Officer, champion racehorse in the United States, and long time Korea-based stallion, has passed away, the Korea Racing Authority has announced. He was twenty-six.
A KRA Jeju Stud Farm official said on Friday: “Officer was in good health until very recently but passed peacefully in his paddock on August 1st of natural causes. His halter will be preserved in the stallion memorial garden at the farm.”
By Bertrando and out of St. Helens Shadow (Septieme Ciel), Officer was a winner of six of nine starts on the track, including the G1 Champagne Stakes, the G2 Del Mar Futurity and the G3 Best Pal as part of a brilliant juvenile campaign in 2001.
Following his retirement from racing, Officer stood at both Gainesway and Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky. His American offspring included the similarly precocious Boys At Tosconova, winner of the G1 Hopeful Stakes in 2010, and Princess Violet, who won the 2015 G1 Madison Stakes, the latter coming long after her sire had left the US. He was purchased by the Korea Racing Authority in 2010, arriving in the country in October of that year.
Standing for seven full seasons, Officer’s highest Korean earner was World Sun, who won the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown in 2018. Officer also produced that year’s Korean champion juvenile, King Socks. Other notable offspring included the eight-time winning mare Ace Marine, as well as fellow Stakes winners Roller Blade and Dokki Blade.
Officer stood mainly at the Jeju Stud Farm but also spent three years based at Jangsu Stud Farm on the South Korean mainland. He was pensioned from Stud duties in 2018 and returned to the KRA Jeju Stud Farm where he spent his retirement.
Other pensioned stallions remaining with the KRA include Hawk Wing, Peace Rules and Forest Camp.
Seoul takes a weekend off (although the racecourse is open for simulcasting from Busan and Jeju) so Busan holds a Saturday card with 9 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with six of the eight racing for the first time. (3) NONPAREIL led for much of the way around in his trial, ultimately crossing the line 2nd in a good time albeit well behind the winner. He should be on pace here in this small field, and if he brings that form to the races, he has every chance first up (6) SPEED BUMP ran 5th of twelve on debut on July 11th, racing in midfield throughout. She should have come on for that run and can be a danger. (5) YONGBI SHARK similarly led for most of the way in his trial, finishing a very close 2nd to an experienced racehorse and that’s enough to put him in the mix. (8) SWEET POWER and (4) BORYEONG ONE ROAD are others who hinted at ability in their heats.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) GRAND MORE was an on pace 2nd at start number two over this distance at the end of May, only going down by a very narrow margin. He hasn’t raced since but he looked good when winning a trial last week and so long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can go well first up and will be favourite. (5) JIJONSANBANG ran 2nd on debut over this distance in June 29th, settling back and running on. He was seventeen-lengths adrift of the winner (World Top Tier, who has since been beaten) but it was an encouraging first-up effort and with some natural improvement, he should be close. Debut-maker (1) ACE SUN improved in the second of two trials and from the inside gate, can make an impression. It took (9) WONDERFUL BAND took three goes to qualify but when he finally did, he looked competent enough on July 19th and he should certainly be fit for this. (7) FLYING SHOOTER – who trialed up well last week -is among those with experience who can improve.
Selections
(3) Grand More (5) Jijonsanbang (1) Ace Sun (9) Wonderful Band
Next Best
7, 11
Fast Start
3, 4, 7, 10
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Weak maiden. (8) GREAT LUCKY raced twice without distinction at the end of last year but hasn’t been seen since December. She trialed in late June, leading every step of the way and stopping the clock in a quick time. If she can bring that form in here, then she can win, probably from the front as there is little other obvious early speed. (5) SEONGSIL JEIL was a fair 6th of twelve over 1000M on debut on July 11th, finishing off well from off the pace. The step up in trip can suit and she can get closer here. (2) ALL THE BEST showed well in a trial before having a hard time from the widest gate on debut on July 4th. She draws better here and similarly, the step up in trip from the minimum can be in her favour. (1) BREEDO GALLANT and (4) WE STRONG others who can improve.
Selections
(8) Great Lucky (5) Seongsil Jeil (2) All The Best (1) Breedo Gallant
Next Best
4, 6
Fast Start
2, 8
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) WONDERFUL JONES was 4th in Busan’s Classic Trial back in February before an indifferent run in the KRA Cup Mile saw him off the Triple Crown trail. Since coming back into this class he has run 3rd and 5th at 1400M but coming back slightly in trip and drawing well, he is very much the one to beat today. (3) CHEONPUNG had been working up to a win and it arrived on July 6th when he led all the way over 1200M. He comes up in class bit is down 2.5kg in weight, he draws well, and he can measure up. (5) YONGAM BLACK got his maiden win over this trip in May when leading from gate to wire. He has since run 6th and 4th in two tries at this class and can be in the finish again. (8) MEGA MACHINE and (7) DAEGIL HERO others who can compete for the minors.
Selections
(2) Wonderful Jones (3) Cheonpung (5) Yongam Black (8) Mega Machine
Next Best
7, 6
Fast Start
2, 3, 6, 9
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Horse Racing in Korea 