Lemon Pop: The New Titan of Darley Japan

In an exciting revelation for horse racing enthusiasts, Lemon Pop, the sensational racehorse recently crowned the first dual winner of the G1 Champions Cup in over a decade, has been unveiled as the priciest stallion on the prestigious Darley Japan roster for the 2025 breeding season, with a staggering introductory fee of £5 million (€30,615).

Career Highlights

This remarkable six-year-old, whose lineage traces back to the esteemed Lemon Drop Kid, solidified his status as the JRA Best Dirt Horse in 2023. With an impressive record of 13 wins out of 18 career starts, Lemon Pop will soon embark on his inaugural season in Hokkaido after concluding his racing career with a victorious performance at Chukyo. Under the expert guidance of trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, notable victories include last year's G1 February Stakes held at Tokyo.

Darley Japan's Stallion Roster

Lemon Pop will share the spotlight with established sires like Pyro, who remains at an unchanged fee of £4 million (€24,492), and Palace Malice, celebrated as the sire of this year’s G1 NHK Mile Cup champion, Jantar Mantar (Jpn). Palace Malice, who previously hailed from Three Chimneys Farm, will carry a fee of £3.5 million (€21,430) as he continues to be the most sought-after stallion in Japan following his relocation to Hokkaido.

Additionally, Darley Japan welcomed the renowned European performers Adayar (Ire) and Hukum (Ire) into their roster this season. The Derby champion Adayar, whose brilliance on the track is well-known, retains an unchanged fee of £1.8 million (€11,021), while Hukum, who clinched victory in the 2023 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, is set at £1.2 million (€7,347).

The Rise of Tower Of London

One of the standout stories this season is Tower Of London (Jpn), whose fee has increased to £2 million (€12,246) from £1.5 million due to the success of his first crop of two-year-olds, led by the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes winner Panja Tower (Jpn).

Expert Insights

Shotaro Kajiya, the nominations manager at Darley Japan, expressed enthusiasm for the new roster developments, stating, “Adding Lemon Pop, alongside the likes of Palace Malice and Tower Of London—whose first runners made waves this year—elevates our stallion roster to unprecedented heights. We remain committed to supporting owners and breeders by featuring the finest stallions the world has to offer while maintaining appealing terms.”

Looking Ahead

With the stakes set higher than ever, Darley Japan's ambitious breeding program promises a thrilling future for horse racing fans and industry insiders alike. The anticipation of Lemon Pop’s first foals in 2026 is already building excitement among breeders, who are eager to see how his legacy will unfold. Stay tuned as we follow the journey of this rising star and the impact he will have on the next generation of racehorses!