Tower of London earns BC Turf Sprint berth courtesy of Sprinters Stakes win

Tower of London earned an automatic berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with a late rally to win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

The $2.2 million Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs on turf was the sixth career stakes for Tower of London, and first at the highest level.

A decision on whether Tower of London starts in the $1 million BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs will be made in coming weeks. Tower of London is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trained by Kasuo Fujisawa.

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“We will consult with the trainer over the next few days and make a tentative plan,” Harry Sweeney, the president of Godolphin Japan, said on the stable’s website.

“We will need to decide on that very soon. Tower of London will remaining in training next year and it is very likely that he will travel abroad.”

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Tower of London raced in the middle of the field of 16 and closed with a wide run to take the lead in the final strides.

“Tower of London has proven himself to be an exceptional athlete,” Sweeney said in the statement. “He needed to win a Grade 1 race to cement his position as one of Japan’s top sprinters and he did so in great style.”

The 5-2 second choice in the betting, Tower of London finished a half-length in front of 5-1 Mozu Superflare. Danon Flash, the 5-2 favorite finished third, beaten three-quarter of a length.

Mozu Superflare, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Speightstown, was purchased for $125,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She was a Grade 3 stakes winner earlier this year.