Lemon Pop fizzes for Godolphin on final start before stallion duties at Darley

The hot favourite and defending champion Lemon Pop led all the way to win the Group 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo on Sunday to end his career in a blaze of glory.

Godolphin’s six-year-old entire was partnered as usual by Ryusei Sakai and once again held last year's runner-up Wilson Tesoro at bay, but this time by only a nose. Ryan Moore’s mount Dura Erede was further length and a half back in third.

The winner, who is by Lemon Drop Kid and out of the Giant's Causeway's mare Unreachable, was scoring for the 13th time on his 18th start. Among his other triumphs is the 2023 February Stakes which along with the Champions Cup are the Japan Racing Association’s only two top-level dirt races.

He also won the NAR circuit’s three top-flight dirt races, namely the 2023 and 2024 Mile Championship Nambu Hai and 2024 Sakitama Hai.

Indeed, the Hiroyasu Tanaka-trained galloper did not lose any of the JRA's and NAR's total of six Group 1 races that he contested.

His retirement ceremony was held after the race, connections having already decided that Sunday’s event would be his swansong.

Sakai said: "I want to say thank you to Lemon Pop. There's always pressure, so it was the same as usual, but since it was his last run, there was also a retirement ceremony, so I thought it would be nice to win and have his retirement ceremony, so it was a great result.

“I thought I’d won, but Wilson Tesoro had so much momentum, so I didn't know for sure, but I'm glad I won. 

Lemon Pop's retirement ceremony was conducted after the raceCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

“He now has six wins in six races in domestic Group 1s, and there is no horse like him. I'm proud to be on his back. He is the horse I'll never forget."

Tanaka said: "I was impressed. I was moved last year, but I'm even more moved today." 

Lemon Pop had given the yard its first Graded stakes and Group 1 victories, and the trainer added: "I can only thank him for giving me various experiences and giving the stable momentum."

Lemon Pop will now take up sire duties at the Darley Japan Stallion Complex in Hidaka, Hokkaido. 

Hiroyuki Fukuda, director of Darley Japan, said at Lemon Pop's retirement ceremony: "The Japanese dirt circuit is very fulfilling and there are dreams [of challenging for the world’s big races on dirt]. Darley also has a popular stallion for dirt racers named Pyro, and we want Lemon Pop to become a popular stallion so that he can follow in his footsteps."

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