to grubbing. He's a big strong horse and he moved well this morning, so I'd say he's good.

AC: When did Lemon Pop arrive here into Dubai?

HS: He got in here last Tuesday, I believe. Tuesday of last week.

AC: Under the Paca Paca Farm banner, you guys selected him as a weanling at Keeneland ($70,000 in November 2018), and I know you guys tend to do that, pick them up as foals. What's the philosophy of buying them at that young age?

HS: Well, the reason is it's a model of logistics really, because, I mean, I'm buying these for Japan and of course if we buy in the yearling market, then it's pretty congested already with Godolphin people. We have the UK Godolphin team buying and also Shadwell buying when they were buying a lot of horses.

So we're the 'small boy' in the organization. So there was a lot of congestion in that area and it was just easier to buy them as foals, really, and to avoid that.

AC: And where do these types of purchases go after you buy them?

HS: He came to Japan, Lemon Pop was bought in November and he came straight to Japan, and so he spent his yearling year in Japan, on the farm.

AC: What was it about him that attracted you at Keeneland?

LEMON POP @godolphin in the house!#DWC23 pic.twitter.com/fQkdN3cArS

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 18, 2023

HS: Well, if I'm perfectly honest, I mean, I probably short-listed him on the basis that I thought he might run on turf. Lemon Drop Kid can get a few decent turf runners and the mare being by Giant's Causeway, I thought there's a chance this horse might run on turf. So I'd say that's the reason that I looked at him in the first place.

But when I did look at him, I mean, physically he's a very, very well-balanced, well-proportioned horse. I mean, I really, really like that about him. He was an average mover, but I thought he was just a very, very well-balanced horse. And that's the reason I bought him.

AC: Like you pointed out, he's only made the 11 starts but for eight wins and over $2.2 million in earnings. He's a 5-year-old now. Were there any serious issues, or just little niggling issues that kept him from stringing starts together?

HS: Yeah. Well, after he won–I think–his second start, I mean, he showed enormous talent initially. Even at the second start, we were already clear that this horse had the ability and we already had kind of marked him down as a Group 1 horse, maybe not a Group 1 winner, but a Group 1 horse. And we were considering and coming even to we kind of planning, really hoping, to come to the [G2] UAE Derby [in 2021]. But then fate intervened, hit a small issue. We took numerous X-rays and we had four different veterinary opinions, all different, the most expensive veterinary opinions in the world. He had what looked like a little bit of fracture line there. We were just a bit worried in the end and we opted to be conservative and so we gave him time off, which was probably the right decision. Because listen, we were aware of that ability and we didn't want to compromise that. We were happy to wait.

AC: Coming here, you had a choice between whether to stay at the mile [for the G2 Godolphin Mile] or cut back in trip for the Dubai Golden Shaheen. What ultimately led to the decision to keep him short?

HS: Firstly, the trainer always believes this horse is a sprinter. And even when we ran in the February S. over a mile, the trainer really wasn't that enthusiastic about him, to be honest. We had to kind of lean on him to even run in the February S., but I mean these decisions are made for us. There are only two Group1 races on dirt on the JRA [circuit]. So, where do you go if you have a horse of this caliber? You have little option, you must go there. And to be honest, we're thinking of his next career when he finishes as a stallion. I mean, he's already secured his place. It was important to win a Group 1 in Japan. And so that's why we went there. Okay. Now the reverse is true. That's why we're here as well. Where else would he go in Japan? The next Group 1 in the JRA on dirt is [the1800-meter G1 Champions Cup in December} and the trainer also wants to sprint. In fact, it was the trainer's preference initially to come here and avoid the February S., not even to run there.

