African Gold chases more success in Tokyo

Recent Tokyo winner African Gold returns to the same course for the G2 Copa Republica Argentina over an extended mile and a half in Tokyo on Sunday. The four-year-old, trained by Masato Nishizono and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, stayed on well to beat Trust Kenshin by a length and a quarter in the 12-furlong Rokusha Stakes on Oct.6.

African Gold gained three further victories, all in 2018, including decisive wins in both the 12-furlong Hyogo Tokubetsu at Hanshin and the Atsumi Tokubetsu over a furlong shorter at Chukyo. The son of Stay Gold has made two previous appearances in Pattern races, including when coming home 12th in the G1 Kikuka Sho over a mile and seven furlongs at Kyoto in October, 2018.

He breaks from stall one in a field of 13 that also features the first two home from the G2 Meguro Kinen - Look Twice and Ice Bubble.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “I am cautiously optimistic about African Gold’s chances. He has been doing well of late and has certainly improved since being gelded in early summer.

“However, he was clearly outclassed in his previous two outings in Group races around a year ago and will need to have improved somewhat. That being said, he will not be inconvenienced at all by the distance or being drawn in stall one, and being partnered by Christophe Lemaire is a clear advantage. I will be pleased if he is placed.”

Meanwhile, exciting two-year-old colt Spycraft bids to follow-up an impressive debut victory as he tackles G3 company in the Nashua Stakes on dirt at Aqueduct, USA, on Sunday.

The son of Discreet Cat steps up to a mile for Tom Albertrani after making all to score by three and a half lengths under Jose Lezcano, who takes the ride again, in a six-furlong dirt maiden at Belmont Park on Sept.21.

Spycraft breaks from stall one in a field of 10 that also includes six other horses who have won on their only start and Smoke Glacken Stakes victor Meru.

Tom Albertrani said: “Spycraft has been training forwardly and has sharpened up for his maiden win. He made the running at Belmont Park but doesn’t necessarily have to be on the front end.

“A lot of the field are in the same position as Spycraft, having won their only start, and the race should separate out a few horses. Hopefully, our horse can run the same way as he did on his debut.”

Godolphin is also represented in two Stakes races that were switched from Belmont Park on Oct.27, including G2 Glens Falls Stakes winner Lady Montdore (Tom Albertrani/Joe Bravo), who lines up in the 12-furlong Zagora Stakes on turf.

Micheline (Michael Stidham/Jose Lezcano) was successful in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park in September and the two-year-old filly returns to turf for the mile Chelsey Flower Stakes after coming home ninth on dirt in the G1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes.