Day: December 16, 2023

Grand Prix Stakes Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (December 17)

It’s Grand Prix Sunday and it’s going to be cold! See here for a full preview of the big race. It’s free entry to both Seoul and Busan Racecourses with 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 11:50 to 16:35. Here are the previews:

Triple Nine won his 5th G1 – and only Grand Prix – in 2018 (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(1) GROUPER has a 2nd and a 3rd from two starts so far, both over this distance and the former in a good time. He draws nicely to be on pace again here and he should be exiting the lowest class of racing with a win. (5) ANYANG TSUNAMI has made progress across three starts so far culminating in a 5th place in a fair time over this distance on November 11th. She has raced handy in her latest two and should do similar here and in this company, she won’t need to improve by very much to get close. (2) BEOLGYO CHADOL was sent off as favourite on debut following a positive trial showing. She finished back in the pack but should have benefitted from the run and can be given another chance here. (3) DREAM CARD and solitary debut maker (9) JANGBI DAEUN are others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Grouper (5) Anyang Tsunami (2) Beolgyo Chadol (3) Dream Card
Next Best9, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(8) PERFECT TIARA has raced four times and has finished no worse than 5th. Her best so far is her latest on November 26th, when she settled midfield and ran on for 2nd in a slowly run ace over 1200M. She comes up to the 1300M for the first time, and it can suit. (1) ARNOLD QUEEN came from off the pace on debut over 1200M on October 28th to run a fair 5th. She should have come on for that run and can get closer here. (3) FIRST CHOUX loves coming 5th, something he has done on each of his last four outings, but he does have the fastest time among these for the distance and from a good draw can get closer today. (11) SAEBYEOK BULBIT and (5) GIANT FORCE are among others in the placing hunt.

Selections(8) Perfect Tiara (1) Arnold Queen (3) First Choux (11) Saebyeok Bulbit
Next Best5, 7
Fast Start5, 8, 9, 10

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

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (4) BRIGHT HANSEN stalked the leader on debut over this distance on November 5th, before striking the front with just over a furlong to go and running on to win comfortably. She comes up in class as a result, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come, and she is the one to beat again here. She will be the hot favourite with (2) SPARK THUNDER the second pick. The latter was an equally dominant winner at start number two on November 11th, racing on pace throughout. She too comes up in class but should be on the speed again and will surely be in this a long way. (10) HIT FLY was a little less visually impressive when getting her maiden win at start two on November 25th. The time was solid though and she too should be competitive in this company. As for those with previous experience of class 5, (8) YEOWANG SOCKS and (1) WIDAEHAN HANMA look the best.

Selections(4) Bright Hansen (2) Spark Thunder (10) Hit Fly (8) Yeowang Socks
Next Best1, 3
Fast Start4, 5, 8, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(4) RAINBOW ROAD will be favourite. She ran 2nd on debut in October before posting a 4th place on November 26th, both times settling behind the speed and running on. She draws nicely and, in this company, will probably be ridden on pace. She should have too much. (7) SEUNGNI TAKEN raced a couple of times this spring without distinction but returned after seven months out on November 24th and came from off the pace to run a much-improved 2nd over this distance. He should strip fitter for the run and can be a danger here too. (10) CAPTAIN CHARLIE has been knocking on the door in his latest three, including a 3rd place over 1300M. He likes to settle back and run on so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he can run into some money again. (3) ANY SINGS and (2) WONDERFUL KAYLAN others in the hunt.

Selections(4) Rainbow Road (7) Seungni Taken (10) Captain Charlie (3) Any Sings
Next Best2, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 5

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) DRONE KILLER was a winner on debut over 1200M in October before running an on-pace 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on November 11th, going down narrowly. From the inside gate, he should be on pace from the start and has solid claims here. (4) HERE I AM is up in class following an emphatic win over 1200M on November 12th, making all and pulling out of sight late on. The win had been coming, Moon Se-young stays aboard, and he may well start as favourite here. (3) LEGENDSUN was an also-ran in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy for juveniles last month but returns to shallower waters here and should be in the frame. (9) DREAM SKY and (6) JEONGMUN PAPAGO, 3rd and 4th respectively when they raced one another at class and distance on November 19th, re among others to keep safe.