So we'll see how he goes. It's a bit of an ask because he he's never run over six furlongs [Ed's Note: Lemon Pop broke his maiden at first asking going 1300 meters or 6 1/2 furlongs]. So that's a first for him. Equally, running on this type of dirt surface with the kickback, we're not sure about that. We have a young jockey aboard. The trainer is traveling his first horse abroad. We're all rookies here. It's a bit of an ask, but we feel there's little to be lost. To be honest, I vacillated between going for this or the Mile. We did it give it real consideration. I think when [champion and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero] Elite Power came out of the sprint and when we had a feeling that he wasn't going to come, that changed us. When he was in, we were going to go for the other race. So they were part of the reasons and the trainer's belief as well. He's a sprinter. Let's see how he goes.

AC: My next question sort of dovettails off of that. If he's not going to stretch out to nine furlongs, if he is not a horse for the Champion's Cup, what is there for him left at home? Any thoughts of sending him to the States?

HS: The February S. is a 'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup, the Classic, and I think we might be able to use it for a different race. I'd say we're not ruling out. These decisions might be much easier to make on Sunday, but we're not ruling it out. But he'll go back to Japan, we're going to give him a spell. He'll go to the farm straight away after the race one way or the other. There is a race called the JBC Sprint in Japan [Nov. 3], which is a local Japan Group 1 race. But even though it doesn't have international graded status, it's a big race in Japan and it's an extremely competitive race. And that's a six-furlong sprint. I wouldn't rule out a run in the Champions Cup either. We're ambitious in Japan. We have little to be restricted about it.

AC: And finally, How does it feel to have one of yours run here in front of the boss?

HS: Oh, that's very important. And listen, we hope he runs well and if he runs well, we'd be pleased. The boss is a true internationalist. And it's fashionable, so it would be nice to have. And this is the only race that Godolphin have never won, so it would be nice to tick that box.

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“Lemon Pop has been invited to Dubai, but we won't be making a decision on this for some time yet,” said Godolphin Japan President Harry Sweeney, who purchased the chestnut in the name of Paca Paca Farm for $70,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. “Thrilled that Lemon Pop has won a Group 1 race at his first attempt and won in good style. We are relieved that he now has a JRA Group 1 on his curriculum vitae which will be very important for his next career whenever he finishes racing.”

Handed a good draw in gate seven, Lemon Pop was in the vanguard early, but was content to drift back a few spots as the mare Shonan Nadeshiko (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) took the 16-strong field through an opening half-mile in a solid :46.60. Tipped out into the four path with about 600 metres to travel, Lemon Pop traveled strongly into the race and was under a long hold–having yet to be asked for his best–as the field hit the quarter pole. Finally given a dig by Ryusei Sakai approaching the final furlong, Lemon Pop pinched a break as Red le Zele flashed and loomed a momentary danger, but the favourite had the race well and truly in safe keeping and proved a clear-cut winner. Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro) nearly unseated jockey Suguru Hamanaka at the break and was a long last down the backstretch, but rallied strongly to finish third.

The other US-bred winners of the race include Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) in 2020 and Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) the last two years.

The victory was the second at group level for Lemon Pop, who rebounded from a tough loss in the G3 Musashino S. over course and distance Nov. 12 to reverse form with Gilded Mirror (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G3 Negishi S. over seven panels Jan. 29. Jockey Keita Tosaki had ridden Lemon Pop to each of his seven previous wins, but opted for fourth-placed Dry Stout (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) Sunday, much to Sweeney's surprise.

“[We] were shocked to read in the sports papers just two weeks ago that Keita Tosaki had decided to get off Lemon Pop to ride another horse,” said Sweeney. “We then had to scramble to find a replacement and we are delighted with Sakai-san's performance today. It was a pressure ride for him too as he was riding Lemon Pop, the favourite, for the first time and in a Group 1 race.”

Added the winning jockey: “I am grateful to be given the chance to ride such a strong and favored horse and am happy we won. He responded well and pulled away strongly all the way to the wire.”

'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) sat an inside trip from a disadvantageous low draw and was beaten about 10 lengths into ninth.

“From what the jockey was telling me, he wasn't enjoying the kickback that much, but I think he ran an OK race,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “I just think he's a superiour turf horse, but we gave it a try.”

