Champions Cup (Group 1)

THE favourite Lemon Pop became the first horse to record back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Champions Cup on dirt since Transcend in 2010 and 2011 (the race then called the Japan Cup Dirt).

After his win in Chukyo’s 1,800m contest, the 2023 Best Dirt Horse, with three JRA-Group 1 wins including last year’s February Stakes, retires from racing to stand as stallion at Darley Japan Stallion Complex next year.

The first three home were the same as last year. Trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, Lemon Pop broke smoothly from the inner gate for jockey Ryusei Sakai and assumed command after rallying for the lead with Mitono O.

Godolphin’s six-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid continued to set the pace, pulled away in the straight, though needing to hold off a late charge by Wilson Tesoro before the wire, he defended his title in a photo-finish victory.

Last year’s runner-up and second pick Wilson Tesoro travelled around eighth, dropped position rounding the last corners, switched to the outside at the early stretch to accelerate powerfully with the fastest late drive and nearly caught the winner, but was a nose short at the wire to finish second again this year.

Outsider Dura Erede showed tenacious effort on the rails for Ryan Moore, finishing a length and a half third behind the runner-up.

“It was his last race and I’m glad that he was able to end his career with the best result. I wanted to ride him as smoothly as possible, without any loss and was ready for any challenge,” the winning rider said to media afterwards.

“I thought we had won, but wasn’t quite sure because Wilson Tesoro came from behind with great speed, so I’m glad we were able to win. Lemon Pop is a strong horse - he has won six out of six Group 1-class races in Japan – there’s no other horse like him, and I’m proud to have been on his back,” added Ryusei Sakai.