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| Staff Writer |
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Lemon Pop, the current champion of dirt racing in Japan, is seeking to redeem himself from his only disappointing performance so far as he prepares to compete in the Gr.1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on February 24th. His trainer, Hiroyasu Tanaka, took Lemon Pop to Dubai last March for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, after he won the Gr.1 February Stakes, but unfortunately, Lemon Pop failed to make an impact in the Dubai World Cup Night sprint. However, he made a remarkable comeback by winning the NAR Gr.1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai and then winning the Champions Cup, becoming only the fourth horse to win both JRA dirt Gr.1 races.
After delivering some outstanding performances in 2023, Lemon Pop emerged as the best dirt horse in Japan, beating Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake. As he gears up to compete in the Saudi Cup, he will be facing both these horses again. The competition comprises of a strong field, including the US contenders White Arbarrio, who won the Breeders' Cup Classic, and National Treasure, the winner of the Pegasus World Cup.
Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “We have great respect for all the horses in the Saudi Cup and this is a big ask for Lemon Pop, not just because of the local horses or those from America, which is the home of dirt racing, but also the Japanese horses. Incredibly, Ushba Tesoro, Derma Sotogake and Lemon Pop have never raced against each other, even in Japan. So we are respectful of all and even a little afraid of many of the runners.
“We have enormous confidence in our jockey [Ryusei Sakai]. In Lemon Pop’s last race in the Champions Cup, we drew the outside. A horse had never won from that position before but Lemon Pop overcame those odds. He is going to have to do it again from stall three but let’s see how it goes.
“This is an enormously important race for Japan. We only have two Gr.1 races on the JRA on dirt in the entire calendar, so we don’t have that many opportunities. Lemon Pop won the February Stakes and Champions Cup last year, so we are keen to come abroad and try something else. Japan has invested very heavily in its people and horses over the years and we are now keen to try and prove our horses overseas.
“Japan has won more than 50 Gr.1 races abroad in the last 20 years, but mostly on turf and it’s a new venture for us to be trying dirt. Ushba Tesoro won the Dubai World Cup last year and Derma Sotogake won the UAE Derby, while horses have run well at the Breeders’ Cup, but dirt is not our forte. We are more a nation of turf horses, although now we are trying to prove that the dirt horses can do it as well.”
Mysterious Night, a Canadian Gr.1 champion, will be participating in Gr.2 1351 Turf Sprint on the same card. The four-year-old horse, trained by Charlie Appleby, has been in great form lately. After winning the Summer Stakes as a juvenile horse, he recently secured two consecutive victories at Meydan. He first won against the turf handicap, and then comfortably claimed the Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort.
Charlie Appleby said, “It’s great to be participating at a big meeting like this with a horse who has a live chance. Mysterious Night has shipped into Saudi well and comes into this on the back of two nice victories at Meydan. He heads here with plenty of confidence and will be a big player if he gets a clear run round. Fingers crossed, he will be there or thereabouts.”