Tag: Soul Rush

Schnell Meister Looks For Better ‘Glueck’ In Third Mile Championship Try

A slashing second to the outstanding commonly owned champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2021 and a fraction unlucky when a close fifth last November, Sunday Racing's Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) will try to make the most of his third attempt at Sunday's G1 Mile Championship, back at Kyoto after being contested for two years at Hanshin due to construction at Kyoto.

Winner of the age-restricted G1 NHK Mile Cup in 2021 and third in that year's G1 Yasuda Kinen, the son of 2016 G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) filled the same spot behind Sunday Racing's Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) this past June after winning the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup in 1:31.50 over this course and distance in April. He has just one start since, a cracking third–with some trouble–to the once-beaten Elton Barows (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}) and Songline in the G2 Mainichi Okan at Tokyo Oct. 8, which should have him cherry ripe for this test.

“He couldn't get a clear run in the Mainichi Okan final stage, which was unfortunate. As a step race, however, it wasn't a bad race,” said assistant trainer Shun Nabata. “This year, the race is back at Kyoto and one of the crucial points in the race will be the downhill slope turning out of the backstretch. He'll need to have cover there, and I think that will work in his favor.”

Damian Lane produced Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) down the wide outside to win last year's renewal–while Schnell Meister was locked away inside until it was too late–and it will be up to Yuga Kawada to craft a winning trip in defence of his title. Fourth in last year's Yasuda Kinen, the G1 Racing runner defeated Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) by 1 3/4 lengths in this event 12 months ago and finished fifth in the G1 Dubai Turf on seasonal debut Mar. 25. He was a head better than Schnell Meister and 1 1/4 lengths in back of Songline in this year's Yasuda Kinen when last seen.

“This year he is coming off a spell, but he'll go to the gate in good shape even when compared to last year,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. “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.”

The visiting Joao Moreira guided the filly Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) to a 1 1/4-length victory over Red Mon Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and So Valiant (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G2 Fuji S. going Tokyo's left-handed mile Oct. 21, but deserts that one in favor of the rail-drawn Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) this weekend. Fourth and not beaten far in last year's Mile Championship and third in the Yomiuri Milers Cup, he most recently atoned for a Yasuda Kinen ninth in taking the Sept. 10 G3 Keisei Hai Autumn H. with top weight of 59kg on his back.

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Schnell Meister Requires Very Best For Yasuda Kinen

Having gone excruciatingly close in the last two renewals of the G1 Yasuda Kinen, Sunday Racing's Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) takes a third crack at Japan's premier spring mile event, a 'Win and You're In' challenge race for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in early November.

The bay, one of 10 elite-level winner in the field, defeated Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the age-restricted G1 NHK Mile Cup over this course and distance two years ago and was narrowly beaten by champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this race his next start. He found Songline just a neck too good 12 months ago and was well below par for the remainder of his 4-year-old campaign, but he hinted at a return to form with a close fourth in the G2 Nakayama Kinen over 1800 metres Feb. 26 and most recently cut back to the mile for a victory in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup Apr. 23, with Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Soul Rush (Jpn) not far away in second and third. Christophe Lemaire, who took the 2018 Yasuda Kinen aboard Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), will need to work out a trip from barrier 14.

“As a 5-year-old, he's more mature now,” said trainer Takahisa Tezuka. “He runs well at Tokyo, so returning to the track this time makes conditions good for him and he has a chance to win. Things to consider will be the ground and the weather before the race and on the day, as I would like him to run on good ground.”

The Milers Cup also-rans figure to be well-fancied here as well, as Gaia Force was trying the mile for the first time, while Soul Rush has shown he can hold his own at this level.

 

 

 

Songline also carries the Sunday Racing colours and will need to overcome gate 18 if she is to become the first Yasuda Kinen repeater since Vodka (Jpn) (Tamino Gimlet {Jpn}) in 2008-2009. She's raced only sparingly since, finishing fifth to Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) in the G2 Centaur S. (1200m) last September and 10th to compatriot Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in defence of her title in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February. She bounced back last time to just touch off fan favourite Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) in the G1 Victoria Mile over track and trip May 14.

“She has not only kept her condition since her last race, but she also seems to have improved for it,” trainer Toru Hayashi said of Songline. “It's the same concept as last year with these two races, and we're seeing the real Songline. With another strong field this time, and even after winning the Victoria Mile, I still think she's a challenger again here. I'm hoping she can run another strong race.”

Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) ran home strongly to be fourth while facing his elders here last June and closed the season with a smart 1 1/4-length success in the G1 Mile Championship. The chestnut has one run under his belt this season, a meritorious fourth behind the three-peating Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf over a nine-furlong trip that might be a bit longer than optimal. Derby-winning jockey Damian Lane retains the call.

Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), whose sire won this in 2015, is the likely leader from gate three for Yutaka Take. The flashy chestnut, who has raced exclusively over the 2000 metres to this point in his career, took a thrilling running of the G2 Sapporo Kinen over Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last August and was at his front-running best when landing the G1 Osaka Hai on his seasonal return Apr. 2

 

 

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Sodashi Will Have To Be At Her ‘Schnell’-est In Mile Championship

All eyes will be on Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune)–aren't they always?–as she takes on an eclectic group in Sunday's G1 Mile Championship at Hanshin Racecourse, a race that looks something other than a one-horse affair.

Named the best of her generation at two and three, the immensely popular white filly owns three top-level victories over arguably her favorite trip, having annexed the 2020 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and last year's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over course and distance and this year's sex-restricted G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo. Fifth to Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in defense of her title in the Aug. 21 G2 Sapporo Kinen, Sodashi exits a narrow defeat in the G2 Fuchu Himba S. at headquarters Oct. 15.

“Last week and this week, we pushed her pretty hard in her workouts,” explained trainer Naosuke Sugai. “The colder weather really brings out her best and you can see the improvement. With her last start, she was able to let off some steam and has now been calm and settled.”

 

 

 

Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), runner-up to the magnificent Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this event last fall, has had a fractionally disappointing season by his lofty standards and will be looking for his first victory from four starts. A lackluster eighth in the G1 Dubai Turf, he was unlucky in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June, finishing a neck behind the victorious Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and a head better than the reliable Salios (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). In something of an experiment, Schnell (German for fast) Meister was ninth, but not beaten far, in the G1 Sprinters' S. over a 1200-metre trip that always threatened to be too sharp.

“He is always done well over the mile, but he's been up against one or two other very strong horses in previous races,” said trainer Takahisa Tezuka. “This year, with no one standout, I think it'll go well if things come together for him.”

 

 

 

Salios, also third to Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, has just one start since the Yasuda Kinen, a half-length defeat of Justin Cafe (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) in the Oct. 9 G2 Mainichi Okan over nine furlongs.

Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) capped a three-race skein with a victory over Ho O Amazon (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the G2 Yomiuri Milers' Cup at this venue and going this trip in April, but finished well down the field in the Yasuda Kinen. He prepped for this with a close second to 3-year-old Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in Tokyo's G2 Fuji S. Oct. 22, with Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) not far away in third.

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