Mile Championship (Group 1)

IF one were to ask who stands out as the most consistent high-level performer in the Japan Racing Association (JRA), Soul Rush would undoubtedly find his place on many shortlists.

Soul Rush claimed his first Group 1 title in the 41st Mile Championship, finally stepping into the limelight as a JRA-Group 1 winner. With a career spanning 22 races and now an eight-time winner, the soon-to-be seven-year-old horse won the mile contest at Tokyo Racecourse, overcoming a competitive field of 17 runners, including the notable European challenge of Charyn.

Sent off as a 4/1 shot, Soul Rush was ridden by jockey Taisei Danno. Breaking from stall 13, the pair settled to race in mid-division. The scorching early pace had the clock stopped at 57.5 seconds for the first 1,000 metres.

As the pace proved too much for many, Danno appeared content to bide his time and wait for the race to unfold in front of him. That moment came as the field straightened for home, with a gap appearing.

Soul Rush surged forward with a devastating turn-of-foot, quickly overpowering frontrunners Elton Barrows and Win Marvel to win by two and a half lengths.

Danno’s emotional celebration as he crossed the line - an enthusiastic salute to the crowd and punching the air - drew a €300 fine from race-day stewards, a miniscule penalty when compared to his share of the €1.1m winner’s prize.

Charyn, the first overseas runner in the race for 13 years, secured fifth place under jockey Ryan Moore. Despite a rattling late charge and recording the second-fastest final three furlongs sectional, his race could never really be recovered from a slow start and the need to navigate wide around the field.

The colt finished three and a quarter lengths behind the winner, with only three-parts of a length separating him from second place.

Soul Rush was bred by Shimokobe Farm and is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee. He is the first foal out of Eternal Boutique, a three-time placed mare in the JRA by Manhattan Café. He is the fourth individual Group 1 winner for his sire, Rulership.

With a potential trip to the Hong Kong Mile in December still a possibility, Soul Rush’s connections have repeated their intent to travel overseas, dependent on the colt’s recovery from his effort in the Mile Championship.

In his current form, the prospect of doubling his Group 1 tally by year-end seems within reach.