Pedigree Notes:

On behalf of former Darley executive Olly Tait and his wife, Blandford Bloodstock went to 165,000gns for Unreachable from the Juddmonte draft at the 2012 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Unreachable is a daughter of Harpia, a full-sister to the highly influential Danehill as well as Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth, etc., and is a half-sister to the stakes-placed First Word (Chester House) and the young American regional stallion Redesdale (Speightstown). This is also the family of Dundonnell (First Defence), a Group 3 winner in England, a listed winner in Hong Kong and Group 3-placed in Dubai.

Unreachable was offered in foal to Good Magic at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale but was led out unsold on a bid of $55,000. The mare was privately acquired by Jay and Christine Hayden's Saintsbury Farms and the colt the mare was carrying at the time–an Ontario-bred now named Equivoque–would go on to fetch $325,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Unreachable is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Good Magic and a yearling colt by Maclean's Music. A Maximum Security colt out of Lemon Pop's half-sister Regal Rags (Union Rags) was sold for $110,000 at Keeneland November last fall. Unreachable, now 14 years of age, was entered for, but was unsurprisingly withdrawn from this year's Keeneland January Sale when again in foal to Maclean's Music.

Lemon Pop is the 10th worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winner for his sire, who was pensioned from stud duties at Lane's End in 2021 and is his second top-level winner out of a Giant's Causeway dam. The late 'Iron Horse' is now the broodmare sire of 32 G1SW/GISW.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥232,860,000, Tokyo, 2-19, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:35.60, gd.
1–LEMON POP, 128, h, 5, by Lemon Drop Kid
1st Dam: Unreachable, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Harpia, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Razyana, by His Majesty
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Godolphin; B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Hiroyasu Tanaka; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥123,403,000. Lifetime Record: 11-8-3-0, ¥288,439,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Red le Zele (Jpn), 128, h, 7, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–French Noir (Jpn), by French Deputy. O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai Farm; ¥48,972,000.
3–Meisho Hario (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Pyro–Meisho Ohi (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Yoshio Matsumoto; B-Mishima Bokujo; ¥30,486,000.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 1. Odds: 1.20, 8.00, 9.70.
Also Ran: Dry Stout (Jpn), Admire Lupus (Jpn), Speedy Kick (Jpn), Helios (Jpn), Soliste Thunder (Jpn), Shirl's Speight, Kenshinko (Jpn), Sekifu (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Keiai Turquoise (Jpn), T M South Dan (Jpn), Shonan Nadeshiko (Jpn), Jasper Prince.
Click for the JRA chart.

The post Dubai In Play For Godolphin’s Lemon Pop Following February S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The 5-year-old, purchased for $70,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, is a bona-fide horse for the course, as his only defeat in eight local appearances came at the hooves of Gilded Mirror in the G3 Musashino S. over the course and distance in November. He reversed form with the mare last time, taking the 1400-metre G3 Negishi S. by a half-length Jan. 29.

“Since last spring we've had the Negishi S. and then the February S. as the plan for him,” said assistant trainer Toshikiko Hokari. “He has good racing sense and obeys the jockey's orders, so even with the extended distance, he should be able to get a good result.”

Not insignificantly, Keita Tosaki, who has piloted Lemon Pop to each of his victories, opts to stick with the 4-year-old Dry Stout (Jpn) (Sinister Minister). Winner of four of his six trips to the post, the dark bay took the second leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby in late 2021 to make it three on the trot and exits a runner-up effort in the Listed Subaru S. over seven furlongs at Chukyo Jan. 7.

“He's very sharp and his reactions have been good in training,” said Tosaki. “I've been riding him for some time, so I can see how he's more experienced now. I have always thought he's a capable horse, and I'm excited about it being a [Group] 1 this time and hope he can win.”

