Day: October 1, 2017

Power Blade Cuts Down Triple Nine Again

Power Blade asserted his dominance, at least at short distances,  over stable-mate and long-time rival Triple Nine with a commanding win in the Kukje Sinmun Cup at Busan Racecourse on Sunday Afternoon.

Since the pair returned from the Dubai World Cup Carnival earlier this year, they have raced each other twice with Power Blade prevailing both times; first over a mile in August’s Owners’ Cup and then again in Sunday’s Kukje at 1400M. Last year, Triple Nine got the better of the then 3-year-old Power Blade at 1800M, 2000M and 2300M.

Given a better draw, Power Blade may well have won the Korea Sprint. Instead he was a fast finishing 2nd behind Japanese raider Graceful Leap. That day Triple Nine went in the Korea Cup and once more was the best Korean finisher in 4th. Today they raced together but at the distance, Triple Nine was always going to struggle to get into top gear in time to trouble his younger rival.

As it was Franco Da Silva took things up on Power Blade as they entered the home straight and he ran on strongly to win by almost three lengths on the line. Triple Nine, still getting faster, was 2nd with Seoul-trained City Star pipping Success Story for 3rd.

It was Power Blade’s tenth career win and took his earnings to well in excess of US$2 Million. Whether he takes on the President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes once more at unfavourable distances remains to be seen but hopefully connections can be persuaded to have another crack at Meydan in the new year. Cheongdam Dokki and Final Boss (if we forgive the unpredictable latter’s 4th in a 1200M Sprint on Sunday) are the young pretenders but Power Blade and Triple Nine remain very much the big boys of Korean racing right now.

Kukje Sinmun Cup – Busan Racecourse – 1400M – October 1, 2017

1. Power Blade (KOR) [Menifee – Cheonmachong (Lost Mountain)] – Franco Da Silva – 1.5, 1.1
2. Triple Nine (KOR) [Ecton Park – A Little Poke (Pleasant Tap)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.0
3. City Star (KOR) [Menifee – City Styling (Carson City)] – Kim Yong Geun – 1.7
Distances: 2.5 lengths/3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Success Story 5. Dongchonui Achim 6. Cheonji Park 7. Baedari Bobae 8. Rocket Blade

Racing takes a one week break now with the action resuming at Busan on Friday October 13th.

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Power Blade vs Triple Nine / Final Boss (October 1)

It’s the final day of racing before the Korean Thanksgiving break and at both Seoul and Busan, some of the top names on the peninsula are coming out for a run. The day’s main attraction is on the south-coast where stablemates Triple Nine and Power Blade face each other once again, this time in the Kukje Sinmun Cup. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05.

Power Blade finally got the better of Triple Nine in the Owners’ Cup over a mile in August and had he had a slightly ore favourable draw at Seoul last month, could well have won the Korea Sprint. At 1400M today he will be favoured to prevail once more over Triple Nine, who is yet to win since returning from Dubai. Also among the small field of eight are Success Story and Seoul raider City Star.

Korean Derby winner Final Boss returned to winning ways over 1800M in August and today he too steps down to a Sprint distance in the concluding race 11. He’s up against sprint-specialist Choegang Schiller over 1200M which means he carries a very light weight.

Only Seoul is simulcast overseas today – here are the notes:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

It’s been a long time coming but (8) STORMY PASSION should finally get her maiden win today. She’s been getting closer, culminating in a 3rd place three weeks ago but has always run into one or two too quick. It will be her first time as favourite and she should have too much against this limited set of opponents. Main danger is (11) GEUMEUN JUOK, who has been a little one-paced but shown glimpses of ability across three improving outings to date. (6) I AM WINNER made an underwhelming debut in August but looked useful when trialling up again a couple of weeks ago and may have something to contribute if she gets a good start while (5) DUSON EYE and debut-maker (12) CHOEGO BISANG are others who could go ok.

Selections (8) Stormy Passion (11) Geumeun Juok (5) Duson Eye (6) I Am Winner
Next Best 12, 7
Fast Start 1, 5, 6, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Restricted to juveniles this one with six first-timers joining three who have raced before. It’s one of those three, (7) MAGIC TEN, who will be the strong favourite. She finished off very nicely for 2nd over 1000M on debut at the end of August and given the extra furlong today, should win. (4) SEOURI BYEOL similarly should be happier today at this distance than she was on her own debut and can improve. None of the debut-makers were hugely impressive in trials although (3) CLEAN UP TEUKGEUP will be backed by virtue of having recorded the fastest time. Likewise, (9) ROYAL TANK also showed that he knows what he’s supposed to in the latest of three trials he went through a couple of weeks ago.

Selections (7) Magic Ten (4) Seouri Byeol (3) Clean Up Teukgeup (9) Royal Tank
Next Best 1, 5, 2
Fast Start 2, 8, 9

Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Competitive contest. (1) CLEO and (5) GOLD LEG are both up in class following decent showings at class 6, the latter running out an all the way winner by three lengths over 1300M last time. Both should be competitive at this level. They won’t be favourites though. (4) MENI BADA didn’t quite get home when well backed on his first try at the distance on September 2nd. The two-year-old shows promise though and should have learned from that. He can win today. Also with promise is (2) HARPY EAGLE. The

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