Charyn (IRE)

- jogged 1/2 lap left-handed on inner turf course, cantered 400m, galloped 1,200m on outer turf course
(exercised from 7:05 AM to 7:21 AM, ridden by Ryan Moore)

“I was very happy with Charyn’s workout this morning. He came six furlongs—1,200 meters—Ryan rode him very well. In the stretch, he changed his hands and opened him up. He stretched very nicely through the final stages of his work. He did just what I wanted him to do. He had a nice blow, he had a very fast recovery, he’s a very fit horse and I thought his movement was very pleasing.

I’m delighted with Charyn’s current condition. He looks fantastic. This morning, he weighed 514kg, which is a perfect racing weight for him. He's had a busy year. His first race was in March and he raced every month until now with the exception of July. But he's really held his form. You could say, with each race he’s got better and better. And looking at his condition after the journey from the UK to Japan and watching him over the last two days and his work this morning, he seems to be in excellent condition. So, I’m confident that, although he's had a busy year, he is able for one more strong performance.

We actually considered the Mile Championship a long time ago, before Charyn went to Ascot for QE II. If he was to win the QE II and his recovery after the race was acceptable, then the plan was to come to Japan to contest in the Mile Championship.

From this morning’s evidence, Charyn was very comfortable on the fast track, he moved very well, had a lot of fluency and stretched out nicely. He is very adaptable. He can be on a fast track or a slow track. He's been very consistent but you could say that his strongest performances have been on the fast track in the UK, so the fast track should be no problem.

We are always very ambitious and enthusiastic to have a runner in Japan. When we brought Sri Putra in 2012 for the Japan Cup—this was at the beginning of my training career—it was a very exciting moment to have a horse to race in Japan but it was a very harsh lesson of how good a horse has to be to deserve to come to Japan to compete in a Group 1. So after the trip, we said we will not come back to Japan until we can bring a champion horse. This is why it's taken a long time to return to Japan with a horse. We have respect for the Japanese racing and Japanese horses can be successful all over the world. We understand it’s a very big challenge to bring a horse to Japan and be successful, but it is a challenge we want to do, this time with Charyn and hopefully in the future as well.

I think it’s a very strong race on paper. I believe the last two winners of the Mile Championship will contest in the race again and I think there's two very strong fillies. I’m not familiar with every single horse in their race but I understand the challenge that Charyn faces to compete against the best Japanese mile horses.

Obviously, Charyn has a huge ability. He’s the European mile champion, so he has a huge ability, which is most important. He also has a very good mind, very good attitude. He's a very relaxed and very intelligent horse. He does not waste energy, he’s very cool, he’s very much a professional, and he has a great constitution. For me, Charyn has three things: huge ability, great mind and a very strong body.

Regarding the draw, it’s hard to answer. As Ryan said, you have to see the draw positions of other strong horses in the race. As is always the case in Group 1 races, we want a clean start. So hopefully on Sunday, Charyn can get a clean start and a smooth passage in the race and in the final stretch. Our ambition for the race is obviously to win. We came here to win and that’s what we would like to have on Sunday.”

(comments taken from Roger Varian)

“Regarding Charyn’s workout this morning, he stretched out nicely the last quarter mile. He seems to handle the track conditions nicely. It was a good opportunity to give a final blow into him and for me to have the experience of riding him. He’s been very impressive all year. He’s turned into a very high-level, real high-quality horse, and I look very much forward to riding him on Sunday.

I don’t think the fast track at Kyoto Racecourse will be any problem—he’s won at fast ground at Ascot and in the Prix Jacques le Marois. He seems to handle all conditions well.

I rode in the Mile Championship many times and I know what a difficult race it is to win—the large field, the fast pace—you need a very good horse to win the race, and I think we have a horse that has the ability to win the race. I know it’s tough to travel a horse from the other side of the world and win a race like this. No foreign horse has won the race so I know it’s a big task. Obviously, it will be a tough field—you have the one-two from last year, Namur and Soul Rush, and Brede Weg. Regarding the draw, it depends on the draw of the other horses, so I think just picking a number is pointless. And I hope it’s not raining on the race day.

I think it’s very supportive for the owner and Roger to bring the horse that had a successful year to Japan and take on this challenge, and I’m very excited to ride him.

He handled the right-handed course very well this morning, and he ran a very good race at Longchamp, which is right-handed and downhill, similar to here, and he’s also won at Sandown and Goodwood, so I don’t think the right-handed course will be a problem.

Charyn looks uncomplicated. He travels very well, he responds when you ask him and finds a lot under pressure. He seems to be a very professional horse and he knows what he has to do, so hopefully, that will be enough to make him suitable to the Japanese-style race.”

(comments taken from Ryan Moore)