Lemon Pop capped off his profession with a front-running repeat victory within the Champions Cup (G1) Dec. 1 at Chukyo Racecourse—however simply barely.
The 6-year-old son of Lemon Drop Child entered the 1,800-meter (approx.1 1/8 miles) check on the filth as winner in 12 of 15 begins in Japan and was second within the different three. The victories included a 2023 sweep of Japan’s two grade 1 filth races, the February Stakes (G1) and the Champions Cup.
Jockey Ryusei Sakai rode him with confidence befitting that report, hustling the Godolphin-owned runner proper out from the second gate as the sphere began in entrance of the Chukyo grandstand. He confirmed the best way all through, pushed alongside down the backstretch by 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Crown Pleasure .
Turning for house, Lemon Pop simply drew clear to guide by three lengths and appeared house free. However Wilson Tesoro, final yr’s runner-up, was simply getting revved up outdoors rivals, got here with a rush for jockey Yuga Kawada and simply missed in a photograph end. The official margin was a nostril.
It was one other 1 1/2 lengths to Dura Erede with Ryan Moore within the irons, replicating the 1-2-3 end of the 2023 Champions Cup. Crown Pleasure light to complete eleventh as Lemon Pop was clocked in 1:50.1, effectively shy of the course report of 1:47.6.
“It was his final race and I am glad that he was capable of finish his profession with one of the best outcome,” Sakai mentioned. “I needed to journey him as easily as doable with none loss and was prepared for any problem.”
He admitted, although, that he wasn’t completely positive on the end that he had, actually, met the problem.
“I believed we had gained however wasn’t fairly positive as a result of Wilson Tesoro got here from behind with nice velocity. So I am glad we had been capable of win. Lemon Pop is a robust horse. … There isn’t any different horse like him and I am proud to have been on his again,” Sakai mentioned.
Lemon Pop, out of the Large’s Causeway mare Unreachable , was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Tait. Hiroyasu Tanaka trains for Godolphin.
Lemon Pop’s report does not seem as glowing as these of prime Japanese turf runners as filth racing traditionally hasn’t been a lot emphasised. Solely two grade 1 stakes are supplied on that floor. However Lemon Pop has accomplished nearly every little thing requested of him, no less than on Japanese soil.
He gained six of his first eight begins, together with the 2020 Cattleya Sho, the primary leg of the “Japan Highway to the Kentucky Derby.” A second-place end in his 2022 finale was his final defeat in Japan.
His Achilles heel was journey. Godolphin tried him within the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in 2023 however he reported tenth. After the 2023 Champions Cup victory, he shipped to Riyadh for the 2024 Saudi Cup (G1), ending twelfth.
Eighteen of the previous 24 winners of the Champions Cup, previously often known as the Japan Cup Filth, have been named the Japan Racing Affiliation’s Greatest Filth Horse for that season. Lemon Pop is a cinch to repeat that honor, making it 19 of 25.
