Breeders' Cup option for Tower Of London after breakthrough Grade 1 victory

Report: Japan, Sunday

Nakayama: Sprinters Stakes (Grade 1) | 6f | turf | 3yo+

Tower Of London (Kazuo Fujisawa/Christophe Lemaire) gained a breakthrough success at Grade 1 level when coming with a late surge to win the Sprinters Stakes.

Held up early, Godolphin's Tower Of London made his move rounding the final turn and flashed home to catch Mozu Superflare in the final strides, with fast-finishing favourite Danon Smash a further neck away in third.

Lemaire said: "I'm very happy. He showed guts to hold on. It is very hard to win from the rear at Nakayama, but he has enough skill.

"I thought he was a good horse from the first time I rode him and he has grown up to be a stronger horse. I'm not sure where his next race will be, domestic or abroad, but he can win at the highest level again."

Harry Sweeney, president of Godolphin in Japan, suggested the Breeders’ Cup could be on the agenda for Tower Of London with Sunday’s race earning the horse an automatic berth.

He said: “We are absolutely thrilled with Tower Of London. We had about 10 of our staff at the track today and there was fantastic excitement.

“We will consult with the trainer over the next few days and make a tentative plan. Today’s race was a win-and-you’re-in for the Breeders Cup, so we will need to decide on that very soon. Tower Of London will remain in training next year and it is very likely that he will travel abroad. Having a really nice horse like him will shorten the winter for us.”

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