Written by Jesse Dart
Cover image courtesy of World Horse Racing
Japan
Lemon Pop a brave winner of Champions Cup
Talented 5-year-old Lemon Pop (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}) stepped out to 1800 metres for the first time and handled it with aplomb, taking out the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse, located south of Tokyo between it and Osaka. Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) looks to have another stallion prospect rising through the ranks, while at Sha Tin a number of top riders enjoyed good results ahead of the Hong Kong International Raceday this Sunday.
The story of Lemon Pop has taken its fair share of twists and turns throughout the years, but on the dirt of Chukyo Racecourse on Sunday, the only narrative was that of the Godolphin-owned entire racing away with his second Group 1 success.
Despite stepping beyond 1600 metres for the first time, jockey Ryusei Sakai was aggressive early, firing the 5-year-old across the face of the field from barrier 15 to have the lead prior to the first turn.
“He jumped out of the gate quickly so I decided to lead the field and control the pace. He almost stopped right before the finish line but was resilient. These race conditions definitely didn’t suit him but he still won. Today we opened up another door to the mile races and hope we can enjoy the journey together,” Sakai said post-race.
Bred by Twin Hills Stud in Kentucky, he is one of 10 Group 1 winners for his sire, Lemon Drop Kid (USA), who saw his first crop hit the racetrack all the way back in 2002. Pensioned from Lane’s End in 2021, Lemon Drop Kid can boast 108 stakes winners, 50 of which won at Group level. Lemon Pop is out of Unreachable (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), who commenced her breeding career having not won a race, she has produced four winners to date, with Lemon Pop being the clear standout.
Lemon Drop Kid (USA)
Flying home late to grab second from an impossible position was Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), getting past the 3-year-old Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). The ever-consistent T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister {USA}) was fourth, while the previously undefeated Seraphic Call (Jpn) (Henny Hughes {USA}) was unsighted in the finish.
Bellagio Opera rises to the challenge
Saturday’s G3 Challenge Cup at Hanshin was the perfect launching pad for Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who came out on the right end of a thrilling finish.
The 3-year-old, who was last seen running fourth in the G1 Japan Derby in May, was positioned in the first half of the field by jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, and timed his move perfectly to strike the front right on the post, narrowly denying Boccherini (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Joao Moreira.
Now twice victorious at Group level, Bellagio Opera is quickly positioning himself as a breeding prospect of the future, which would see him join a number of quality sons of Lord Kanaloa as stallions.
Bellagio Opera (Jpn) wins the G3 Challenge Cup | Image courtesy of Kosuke Ishiyu
Australian audiences will recall the exploits of Tagaloa, who won the G1 Blue Diamond S. as a 2-year-old, who now stands at Yulong Stud. There’s been plenty of early support for him, with 232 live foals across his first two breeding seasons, with a fertility percentage over 80 in both years. His 2023 fee is $27,500 (inc GST).
Another son that calls Australia home is the talented Diatonic (Jpn), who’s most notable success on the racetrack was the G2 Hanshin Cup. Out of Sunday Silence (USA) mare To Harmony (Jpn), he now resides at Yulong Stud, commanding a fee of $13,750 (inc GST).
Despite coming out on the wrong end of the photo finish, Boccherini certainly lost no admirers, the 7-year-old being a son of the legendary King Kamehameha, who has produced a host of top stallions himself, including Lord Kanaloa, Rulership (Jpn), Duramente (Jpn), Rey de Oro (Jpn) and Leontes (Jpn).
Hong Kong
Badel finds groove ahead of International Raceday
French jockey Alexis Badel has the plum ride of Wellington (All Too Hard) to look forward to this Sunday, but in the meantime he made sure to remind the jockeys' room of his ability by riding a double at Sha Tin, including a delightful steer aboard Ping Hai Galaxy (The Factor {USA}).
Controlling the tempo from the front, the 8-year-old stole a break with 150 metres to go, and despite a roaring finish from Flying Ace (Swiss Ace) and Zac Purton, was able to hold on in the Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup, the feature of the meeting.
Ping Hai Galaxy started life in Australia as Silverlink, winning two races at Ipswich in 2018 as a 3-year-old before relocating to Hong Kong. He has won at least once in every season since, with his best year coming as a 7-year-old, a season in which he was thrice victorious.
By The Factor (USA), he is out of Encosta De Lago mare De Lago Flash, who has produced eight winners from 10 foals to race. She is a full sister to Just Forget It - Wall Street Boy (Encosta De Lago), who has G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) and G3 Tibbie S. winner All Saints Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) amongst her progeny.
Alexis Badel | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Badel also rode Zoustar gelding Summit Cheers to victory, while Zac Purton steered promising debutant Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) to win his first appearance under starter's orders.
