Lemon Pop fizzes at Tokyo for Godolphin to set up likely top-level campaign

Godolphin’s Lemon Pop fizzed to the front inside the distance of the 7f Negishi Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday, and went on to win the most important prep race for the February Stakes by half a length.

The February Stakes on the 19th of next month is the JRA’s first top-level race of 2023 and Lemon Pop prepped well enough for it in this Group 3, justifying odds-on favouritism under regular rider Keita Tosaki, the pair repelling late challenger Gilded Mirror, with Battle Cry a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

However, the winner is not a certainty to go for the race, connections indicated afterwards.

The chestnut is, as his name implies, by Lemon Drop Kid, and he is out of Giant's Causeway mare Unreachable. This was his seventh win from ten career starts for Godolphin and trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, and notably he is unbeaten in five course-and-distance runs. 

Tosaki said: "I'm relieved. This horse is very easy to ride and I thought he would be able to handle any race. 

“He started a little slower than usual, but he was able to get a good position with his good sense of needing to recover. He ran with a good rhythm, and in the straight his response was so good. Some horses came to his side a little early so he had to move earlier than I expected, but he held out until the finish. He has both power and speed, and race-sense."

Trainer Tanaka said, "He was a little late into stride, so he took a while to get the right position. The jockey has ridden him in most of his races and was able to let him find a good rhythm  and he could manage Lemon Pop's race as usual.”

About the challenge of the February Stakes, he added: “I’d like to discuss with the owner about what will be a considered decision, because he is physically weak.”

The runner-up is also in the frame for the February Stakes, after which connections of both Lemon Pop and Gilded Mirror will consider whether to go to Dubai.

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