G3 third for Tower Of London on comeback

Tower Of London kept on in the closing stages to finish third on his first appearance for five months in the G3 Ocean Stakes over six furlongs at Nakayama, Japan, on Saturday, 7 March.

Last season’s G1 Sprinters Stakes victor, trained by Kazuo Fujisawa, raced in mid-field on the inside of the 16 runners under Christophe Lemaire early on. The Raven’s Pass entire quickened to take third just inside the final furlong but could not challenge the front two, going down by four and half lengths in total behind impressive winner Danon Smash.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “I am disappointed with Tower Of London. I was concerned before the race about his draw in stall one and having to concede 2kg to Danon Smash but in truth our horse was comprehensively beaten. He didn’t have an absolutely clear run home and the track surface was somewhat loose but, all that being said, Danon Smash was absolutely imperious in victory today.

“However, I felt very similar after Tower Of London’s first race last year, when he was beaten into fifth in a G3. He rallied on his next start to win a G2 in a new record time en route to a stellar year. Hopefully, Tower of London will rebound on his next start in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in three weeks’ time.”