Serifo crossed most of the field in the final 200 meters to win the Mile Championship (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse on November 20, scoring his first win in 1st place while beating a series of major opponents older age.
3 years old Main Daiwa The foal showed promise at the age of 2, winning his first three matches before finishing second in Asahi Hai Futurity (G1). But two fourth-place finishes in top-level races left coach Mitsumasa Nakauchida puzzled.
A slight drop to Fuji Stakes (G2) on October 22 created an encouraging win and all remaining questions were answered in the Hanshin section of the Mile Championship.
After idling near the end of the 17-horse yard, Damian Lane steered Serifos out into the middle of the road turning onto the ramp. As the field rallied near the 100-yard mark, Lane unleashed his pony, took the lead with about 50 yards left and shot a clear shot to win by a quarter of the length, going on.
“I’m very happy,” Lane said. “The horse was amazing today. He is very consistent and I know he will improve after watching his videos. I wanted to show him how competitive he really is. The pace is good and he’s a little early, but I’m always confident.”
Danon boy beat 26-1 odds to finish second, half way ahead of a 4-year-old white girl Sodashi three-time 1st place champion at 1,600 meters (about a mile). hurried soulranked second in Fuji Staking, fourth and most popular, Schnell Meister runner-up in the 2021 Miles Championship, finishing fifth but being beaten only two stages.
Four-year-olds are second to sixth. Third favorite, age 5 salon reported the 14th to Ryan Moore on board.
Serifos, in addition to Le Havre mare Sea front bred by Oiwake Farm and races for G1 Racing Co., Ltd.
Before the race, assistant coach Taku Fukunaga admitted Serifos faced a significant challenge against both previous and older competitors.
“He’s achieved good results at Hanshin and I don’t think he’s unfit for the course,” Fukunaga said. “There are a lot of strong horses in the lineup, and those who have lost to him in the previous race will be more advanced, so it will not be an easy race.”
The Mile Championship, along with Yasuda Kinen (G1), is the main deciding factor in the awarding of year-end awards in Japan. Gran Alegria , won the race in both 2020 and 2021, and was awarded the title of champion in the sprinter or sprinter category in both years. She was also honored as the best 3-year-old girl in 2019.
Some mileage, including 2019 winners indy champion , used the Mile Championship victory as a springboard for the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) the following month. While that race was massively dominated by local athletes, Maurice in 2015 and Admire Mars 2019 has made a breakthrough for Japan.
Maurice won both the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship ahead of the victory in Hong Kong. Admire Mars won the Hong Kong race without competing in the Mile Championship, but the following year he finished third in both events.
Serifos, Danon the Kid, Soul Rush and Schell Meister—but not Sodashi—are all nominated for the December 11 Hong Kong Mile, where the local superstar sixty . gold will take their third straight win following a successful seasonal debut on November 20 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
