Soul Rush shot to the lead at mid-stretch within the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 17 at Kyoto Racecourse and ran on to win by 2 1/2 lengths as Europe’s high miler, Charyn , may handle solely a fifth-place end after lacking the break.
The victory was the primary on the high stage for Soul Rush, a 6-year-old son of Rulership . Charyn, a 4-year-old Darkish Angel colt, scored three group 1 wins in Europe earlier this season.
Additionally ending in Soul Rush’s wake had been the 2022 Mile Championship winner, Serifos , who reported sixth, and 2023 winner Namur , who pale badly within the late going and was distanced.
Whereas Charyn’s jockey, Ryan Moore, had been on the lookout for a superb begin, profitable rider Taisei Danno, selected the alternative course.
“I used to be initially pondering of positioning him additional in entrance,” Danno mentioned, “however racing amongst such robust contenders, sitting in a really perfect place wasn’t really easy. Nevertheless, with a number of the key members inside eyesight, I saved cool and waited for the second.”
The second got here as the sector unfold out throughout the course turning for house. Soul Rush shortly accelerated by a spot and wasn’t challenged by the ultimate 100 meters.
“In the long run, I could not hear any thundering hooves from behind. Solely the roaring crowd,” Danno mentioned.
Elton Barows bought second in a good grouping, adopted by Win Marvel, race favourite Brede Weg, Charyn and Serifos. Soul Rush completed the 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:32.0 over good to agency turf.
Moore mentioned Charyn ran effectively sufficient however could not overcome the beginning.
“He ran an excellent race however he was sluggish popping out of the gate so the primary furlong price him in the long run. You get behind and large round entire the sector. After the beginning, he wasn’t capable of safe a superb place and afterwards, it was at all times going to be exhausting work for him,” Moore mentioned.
“We now have to simply accept the outcomes though it’s disappointing as a result of we got here right here to win. Nevertheless it has been a unbelievable 12 months for this horse to win three mile group 1 races in Europe and we wished to complete with one other win right here.”
The Roger Varian trainee accounted for the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) in June, the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) in August and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on Champions Day at Ascot in October.
Soul Rush’s expertise on the high of the category ladder was at odds with Charyn’s—six begins and not using a win. Persistence, nonetheless, lastly paid off as he improved from fourth within the 2022 Mile Championship and second within the 2023 version.
He additionally was ninth within the 2023 Yasuda Kinen (G1) and third this 12 months, in addition to fourth within the 2023 Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Bred by Shimokobe Farm, Soul Rush is out of the Manhattan Cafe mare Everlasting Bouquet. Manhattan Cafe is by Sunday Silence. Everlasting Bouquet’s dam was Cat Ali, a daughter of Storm Cat.
Yasutoshi Ikee, who scored his twenty third grade 1 victory, trains for proprietor Tatsue Ishikawa.
Second-favorite Namur was the massive disappointment. The 5-year-old Harbinger mare completed second in each the Dubai Turf (G1) in March at Meydan Racecourse and the Yasuda Kinen in June at Tokyo.
