Japan Scores in Meld Stakes
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Photo: Healy Racing/Racingfotos.com
Japan (white cap) wins the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse
Class came to the fore— but only just—in the July 15 Green Room Meld Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown Racecourse as dual group 1 winner Japan held on to win a thriller for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.
Always close to the pace, Japan got to the front approaching the last furlong and, while Maker of Kings and Sinawann were bearing down on him at the line, Moore always seemed to have enough in reserve to repel the challenge by a short-head.
Japan was recording his second group 3 success of the season and provided O'Brien with his fourth triumph in the Meld Stakes. The Coolmore-owned son of Galileo also finished third in the June 4 Coral Coronation Cup (G1) and sixth in the June 19 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) prior to his Meld victory.
The 5-year-old holds entries in five group 1 races and was given 20-1 odds for York's Aug. 18 Juddmonte International (G1) by Paddy Power. Japan captured the International in 2019.
Moore said: "That was a nice performance. I got to the front a little sooner than ideal and he was waiting a little bit when he got there.
"But when the other horses got to him he found plenty. He showed plenty of speed the whole way round and did it well in the end."