A solid field of local talent lines up against Europe's star miler, Charyn, in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 17 at Kyoto Racecourse.
Last year's winner, Namur, and runner-up, Soul Rush, both return. Namur edged Soul Rush again when they last met in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in June. In that, however, they finished second and third behind Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.
If they're to avoid a similar fate in the Mile Championship, one or both will have to figure out how to defeat the Roger Varian-trained Charyn. The 4-year-old Dark Angel colt has turned in a remarkable year for Varian and owner Nurlan Bizakov, posting five wins and two seconds from seven starts.
Three of those wins came at the group 1 level: 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 finish only three times in 18 career starts, and two of those misses came on soft turf.
He got in his final trackwork Nov. 13, and Varian spent the following day acclimating Charyn to the rituals and surroundings of Japanese racing before drawing the No. 11 gate in a field of 17.
"I'm very happy with the horse," Varian said. "I think it was a good experience for him to experience the long tunnel and the paddock. Charyn is very relaxed and does not get excited. But still, I think it was good for him to experience it before the race."
Of the barrier draw, Varian said, "I think No. 11 is not bad."
The local rivals have no such adjustment issues.
Namur, a 5-year-old Harbinger mare, is accustomed to new surroundings anyway, having finished third in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) last December after the Mile Championship win and second in the Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in March. She has not raced since the Yasuda Kinen but trainer Tomokazu Takano said he sees no issue with the extended break.
"She is coming off a layoff but she's had regular work and I figured she didn't need to do any really fast work," Takano said. "I also didn't give her any step races, just focused on getting her very fit. And I saw the results in her work last week. She looked in ideal condition.
"Last year, she'd improved after her run in the Fuji Stakes, but this year I see no difference between her condition then and now. She actually has more muscle mass now and I hope that will show itself in a powerful performance. With her overseas trip, her mental state is also better. She's much more experienced and I can feel that. I'm sure the late Kota Fujioka will be cheering us on and, as the defending champion, I don't want to lose."
Fujioka, who subbed at short notice for the injured Ryan Moore to ride Namur in the 2023 Mile Championship, died in April of injuries suffered in a fall at Hanshin Racecourse.
Soul Rush finished second in the Fuji Stakes (G2) in an Oct. 19 prep for the Mile.
"With an eye to this race, we had him at a little less than peak condition for the Fuji Stakes," said assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki. "He was able to nicely run in amid the others underway and save something for later."
