Blockbuster clash of Japan's best sprinters looks one to savour

Tower Of London
7.40 Chukyo
1pt win

As a flat track with a sweeping bend into the home straight, Chukyo's turf course provides a fair test even for sprinters.

British champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who recently left Japan atop their championship standings after a hugely successful winter, suggests there is no real draw bias. While that may generally be the case, last year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen seemed to be determined in large part by the draw.

Beaten 6-4 favourite Danon Smash was drawn in stall 13 and had to go the long way around. Second-favourite Mozu Superflare showed white-hot speed to lead from stall 15, but predictably faded in the straight. Danon Smash was the only runner drawn in the higher half of the field to make the first six home.

Both return for another crack with the luckless Mozu Superflare in stall 16 of 18. Danon Smash, who did well last year given his trip, is more favourably drawn this time in stall six. He warmed up with a victory in the Ocean Stakes, used last year as a prep run by Mozu Superflare.

The form of that race is not especially strong, with the veteran Nac Venus (an outsider here from stall 15) in second. Third was Tower Of London, the Godolphin runner who has defied his middle-distance pedigree to develop into one of Japan's top sprinters. He improved after coming off second best to Danon Smash in August, winning his next two starts including the Grade 1 Sprinters' Stakes in September.

That day he was deeply impressive, quickening sharply off the final turn having been forced wide to do so. He made Danon Smash look decidedly one-paced, stealing a couple of lengths before the gap closed late. Mozu Superflare, well drawn on that occasion and given an easier time on the front, split them.

It is easy to believe Tower Of London needed the run in the Ocean Stakes, his first outing since the Sprinters' Stakes. It was certainly not his running and he now has a 5lb pull with Danon Smash.

The other runner vying for favouritism with British bookmakers is Gran Alegria, last year's Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) winner.

She is a fascinating runner. While dropping back in trip, she won the Oka Sho with her ability to travel and has the sort of quick stride (2.34 strides/second for the last furlong that day) that suggests she can handle dropping back to sprint trips.

Tower Of London looks the one to side with in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He has a devastating turn of foot and is the improver in the race in a field of sprinters who have largely been around the block a few times. He shares that trait with Gran Alegria, who could force him to pull out all the stops if she is able to lay up with the early pace.

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