The Nov. 19 renewal of the Mile Championship (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse is a bit of a “Groundhog Day” event with five of the top six finishers from last year’s race entered in this year’s edition.
The race is key in determining year-end honors in Japan and might be even more important this year after division heavyweight Songline , two-time winner of the Yasuda Kinen (G1), could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) as an alternative to this race.
Topping the entries is 2022 winner Serifos , who will try to defend not only last year’s race victory but also his year-end honors as top Japan’s champion sprinter. After winning last year’s Mile Championship, Serifos traveled to Dubai to finish fifth in the Dubai Turf (G1)—as always, one of the world’s toughest races. The mile specialist returned from that March engagement to finish second behind Songline June 4 in the Yasuda Kinen and hasn’t raced since. Last year he prepped with a win in the Fuji Stakes (G2) in October.
“His preparation this year was different from last year’s, so it’s not easy to compare them,” trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida said after Serifos drew gate No. 11 of 16 for the Mile Championship. “This year he is coming off a spell, but he’ll go to the gate in good shape even when compared to last year.
“He’s able to access his power and he’s not one to have difficulties returning after time off. It will be his first time at Kyoto, with it ups and downs, and it’s his first time over a downhill slope. I hope to handle the course well.”
Danon the Kid, second a year ago, went on to finish second to the highly regarded Romantic Warrior in the group 1 Hong Kong Cup at 2,000 meters but hasn’t been as effective at that distance and drops back to perhaps a better trip. Also entered for another go are Soul Rush (fourth in 2022), Schnell Meister (fifth) and Justin Café (sixth).
From the 2022 top six finishers, only the white filly Sodashi misses the reprise.
Danon Scorpion finished 11th last year and Matenro Orion finished 10th. Both also return. A victory by either would be a major surprise.
Danon the Kid’s trainer, Takayuki Yasuda, said his 5-year-old looks ready to rebound.
“After he returned from the farm, everything went well and he’s gotten cleverer in a good way,” Yasuda said. “He’s been able to handle all his work without losing weight, which is good and makes him much more reliable. He finished second last year and his condition is always good in this time of year. He’s good over 1,600 meters, so I’m hoping he can turn the tables this time.”
Others to watch in the field of 15 include Elton Barows, one of two 3-year-olds entered, and the only filly in the race, Namur, who won this year’s Fuji Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, a traditional prep for the Mile Championship. She also gets a 2-kilo weight break.
“I have the feeling that the older she gets, the better she gets,” trainer Tomokazu Takano said of the 4-year-old, “and it’s with more and more depth, more capability. I don’t think there’s any reason to worry because it’s a grade 1.”
Yuga Kawada, who has fallen 10 wins behind Christophe Lemaire in the race for the Japanese jockey premiership, takes over riding duties aboard Serifos from Damian Lane. Lemaire, seeking a sixth Japanese grade 1 win this year, is named on Schnell Meister.
Ryan Moore and Joao Moreira both have secured temporary licenses. Moore, who finished fifth on second-favorite Geraldina in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) a week ago, rides Namur and Moreira climbs aboard Soul Rush.
