Lemon Pop and Ryusei Sakai dominate Jpn1 Sakitama Hai
Thursday, 20 June, 2024 16:02
The highly anticipated Jpn1 Sakitama Hai at NAR Urawa Racecourse saw overwhelming favourite Lemon Pop, backed at odds of 1.2, dominate the race from a close second position to take the lead by the third corner. He extended his powerful stride down the home stretch to claim his fourth major title in his first race back from Saudi Arabia. Third favourite Hyogo-based Igniter finished second, and second favourite Shamal secured third place.
For Lemon Pop, the 2022 JRA Award winner for Best Dirt Horse, concerns about the tight course and his first race since returning from Saudi Arabia proved unfounded. Under the clear "Urawa blue" sky, Lemon Pop showcased superior speed, reaffirming his status as the reigning dirt sprint champion for the first half of the year.
After a slight veer inside at the start, Lemon Pop quickly recovered to settle into second position. He demonstrated his superior pace by taking the lead halfway down the backstretch, leaving Alain Barows trailing. Despite the challenging post-heavy rain track conditions, he responded to jockey Ryusei Sakai's urgings to power through to the finish line.
The atmosphere on the memorial day was electric, with fans lining up from 11 a.m. Ryusei Sakai, who has an undefeated record with Lemon Pop domestically, commented, "I believed his strength would prevail if we got a fair start. I wasn't concerned about our position during the race, I focused on keeping him in rhythm. Winning this significant race feels great," he said, acknowledging the cheers of over 10,000 fans.
For trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, born in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, this victory on the home track was particularly special. He welcomed the hero with relief, noting, "It was a tough race, and he was all out at the end. I was quite nervous." Lemon Pop had finished a disappointing 12th in his previous race, the G1 Saudi Cup, and had been difficult to manage in the lead-up to this race. "We've been very cautious and managed to prepare him well from the farm to here. Today, he was calm," Tanaka added with a smile.
While the next race for Lemon Pop was not specified, Tanaka hinted at future possibilities, saying, "I think this distance suits him best, but he has also won over middle distances. Our options are wide open, including international races." With another prestigious victory under his belt, Lemon Pop's future looks exceptionally bright.
For Lemon Pop, the 2022 JRA Award winner for Best Dirt Horse, concerns about the tight course and his first race since returning from Saudi Arabia proved unfounded. Under the clear "Urawa blue" sky, Lemon Pop showcased superior speed, reaffirming his status as the reigning dirt sprint champion for the first half of the year.
After a slight veer inside at the start, Lemon Pop quickly recovered to settle into second position. He demonstrated his superior pace by taking the lead halfway down the backstretch, leaving Alain Barows trailing. Despite the challenging post-heavy rain track conditions, he responded to jockey Ryusei Sakai's urgings to power through to the finish line.
The atmosphere on the memorial day was electric, with fans lining up from 11 a.m. Ryusei Sakai, who has an undefeated record with Lemon Pop domestically, commented, "I believed his strength would prevail if we got a fair start. I wasn't concerned about our position during the race, I focused on keeping him in rhythm. Winning this significant race feels great," he said, acknowledging the cheers of over 10,000 fans.
For trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, born in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, this victory on the home track was particularly special. He welcomed the hero with relief, noting, "It was a tough race, and he was all out at the end. I was quite nervous." Lemon Pop had finished a disappointing 12th in his previous race, the G1 Saudi Cup, and had been difficult to manage in the lead-up to this race. "We've been very cautious and managed to prepare him well from the farm to here. Today, he was calm," Tanaka added with a smile.
While the next race for Lemon Pop was not specified, Tanaka hinted at future possibilities, saying, "I think this distance suits him best, but he has also won over middle distances. Our options are wide open, including international races." With another prestigious victory under his belt, Lemon Pop's future looks exceptionally bright.
Article Creds:Daily Sports