Plenty of excitement down Cootamundra way when the Olly and Amber Tait bred Lemon Pop (USA) captured Sunday’s Group 1, The February Stakes (1600m), on the dirt at Tokyo Racecourse.
The Godolphin colour-bearer carried the hopes of punters and got the job done with minimal fuss.
Ridden by Ryusei Sakai for Hiroyasu Tanaka, Lemon Pop (USA) travelled like the winner from when they jumped.
The last to come off the bit, the 5yo son of Lemon Drop Kid (USA) defeated Red le Zele (Lord Kanaloa) by one and a half lengths, with Meisho Hario (Pyro) a further two and a half lengths back in third after bombing the start by six lengths.
Coming off a victory in the Group III Negishi Stakes, Lemon Pop advances his record to eight wins and three seconds from 11 starts and is unbeaten in eight starts on the Tokyo dirt circuit.
Godolphin purchased Lemon Pop for $70,000 at the Keeneland November Weanling Sale.
The former Darley Chief Operations Officer, Olly Tait, acquired Lemon Pop’s dam Unreachable for 165,000gns through Blandford Bloodstock at the 2012 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Unplaced in two starts, Unreachable is by Giant’s Causeway out of Danehill’s Group III-winning sister Harpia.