The well-traveled Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) swerves next weekend's G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in favor of the February, a race in which he was fourth and sixth, respectively, to Cafe Pharoah the last two years. Runner-up to Switzerland (Speightstown) in last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, the 7-year-old downed T M South Dan (Jpn) (South Vigorous) in the Listed Tokyo Hai last October and was last seen finishing a running-on fourth to last year's Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas de Trois {Jpn}) in the Listed JBC Sprint the following month.

Charles Fipke breaks new ground Sunday when his homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) becomes the first foreign raider to contest the February S. The upset winner of the GI Maker's Mark Mile last season, the bay makes his first start on the dirt since a third to Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) in the GIII Salvator Mile last June and his first since running champion Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to three-parts of a length in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland last November.

“He's a very versatile horse, but watching videos of him here and watching him this morning, he looks like he's handling the track very well and if he can run to his true ability, he will be very competitive–but it is unknown to me,” commented trainer Roger Attfield, who has tabbed Joao Moreira to ride.

The February S. serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

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Away awkwardly from the 13 hole, the $70,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase on behalf of Godolphin improved to race in the second flight of horses about three away from the inside for the opening half-mile. Pulled out into the four path leaving the 600-metre pole, the chestnut was roused to the front with a little more than a furlong to race and finished willingly to hold off the fast-finishing Gilded Mirror (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), reversing the form of their last meeting in this track's G3 Musashino S. over a mile Nov. 12. Lemon Pop was running his record over the Tokyo 1400 metres to five-from-five.

Unreachable, a daughter of the legendary Danehill (Danzig)'s Grade III-winning full-sister Harpia and also a half to New York-based stallion Redesdale (Speightstown), was unplaced in a pair of 3-year-old starts for Juddmonte and Dermot Weld and was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock, on behalf of former Darley Chief Operating Officer Olly Tait and his wife Amber, for 165,000gns ($278,915) at the 2012 Tattersalls December Mare sale.

Unreachable was led out unsold on a bid of $55,000 at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale, and the foal she was carrying at the time, a Good Magic colt, was purchased by China Horse Club/Gandharvi for $325,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in 2021 before CHC bought out their partner for $240,000 during the HORA section of last year's KEENOV sale. The mare is also responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Good Magic, a yearling Maclean's Music colt and is due to that Hill 'n' Dale sire for 2023. Lemon Pop's third dam also includes Danehill's accomplished full-brothers Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth. Lemon Pop is the 107th stakes winer and 49th graded/group winner for the now 27-year-old Lemon Drop Kid.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NEGISHI S.-G3, ¥76,810,000, Tokyo, 1-29, 4yo/up, 1400m, 1:22.50, gd.
1–LEMON POP, 126, h, 5, by Lemon Drop Kid
1st Dam: Unreachable, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Harpia, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Razyana, by His Majesty
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. ($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Godolphin; B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Hiroyasu Tanaka; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥40,567,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-3-0, $1,313,929. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gilded Mirror (Jpn), 121, m, 6, Orfevre (Jpn)–Titan Queen, by Tiznow. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥16,164,000.
3–Battle Cry (Jpn), 123, c, 4, Isla Bonita (Jpn)–Dear Comet (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-G Riviere·Racing; B-Dearest Club; ¥10,082,000.
Margins: HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.60, 4.10, 11.80.
Click for the JRA chart.

The post Godolphin’s Lemon Pop Prevails In February S. Prep appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Victorious in the 1400-meter G3 Negishi S. at headquarters last January, Red le Zele ran on to finish fourth behind Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) in this event, then shipped to Dubai, where he was an excellent runner-up beneath Ryan Moore in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. A close third off a six-month break in the Listed Tokyo Hai at Ohi in early October, the 6-year-old exits a comprehensive three-length defeat of Sunrise Nova (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the valuable Listed JBC Sprint at Kanazawa Nov. 3.

“He is probably better now compared to last year, when he finished fourth in this race,” said trainer Takayuki Yasuda. “He has developed nicely and I think he can put in another big run.”

