Top Striker rolls past Rawnaq in Colonial Cup

Top Striker pulled off a minor upset of divisional leader Rawnaq in Saturday's $150,000 Colonial Cup (G1) in Camden, South Carolina, the final Grade 1 hurdle of the 2016 season.

Ridden by Ross Geraghty, Top Striker drew away from Rawnaq after negotiating the last fence and won comfortably by 10 1/2 lengths in a time of 5:12.40 for 2 3/4 miles on firm ground.

Rawnaq, who is still likely to be named champion steeplechaser following earlier wins in the Temple Gwathmey (G3), Iroquois (G1), and Grand National (G1), finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Days of Heaven.

Top Striker, who finished 34 lengths fourth to Rawnaq in the Temple Gwathmey back in April, entered the Colonial Cup off a victory in the Zeke Ferguson Memorial (G2) at Great Meadow in Virginia.

Owned by Sue Sensor and trained by Arch Kinsgley, Top Striker is a seven-year-old, Maryland-bred son of Van Nistelrooy.

"He trained just like the way he ran today," Kingsley told the National Steeplechase Association. "He progressed very well [off his last race]."