Japan's big-name mile specialists, including the popular white filly Sodashi, face some promising 3-year-olds in the Nov. 20 Mile Championship (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse.
The race is key in determining year-end honors in Japan and the field also includes several nominees to December's Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse, where local superstar Golden Sixty likely will be awaiting foreign competition.
Sodashi, a 4-year-old filly by Kurofune, won the Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse May 15, her third grade 1 win at the distance, then was a decent fifth when asked to go 1 1/4 miles in the Sapporo Kinen (G2) three months later. She bounced back from that to finish second to long shot Izu Jo no Kiseki in the Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba Stakes (G2) Oct. 15.
There are pluses and minuses in Sodashi's grade 1 record. All of the victories came against female-only competition. But two of them were at 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) over the same Hanshin course.
Rain is in the forecast and, while Sodashi has never tested turf any worse than firm, she finished third on a sloppy Tokyo Racecourse track in the February Stakes (G1) in her only spin on the dirt.
"The colder weather really brings out her best and you can see the improvement," said trainer Naosuke Sugai. "She has never lost over the Hanshin mile but the competition is strong...Having the weight allowance for fillies and mares is a plus."
Sugai might hope Sodashi didn't hear his further comment: "She has gotten much rounder since the summer but she's not fat. She is more powerful."
A weight allowance and "powerful" physique will come in handy against some up-and-coming talent including Danon Scorpion winner of the NHK Mile Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in May. The 3-year-old colt is by Lord Kanaloa out of the Sligo Bay mare Lexie Lou, the 2014 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and Queen's Plate Stakes winner, so hopes are high.
Danon Scorpion's trainer, Takayuki Sasuda, brushes off a third-place finish in his last start, the Fuji Stakes (G2) Oct. 22 at Tokyo.
"Even though he lost, it was a very good race," Sasuda said. "We have got the preliminary races for the autumn over and he's strong and well in hand heading into the main event. The lineup is full of strong older horses but I'm hoping for good results."
Serifos, another 3-year-old, won the Fuji Stakes but assistant trainer Taku Fukunaga said the Mile Championship is a tougher test.
"There are a lot of strong horses in the lineup and those who lost to him last race are going to have improved, so it won't be an easy race," the trainer said.
Soul Rush (JPN), a progressive 4-year-old colt by Rulership, was second in the Fuji and returns.
Salios, a 5-year-old son of Heart's Cry, returned from a summer break to win the Mainichi Okan (G2) Oct. 9 at 1 mile. He, runner-up Justin Cafe, and third-place getter Danon the Kid all return for this.
Schnell Meister (GER), a 4-year-old son of Kingman , won the 2021 Mile Cup and was second to star filly Songline in the 1,600-meters Yasuda Kinen (G1) June 5.
Trainer Takahisa Tezuka said he hopes he's found the key to Schnell Meister, which roughly means "speed master" in German.
"He has changed physically a lot over the years and I've tried all sorts of distances to find what suits him best and I believe the mile is it," Tezuka said.
"He has always done well over the mile, but he's been up against one or two other very strong horses in previous races. This year, with no one standout, I think it'll go well if things come together for him."
The Mile Championship starts on the backstretch, runs right-handed around the outer loop of the Hanshin turf and includes an uphill climb to the finish. The $3.53 million purse includes $1.64 million to the winner.