Selections(1) Drone Killer (4) Here I Am (3) Legendsun (9) Dream Sky
Next Best6, 11
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 7

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(more…)

Grand Prix 2023 – Full Preview

A month ago, Winner’s Man became the first horse to win four different Korean Group 1 races. On Sunday at Seoul Racecourse, he seeks to win the Grand Prix Stakes (2300M KOR-G1) for a second time and in doing so match Triple Nine’s five Group 1 successes.

Winner’s Man

The Grand Prix is the oldest, and in the eyes of most Korean connections, the most prestigious race on the calendar with it first being run at Ttukseom Racecourse on Boxing Day 1982. Since 2005, the distance has been set at 2300M – the longest distance in use in Korea – and since 2009, it has expanded to include horses trained at Busan as well as Seoul. In the thirteen runnings of the so-called “open era”, (there was no race in 2020) Seoul has won five times and Busan has won eight times.

Three horses have won it twice, Pogyeongseon in 1985 and 1986, Ka Shock Do in 1990 and 1991, and Dongbanui Gangja in 2008 and 2009. Winner’s Man, the 2022 champion, will be hot favourite to emulate them in 2023.

Global Hit (Pic: KRA)

Korean Derby winner Global Hit will aim to become the first three-year-old to win the race since Bold Kings in 2015. The youngsters used to triumph regularly; Bold Kings was the 5th three-year-old to win in eight runnings following Dongbanui Gangja, Mister Park, Gamdonguibada and Indie Band. Gamdonguibada was the last filly or mare to win when she triumphed under Joe Fujii in 2012. Ony one, Eodigana, lines up this time, while Global Hit is the only three-year-old.

Along with Global Hit, Success Macho, who ran 4th in the Korea Cup and then 2nd in the President’s Cup, and Tuhnonui Banseok, who downed Winner’s Man twice this summer, are set to be the other leading contenders. Haengbok Wangja, the 2021 victor also goes, bidding to be the first two-time winner to score in non-consecutive years. Here is a full run-down of the field (jockey/trainer):

1. TIZ BAROWS (KOR) Antiono Davielson Da Silva/Seo In-seok – Well back in both KRA Cup Classic and President’s Cup this preparation. Looked to have a load of potential when winning the Listed Sports Chosun in May but hasn’t kicked on since. Jockey won the race in 2019.

2. WINNER’S MAN (KOR) Seo Seung-un/Choi Ki-hong – The best in the country despite his mid-season stutters behind Tuhonui Banseok. Those seem to be behind him now and at anything like his best, he will win again.

3. EODIGANA (KOR) Yoo Seung-wan/Kim Yoon-seop – The only filly or mare in the race and a big run shouldn’t be discounted. She flashed home for 5th in the President’s Cup and the 2300M should suit. Not a winning chance but a minor money hope.

4. CHIEF INDY (KOR) Johan Victoire/Park Jae-woo – Well back from a wide gate in the President’s Cup but ran 5th and 3rd in two class 1 races over this distance this year. Can be doing his best work late here.

5. FANTASTIC MAN (KOR) Kim Dong-young/Moon Hyeon-cheol – First start since running 2nd to Galaxy Road over 2000M in September but looked well in a trial just last Saturday. Big ask first-up though.

6. JEONGMUN SAI (KOR) Park Tae-jong/Hong Dae-you – Likes to be on pace so a potential early leader here. Comes in off a fair 7th in the President’s Cup and can be in this a long way. Not a winning chance though.

7. GLOBAL HIT (KOR) Kim Hye-sun/Bang Dong-suk – The Derby winner is this year’s champion three-year-old, and he finished off the President’s Cup very well. He will be on or close to the pace and he is the main danger.

8. BLACK MUSK (KOR) Jo Sang-beom/Choi Yong-goo – His last five starts have been in Group company at distances between 1200M and 2000M, but he has finished midfield or worse in all of them. Tactically versatile but hard to have on this year’s form.

(more…)