A strong area of native expertise strains up towards Europe’s star miler, Charyn , within the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 17 at Kyoto Racecourse.
Final yr’s winner, Namur , and runner-up, Soul Rush , each return. Namur edged Soul Rush once more once they final met within the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in June. In that, nonetheless, they completed second and third behind Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior .
In the event that they’re to keep away from the same destiny within the Mile Championship, one or each should determine the right way to defeat the Roger Varian-trained Charyn. The 4-year-old Darkish Angel colt has turned in a exceptional yr for Varian and proprietor Nurlan Bizakov, posting 5 wins and two seconds from seven begins.
Three of these wins got here on the group 1 degree: The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, the Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville in August, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on British Champions Day at Ascot Oct. 19.
Charyn has missed a top-three end solely 3 times in 18 profession begins and two of these misses got here on smooth turf.
He bought in his remaining trackwork Nov. 13 and Varian spent the next day acclimating Charyn to the rituals and environment of Japanese racing earlier than drawing the No. 11 gate in a area of 17.
“I am very pleased with the horse,” Varian stated. “I feel it was a great expertise for him to expertise the lengthy tunnel and the paddock. Charyn could be very relaxed and doesn’t get excited. However, nonetheless, I feel it was good for him to expertise it earlier than the race.”
Of the barrier draw, Varian stated, “I feel No. 11 shouldn’t be unhealthy.”
The native rivals don’t have any such acclamation points.
Namur, a 5-year-old Harbinber mare, is accustomed to new environment anyway, having completed third within the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) final December after the Mile Championship win and second within the Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in March. She has not raced for the reason that Yasuda Kinen however coach Tomokazu Takano stated he sees no concern with the prolonged break.
Namur (left) narrowly loses to Facteur Cheval within the Dubai Turf at Meydan
“She is coming off a layoff however she’s had common work and I figured she did not have to do any actually quick work,” Takano stated. “I additionally did not give her any step races, simply centered on getting her very match. And I noticed the leads to her work final week. She regarded in superb situation.
“Final yr, she’d improved after her run within the Fuji Stakes, however this yr I see no distinction between her situation then and now. She truly has extra muscle mass now and I hope that can present itself in a robust efficiency. Along with her abroad journey, her psychological state can also be higher. She’s far more skilled and I can really feel that. I am certain the late Kota Fujioka might be cheering us on and, because the defending champion, I do not need to lose.”
Fujioka, who subbed at brief discover for the injured Ryan Moore to journey Namur within the 2023 Mile Championship, died in April of accidents suffered in a fall at Hanshin Racecourse.
Soul Rush completed second within the Fuji Stakes (G2) in an Oct. 19 prep for the Mile.
“With an eye fixed to this race, we had him at rather less than peak situation for the Fuji Stakes,” stated assistant coach Yuki Iwasaki. “He was capable of properly run in amid the others underway and save one thing for later.”
