Japan: Lugal holds off Toshin Macau in Sprinters Stakes

Dismissed at 39-1 in American pools, Lugal stalked the pace and held off a late threat from Toshin Macau to win Sunday’s Grade 1 $2.31 million Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

Ridden by Atsuya Nishimura, Lugal won by a neck over 15-1 Toshin Macau, who was a neck in front of 9-1 Namura Clair. Toshin Macau closed from seventh to be closest to the front at the finish.

With outsiders dominating the first three positions, the $1 trifecta returned a hearty $5,357. Satono Reve, a winner of his three preceding starts, finished seventh as the 3-1 favorite.

Lugal, who paid $81.70 in American pools, won for the fourth time in his 13th start in the $2.31 million Sprinters Stakes, the second of two Grade 1 sprint races in Japan. Lugal was 10th as the favorite in the season’s first Grade 1 race for the division, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March.

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After that race, Lugal was diagnosed with a fracture in his left foreleg that required a lengthy rest.

“Our team truly did our best for him to bounce back,” trainer Haruki Sugiyama told Japan Racing Association publicity.

Sugiyama mentioned international races as a possibility for Lugal. Japanese-based runners are frequently sent to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December.

The Sprinters Stakes was Lugal’s first Grade 1 win, and second graded stakes win. He won the Grade 3 Silk Road Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Kyoto in January.

A 4-year-old colt by Duramente, Lugal races for owner Yoshimasa Ema.

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