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…
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