Cafe Pharoah seems to save his best for the Tokyo 1600 metres, where he is a perfect three-from-three. After accounting for the venerable Air Spinel (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by three-parts of a length 12 months ago, he failed to land a serious blow in three subsequent appearances, including a distant 11th to the G1 Saudi Cup-bound T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the G1 Champions Cup over nine furlongs at Chukyo Dec. 5.

T M South Dam (Jpn) (South Vigorous) is in with a puncher's chance, with nine wins from 18 starts, including the Listed Hyogo Gold Trophy at Sonoda in late December followed by a one-length tally in this year's Negishi S. Jan. 30.

Two-time champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), last year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) heroine who defeated Eclipse Award winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, tries the dirt for the second time in her career, having disappointed at skinny odds when a well-beaten 12th in the Champions Cup.

The post Fresh Red le Zele One To Beat In February S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Saturday, February 19, 2022
11th-HSN, Kyoto Himba S.-G3, ¥72m ($626k), 4/up, f/m, 1400mT
LOTUS LAND (m, 5, Point of Entry–Little Miss Muffet, by Scat Daddy) blossomed during her 4-year-old season in 2021, winning half of her eight starts, including the Listed Yonago S. in June and an 8-1 upset of the 1600-meter G3 Sekiya Kinen in August (see below, SC 6) to surpass $1 million in career earnings. Though she was 12th when last seen in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in November, she was beaten just over five lengths and there will be nothing in this field near the quality of Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was successfully defending her title in her career swansong. B-Dr Aaron Sones & Dr Naoya Yoshida (KY)

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Bred in Kentucky by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Farm, Mozu Ascot was led out unsold on a bid of $275,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale before being acquired privately by Capital System Co. Ltd. A maiden winner at third asking under the care of the colorful Yoshito Yahagi, the chestnut found his niche at distances between 1400 and 1600 meters, winning the one-mile G1 Yasuda Kinen on turf in 2018 in a time of 1:31.30. Having made his first 19 career starts on the grass, Mozu Ascot won the G3 Negishi S. (1400m) when trying the dirt for the first time last Feb. 2, then validated 9-5 favoritism in the G1 February S. (1600m) at Tokyo three weeks later (see below). He ran on strongly to be fifth in the G1 Champions Cup (1800m) in his final career appearance Dec. 6.

WATCH: Mozu Ascot becomes a dual-surface G1SW in the February S.

Mozu Ascot is a son of India (Hennessy), raced by Summer Wind to a pair of graded victories and earnings of over $630,000. Also the dam of SW & ‘TDN Rising Star’ Kareena (Medaglia d’Oro), India is a half-sister to SW Pilfer (Deputy Minister), the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). He joins the likes of California Chrome and Lani at Arrow Stud on the island of Hokkaido.

Mr Melody, by contrast, began his career on dirt, setting a Tokyo track record in graduating over 1300 meters on debut, then won the G3 Falcon S. in his first try on the turf in 2018. A near-miss second in the G2 Hanshin Cup to close his sophomore season, Mr Melody posted the most important of his four career victories in the 2019 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, covering the six furlongs in 1:07.30 (see below), and was a close fourth in the G1 Sprinters’ S. He turned in a pair of strong efforts in defeat this term, finishing third to recent G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Centaur S. and a close fourth behind the talented filly Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn} x Tapitsfly) in the Sprinters’ S.

Bred in the Bluegrass by Bell Tower Thoroughbreds, Mr Melody was a $75,000 Keeneland November buyback, a $100,000 Keeneland September acquisition and blossomed into a $400,000 OBS April breezer. A son of Trusty Lady, the half-brother to GSP Trendy Lady (Unbridled’s Song) is a maternal grandson of MGSW & MGISP Klassy Kim (Silent Screen). He enters stud at Yushun Stallion Station on Hokkaido, the home of Henny Hughes, among others.

WATCH: Mr Melody gets his Group 1 in the Takamtsunoimya Kinen

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