Tower Of London seeks G1 sprint double in Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Tower Of London bids to join a select group to annex both of Japan’s G1 sprints as he lines up in the six-furlong Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo on Sunday.

The five-year-old showed an impressive turn of foot to record a first G1 success in the Sprinters Stakes over six furlongs at Nakayama in September, when he got up near the line to beat Mozu Superflare and Danon Smash.

During an outstanding 2019 season for trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, Tower Of London also broke two course records with victories in the six-furlong G2 Centaur Stakes at Hanshin and the seven-furlong the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup at Tokyo.

The Raven’s Pass entire, who is partnered by Yuichi Fukunaga, came home third under a penalty on his seasonal return in the G3 Ocean Stakes, run over the same course and distance as the Sprinters Stakes, on Saturday, 7 March.

He is joined in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen by veteran sprinter Teehaff (Katsuichi Nishiura/ Yusaku Kokubun), who has run well on all his three previous starts in the race, finishing sixth in 2016, fourth in 2017 and fifth 12 months ago.

Teehaff, winner of the G3 Hakodate Sprint in 2015, also ran in the G3 Ocean Stakes on his latest outing, in which he kept on to finish ninth.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “We are cautiously optimistic about Tower Of London. He is clearly a very talented horse and indeed was Japan’s top sprinter last year, winning a G1 in addition to setting new course records.

“He has loads of speed and has been training very well. I was somewhat deflated after his last run but, in fairness to the horse, it was his first run back after a break and the trainer reports that he has sharpened up considerably since then. He is drawn in stall nine of 18 which is ideal.

“There are a few concerns, however. Firstly, rain is forecast and we feel Tower Of London is best on firm ground. Secondly, he is being ridden by Yuichi (Fukunaga) for the first time which is a further unknown. And of course there are a number of other very talented horses in the race including Danon Smash and Gran Alegria.

“Soccer legend Ryan Giggs played for Manchester United for 24 consecutive years and was still playing professional football into his 40s. Teehaff is the Ryan Giggs of the Japanese racing world and on Sunday, at the age of 10, he will be making his 50th JRA career start. He finished fifth in this race last year and is still rated among Japan’s top sprinters. He deserves his chance but it will be surprising if he makes the frame,” he added.

Meanwhile, consistent dirt performer Wild Card makes his G3 debut in the nine-furlong March Stakes at Nakayama.

The six-year-old has won or placed on 10 of his 12 career appearances for Tetsuya Kimura and quickened well to score by a length and a quarter in Hanshin’s Listed Betelgeuse Stakes, also over nine furlongs, on his latest start in December.

Wild Card (Hiroshi Kitamura), a son of Street Sense, has also posted three further Stakes victories, including an easy success in the mile Kinshu Stakes at Tokyo in November.

Sweeney said: “Wild Card is absolutely deserving of what will be his first ever run in a Group race. He is now a six-year-old and has won six of his 12 career starts to date. Additionally, he has placed four times and has racetrack earnings of more than $1,000,000.

“He has run exclusively on dirt and all his wins have been between 1600 and 1800 metres, so neither the surface nor the distance will be a concern. He will be ridden on Sunday by Hiroshi Kitamura, who has ridden him on six previous occasions and knows the horse very well. However, on the only occasion that Wild Card ran at Nakayama, he raced inexplicably flat and finished last.

“His trainer would have liked to have done another piece of work with Wild Card to have him in absolutely peak condition. Nevertheless, we are expecting a big run.”