Royal Ascot option for Tower Of London

Progressive three-year-old colt Tower Of London (Kazuo Fujisawa) has been entered in two of the G1 highlights at Royal Ascot, UK, in June. 

The son of Raven’s Pass, an impressive winner of the mile G3 Arlington Cup on his seasonal return at Hanshin, Japan, on 14 April, holds entries in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile on 19 June and the six-furlong Commonwealth Cup on 22 June. 

A potential trip to Europe for Tower Of London, successful in four of his six starts including the G2 Keio Hai Nisai in November, will be discussed following the colt’s next scheduled appearance in the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on 6 May. 

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Tower Of London has come out of his last race very well indeed and it is very exciting that he was able to establish a new record winning time for the G3 Arlington Cup despite it being his first race in over four months.

“He has been entered in the G1 NHK Mile Cup and it is all systems go for that. In total 22 horses have been entered, though a maximum of 18 will be allowed to go to post. However, Tower Of London is guaranteed a starting berth due to his superior prize money earnings. Christophe Lemaire has been booked for the ride and we are very pleased with his training at the moment.

“While he has been entered in the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, no decision will be made until after the G1 NHK Mile. 

“His trainer, Kazuo Fujisawa, is a very experienced trainer and indeed was responsible for Taiki Shuttle who became the very first Japanese-trained colt to win a G1 race outside Japan when he captured the Prix Jacques le Marois in Deauville 20 years ago. We will listen carefully to his counsel when making a decision.

“There are some practical reasons to consider Royal Ascot, however, as there are very few opportunities for sprinter/milers in the Japanese calendar. Indeed, after the NHK Mile, Tower Of London will be obliged in Japan to run against older horses. There are simply no other races for three-year-olds at this distance.”