Success Macho finally delivered on his early promise and got a Stakes win on the board as he came through late to beat Yes Perfect by a head to win the Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

In a race devoid of big-name headliners, Daehan Jilju was sent off as favourite, somewhat surprisingly at odds-on among the sixteen-strong field. He would attempt to lead from gate to wire but favourite, who has shown his best at shorter distances, was quickly beaten once they reached the home straight. Success Macho meanwhile was ridden patiently and wide by jockey You Hyun-myun, who was returning to action after a four-month injury absence and the pair stormed through late to beat fellow fast-finisher Yes Perfect, with Heunghaeng Jilju in 3^rd.

“(Success Macho) doesn’t like kickback and over the 1600M there are two very long straights” winning jockey You Hyun-myung told KRBC.  “During the race, I wanted to go nearer to the fence, but I followed the trainer’s instructions to stay out of the kickback.”

Success Macho, a five-year-old gelding by Macho Uno, who was imported in-utero, made an electrifying start to his career, winning nine of his first ten starts with his only defeat in that period coming in this race in 2021. But while he ran 6th in last year’s Korea Cup, he suffered an injury that kept him off the track from last October to this June when he returned underwhelmingly, only beating two home over the same mile distance at class 1 level.

“His last race was his first back after a long break and while I didn’t have high expectations that day, he was even worse than I expected but he needed that” trainer Min Jang-gi told KRBC. “He is small, but he is robust, and he doesn’t want to give in. The jockey knows him very well and he knew what to do, and it all came off.”

That You Hyun-myung was returning to action following a shattered collarbone in a fall earlier this year. He had already been on the scoresheet on Friday winning race 1 on his first ride back. He had ridden Success Macho in eight of his nine previous wins.

“The horse wasn’t doing terrific during trackwork, but the owner had so much faith in him, so we are happy to win” You continued. And on his own situation: “To my fans, I am back now, and I pledge to do my best.”

Trainer Min was non-committal about Success Macho’s next assignment. “I am not really keen to run him in handicaps because after this his rating will go up so I will see if I can find some more suitable feature races.”

With defending champion. Winner’s Man seemingly joining Raon The Fighter on the absentee list for the Korea Cup, another trip to Seoul on international weekend could therefore be on the cards for Success Macho as while he is unlikely to trouble the Japanese visitors, he would have a real shot at some lucrative minor prize money.

Next weekend the Triple Tiara (filly Triple Crown) concludes with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) which, unusually for Korean Stakes races, will be run at Seoul on Saturday as part of the first weekend of twilight racing when the card will run from 2pm to 9pm.