If there is to be a Korean Triple Crown winner this year, his name will be Global Chukje, the colt running out a dominant winner of the 1st leg, the KRA Cup Mile at Busan on Sunday afternoon.

The Rock Hard Ten Colt, trained at Seoul by Choi Sang-sik, entered the race having won four of his previous five starts and was sent off as the 5/1 co-favourite.  Drawn in gate 10, Global Chukje was able to avoid a coming together at the start that disadvantaged a number of those on his inside and, under jockey Yoo Seung-wan, was able to take up a position just off the lead.

When early leader Lion Sun started to weaken on the turn, Global Chukje assumed command and never looked like being caught, running on to win by a full eight lengths on the line. Filly Dae Wan Ma came home in 2nd under Antonio Da Silva and now looks a strong favourite for the Korean Oaks, while betting favourite Precede came home 4th, one place ahead of stablemate Glitter.

Disappointment of the race was Doctor Thunder, who started the race as co second-favourite but after showing towards the front early on, weakened to finish last.

The race time of 1:40.5 was exactly the same as Power Blade’s in 2016 and ranks exactly in the middle of average times for this race. The margin of victory was the biggest since Money Car’s eleven-length romp in 2011. Global Chukje is the first Seoul-trained horse to win the race, since Cheongnyeong Bisang in 2014.

For trainer Choi Sang Sik, it was a second Group win, his first coming in the Seoul Owners’ Cup all the way back in 1995, although he did win the Listed Segye Ilbo Cup for the same owner, Jang Jae-hyeung, with Global Fusion in 2016. For jockey Yoo Seung-wan, it was his first Classic victory, however, as regular rider of the great mare Silver Wolf, he is no stranger to the Graded Stakes winner’s circle.

Global Chukje is by Rock Hard Ten and out of the Forest Camp mare Spin Up. Spin Up did her racing in Korea, winning three of eighteen career starts between 2011 and 2013. She began prodigiously, winning two of her first three but failed to win after the January of her three-year-old season. Her only previous foal, only raced twice.

Of the eleven previous winners since the Cup Mile became the first leg of the Triple Crown in 2008, two of them have gone on to win the Derby, Sangseung Ilro in 2009 and Power Blade on his way to sweeping the Triple Crown in 2016. This year’s Derby is at Seoul Racecourse on May 12th.

The KRA Cup Mile, the 1st leg of the 2019 Korea Triple Crown takes place at Busan today. It’s race 5 on a 6-race card which runs from 12:40 to 18:00.  SEE HERE FOR FULL CUP MILE PREVIEW. There is also an 11-race card at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. Race-By-race for Seoul is below with Selections for the rest of the Busan card at the bottom:

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(3) MENI SPEED has shown progress over his three starts so far and was 3^rd last time out at this distance three weeks ago. She can settle behind the early lead here and can finish strongly. (1) GEOTAP is a little more experienced and has a decent record over this distance. She too was 3^rd last start, despite a troubled start, and should be close here. (5) GWANGPOK JUHAENG was 7^th in the same race but had previously registered a 2^nd place at the same distance and can be competitive today as can (6) MAIN EVENT and (8) GREEN PARK.

Selections	(3) Meni Speed (1) Geotap (5) Gwangpok Juhaeng (6) Main Event
Next Best	8, 7
Fast Start	4, 5

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(3) VICTORY KING has steadily improved over three outings so far and was a more than useful 2^nd at this distance last start despite getting his run checked in the closing stages. He should take some beating here. (7) CHAMP K has a 3^rd place to his name at this distance and can be a threat while (2) NONSTOP WINNING will need to improve but can be respected after 3^rd place in an admittedly slow time at this distance last start. The solitary debut-maker (5) COIN BLADE has looked competent enough in trials and can be a factor first-up here.

Selections	(3) Victory King (7) Champ K (5) Coin Blade (2) Nonstop Winning
Next Best	8
Fast Start	3, 7

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Fillies only in this maiden. (3) SINBU enters following a 3^rd and a 4^th from her latest two starts, both at the distance. She should be on pace here and could well have too much. (4) STAR SOCKS and (9) ANYANG LEOPARD both put in improved performances, finishing 4^th in their respective latest starts and both have placing claims while (7) ROYAL SHALOM got sent back to trial after a disappointing effort last time and came through the subsequent heat looking much better. The main threat to the favourite, however, looks to be one of the first-timers, namely (8) MIGHTY LUCK. She ran 2^nd in a trial in a decent time and this looks an excellent race to start off in.

Selections	(3) Sinbu (8) Mighty Luck (4) Star Socks (7) Royal Shalom
Next Best	9, 6
Fast Start	3, 7, 8

Race 4: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(6) GEUM ROYAL is up in class after registering his maiden win at the second time of asking a month ago. He made all that day and while he will need to improve, he should be competitive. Likely favourite though is (4) SA SA. An impressive maiden winner last November, he’s found his feet at this level and was 3^rd in a stronger race than this last month. He’ll be on pace and could be hard to beat. The very experienced (10) PARTY POWER was 2^nd at class and distance three weeks ago and should be in the placing hunt again as should (2) MY HAWK and (8) ROYAL BRONZE.

Selections	(4) Sa Sa (6) Geum Royal (10) Party Power (2) My Hawk
Next Best	8, 1
Fast Start	1, 2, 4, 8

Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

This is a very nice-looking race but (2) DOKDO YA is the slight pick. He was 2^nd in a fast contest on an admittedly wet track at the distance last start and returns after a couple of months off with strong claims to go one better. It won’t be easy. (7) SINGGEUREOUN (more…)