Teehaff goes for Hakodate Sprint Stakes repeat

Veteran sprinter Teehaff (Katsuichi Nishiura/Yusaku Kokubun) bids for a second victory in the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes at Hakodate, Japan, on Sunday, 17 June.

The eight-year-old son of Storming Home enjoyed his biggest win to date in the 2015 renewal of the six-furlong contest on turf, when he showed a tremendous turn of foot to score by two and a half lengths.

Teehaff has acquitted himself well at G1 level, including when finishing fourth in the 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo, and returns to Hakodate on the back of a nose victory in a Kyoto conditions race over six furlongs on 6 May.

He faces 15 rivals headed by last year’s G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen victor Seiun Kosei plus Nac Venus and Once In A Moon, who have both placed in G1 sprints.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “While it might be unusual to have an eight-year-old running in a sprint in Europe, it is not uncommon in Japan.

“Indeed, Teehaff will be a relative youngster in the race on Sunday as there will be two 10-year-olds lining up against him.

“That being said, there is a need to be realistic. While he won this race three years ago and seems to enjoy the sea air of the Hakodate track, having also finished third here in a Group race as a two-year-old, he is unlikely to feature among the leading contenders.

“Nevertheless, he did win his last start in May and remains competitive despite his age.”