It’s not the most valuable race on the calendar, that’s the Korea Cup, and nor is it the most prestigious, with that honour going to the Grand Prix Stakes. It is in the President’s Cup though where Korean racing legends tend to be made. SEE HERE FOR SUNDAY’S RACE-BY-RACE FOR BOTH SEOUL AND BUSAN.

There was Dangdae Bulpae, with three consecutive wins between 2010 and 2012. Triple Nine with four between 2015 and 2018. And last year Winner’s Man completed the Grand Slam of Korean Group 1 races by finally adding it as the final piece to his collection (The Korean Derby, the Grand Prix and one of either the Korea Cup or Korea Sprint is required for a full set).

On Sunday, all eyes are on last year’s Korean Derby winner GLOBAL HIT, who in the absence of the now retired Winner’s Man, has become the standard bearer of racing here. While bested by Winner’s Man both in this race and in the Grand Prix last year, the latter by a very narrow margin, he was 3^rd in the Korea Cup and now he seeks to stamp his authority over the domestic division by winning the President’s Cup.

It won’t be easy. Global Hit’s stablemate SPEED YOUNG has run him close before and can again, while NAOL SNIPER and WORLD DRAGON are also seeking Group race success.

SUCCESS BAEKPA is the up and comer having won two legs of this year’s Triple Crown, while in SIMJANGUI GODONG, there is a former winner in the race with the veteran having prevailed in the 2021 edition.

Adding intrigue among the fifteen-strong field is the presence of BEOLMAUI STAR. The runner-up in the 2023 Korea Sprint has had an erratic summer at the shorter distances and he gets tried around two turns for the first time in his career.

The President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) is race 7 at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon with a local post time of 15:40.

1. SUCCESS BAEKPA – Winner of the 1^st and 3^rd legs of this year’s Triple Crown and 3^rd in the Derby, he hasn’t raced since winning the Minister’s Cup here over 2000M in June. He has been back in work since late August and looked well when winning a trial within himself in mid-September. Very tough ask first-up but he is a big talent and if match fit, could be involved.

2. GLOBAL HIT – Saved Korea’s honour when 3^rd behind Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro in the Korea Cup, he is acknowledged as the best horse in the country. Three wins from five this year with the ineligible Tuhonui Banseok the only one to beat him. Sensibly campaigned, if at his best, he is too good. From a great draw, Kim Hye-sun can pick her spot and probably settles handy or midfield

3. TIZ BAROWS – Class 1 winner in June but beaten by Naol Sniper and Gangpungma in July, he has just been found a little wanting when tried against the elite and was 10^th in his previous Group attempt, the YTN Cup. May well try to go to the lead here.  

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