Fine Needle gives Godolphin first Grade 1 winner in Japan

Report: Japan, Sunday

Chukyo: Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Grade 1) 6f | turf | 4yo+

Godolphin gained a first Grade 1 winner in their famous blue silks in Japan as Fine Needle (Yoshitada Takahashi/Yuga Kawada) nailed Let's Go Donki on the line to land the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, one of the nation's top sprints.

Fine Needle raced wide for much of the way and made headway all the way up the Chukyo straight, not reaching the lead until the final stride to land first prize in the 238,600,000yen (£1.61/€1.84 million) contest.

As well as being a first Grade 1 in Japan for Godolphin, the success marked a maiden Grade 1 victory for Takahashi, who has been training since 2011.

Kawada, winning his 12th Grade 1 in Japan, said: "I am relieved. I didn't know which horse would be the winner as we crossed the line.

"He broke very smoothly and raced very well. We were a little worried about his first run going left-handed but it didn't matter. In the home stretch he used his stride and I was just praying we'd catch them in time. He was an excellent fighter."

He added: "I would like to say thanks to him for letting me become the first jockey to ride a Grade 1 winner in Japan for Godolphin."