G3 third for Territorial in Fukushima Kinen

Territorial secured a second G3 placing over a mile and a quarter this year with a valiant third in the Fukushima Kinen at Fukushima, Japan, on Sunday, 15 November.

The Katsuichi Nishiura-trained six-year-old, who filled the same position in the G3 Nakayama Kimpai in January, soon raced in second of the 16 runners on the outside of Taurus Gemini.

Territorial and Taurus Gemini established a significant advantage by the halfway point, with the Godolphin runner moving up to challenge for the lead as the chasing pack closed in entering the final quarter-mile.

The Teofilo entire kicked on under Yukito Ishikawa over a furlong from home but was collared in the dying strides by Bio Spark and Vin Quet Domingo, going down by a length and a quarter in total.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: "It was a brave and honest run by Territorial. He nearly got there but was caught close home by the top two in the betting, both of who were carrying less weight. In truth, he probably will need everything to go his way to win a Group race but he is certainly knocking on the door. He is sound and still enjoys racing and we plan to keep him in training next year as a seven-year-old. He has banked more than US$500,000 this year alone and has career earnings of near US$1,750,000. He deserves a big win before the end his career."