A year ago, Global Hit won the President’s Cup on his way to securing the season ending Grand Prix Stakes. That particular streak of wins had begun with the KRA Cup Classic, but Globa Hit came unstuck in that race this time around in August when from a wide gate, he struggled to settle under jockey Kim Hye-sun and ultimately finished a well-beaten 2nd.
It’s perhaps a sign of the esteem Global Hit is held in that there has been scarcely any talk of his injury in the build up to the race. After the KRA Cup Classic he came back lame, but it wasn’t as serious as first feared and he returned to work on August 29th and hasn’t missed a planned session since. The layoff – and missing a very taxing Korea Cup – may work in his favour.
There’s a familiar supporting cast. Global Hit’s stablemate SPEED YOUNG can run well at any distance at the highest level but almost always runs into one too quick, be it Global Hit or latterly SUCCESS BAEKPA, the KRA Cup Classic winner. If the favourite doesn’t perform on his return, those two are the most likely beneficiaries.
Here is a full run down of the field:
1. GANGPUNGMA – Enters in great form having won three of his last four, all at class 1 and all at 2000M. He likes to settle back and run on and while he was well back in this race a year ago, he is a better horse now and while maybe not a winning chance, he will have backers on an each-way line.
2. MY DREAM DAY – Won the final leg of the Triple Crown at this distance in Seoul in June but was 2nd to Oasis Red at class 3 level over 1800M on his return. Enters off a class 2 win at 1800M on September 14th when handy throughout. Big step up in terms of opposition but potential.
3. GLOBAL HIT – The defending Champion, he placed in Group 2 company at Meydan in March. He won her first two starts back in Korea in the Stayer Series but then suffered a reverse to Success Baekpa in the KRA Cup Classic when failing to settle from a wide draw and coming back lame. He has been back in work since late August and has had no problems first-up in the past. Much better draw than the Classic and the one to beat.
Global Hit returns to defend his crown in the Billion Won G1 President’s Cup in Seoul and there are also bug Juvenile Series races both in the capital and at Busan on a huge Sunday of racing. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:
Global Hit won last year’s President’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
(5) DI NE ran 3rd on debut at 1000M in July before finishing a very fair 6th of thirteen in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy for juveniles on September 14th. He steps back into more amenable company here and third-up, he should be ready to claim his maiden win. (10) JEONGSANG HERA exceeded expectations on debut over 1000M on August 23rd, showing handy throughout and running on for 2nd. She should have come on for that run and can be closer here. (7) REFLECT ran 5th on debut at this distance on September 14th, starting slowly but finishing off well. He too can come on for that run. (8) CHOEGO GOLD and (4) SAEROUN BISUL are others who hinted at ability on their respective debuts.
Selections
(5) Di Ne (10) Jeongsang Hera (7) Reflect (8) Choego Gold
Next Best
4, 1
Fast Start
3, 4, 5, 10
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (9) HWANSANGUI NARA ran 2nd on debut over 1000M and then 3rd in the Rookie Stakes in August. That led her to be given a crack at the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy for juveniles on September 14th and while she finished back in the pack, she didn’t run badly and coming back into shallower waters today, she is the one to beat. (11) TIGER ROAR was only ordinary in her first two outings, but she found form at start three on September 21st when only beaten a neck over this distance. Ruan Maia stays on and she shapes as a danger again. (6) TRIPLE PALMETTO enters off back-to-back 4th places, most recently at this distance on August 24th and coming in fresh after eight weeks off, can aim to get closer. (1) DONGBANG FORCE returns to action for the first time since January but looked well in a September trial. (3) OMENO TIME another in the hunt.
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) RAON FLORENCE has finished 2nd in all three starts so far, most recently only beaten a head over 1200M on his first try at this class on August 21st. From a good draw, he will be on pace, and he can go one better. (1) KING OF DRAGON was a promising juvenile a year ago running 4th in Listed company but not running again after being well back in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie. He finally returned to action in August and while he only finished midfield, he can strip fitter here and get closer. (6) CHEONMAHORYEONG returned from a similarly lengthy absence to run 4th at this class and distance on September 28th. He should have derived benefit from the run and be in the mix here. (3) DAEWONYONGMA and (10) UNIVERSAL are other chances.
Selections
(2) Raon Florence (1) King Of Dragon (6) Cheonmahoryeong (3) Daewonyongma
Next Best
10, 4
Fast Start
2, 3, 6, 11
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Not the strongest of maidens. (8) SUN LIGHT enters off a 2nd place at this distance on September 14th when albeit nine-lengths behind a good winner, she raced well. That made it four top four finishes from seven starts and she has as much chance as any here. (4) SOMANGUIGIL ran 4th in both his first two starts before improving to 3rd over a mile on August 26th when handy throughout. He will be on or close to the pace here and is a big danger. (5) DELEKOOMDA looks to be figuring things out with a 4th and a 3rd from his latest two, most recently at this distance on September 21st when coming from off the pace. He can be challenging late again. (3) HOLY NIKE and (1) SPEED BOY are other place chances.
Selections
(8) Sun Light (4) Somanguigil (5) Delekoomda (3) Holy Nike
Next Best
1, 6
Fast Start
3, 4, 6, 11
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(7) RAON THE AFFIRMED got his maiden win at this class and distance on August 31st when he led from gate to wire, scoring by four-lengths. He comes up 3kg in weight, but that win was impressive, and he can follow up. (4) EODIDEUNJI was a winner over 1200M at start number two on September 20th when settling midfield and running on. He is up in class and slightly in trip, but he is down in weight, and he can measure up. (9) BREEDO TROPHY comes in following back-to-back 3rd places at this class over 1200M, working home well both times, and he can be in the finish again. (10) HIT FLY and (3) YEONGGWANGUI SKY, the latter getting a 4kg apprentice claim, are among others in the hunt.
Selections
(7) Raon The Affirmed (4) Eodideunji (9) Breedo Trophy (10) Hit Fly
Next Best
3, 11
Fast Start
3, 7, 10, 11
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(12) SCYTHAI remains a maiden after nine attempts, but she has five top three finishes including her latest two when 2nd and then 3rd at this class and distance. She carries a light weight, the wide gate shouldn’t be a problem as she has a strong finish and today can be her day. (5) SHACKLE SUN is likewise yet to win but only missed out by a nose when 2nd two starts back and was within a length of the winner when 4th last time out on August 24th. He can settle handy again and can be a danger. (11) DAEGIL HERO continues the trend of non-winners with a big chance of breaking through. He comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class and distance coming from off the pace and he can be running on strong again. (2) SMART SMILE and (7) HEAVY DUTY are previous winners who should be in the frame.
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) CHARMING QUEEN will be a warm favourite here. After finishing 2nd on debut, she got her maiden win over 1300M at start number two in May and has since then finished as runner-up on both her tries at this class, most recently over 1400M on September 14th. She steps up to two turns for the first time but there is no reason why it can’t suit. The vastly experienced (not always a great thing at class 5) (8) BITNANEUN JILJU has raced thirty-six times since he last won but he enters following back-to-back 2nd places at this class and distance and he can be in the finish again. (4) MIGHTY BOM is a non-winner of twenty but has eleven top three placings and this is the kind of race he can score a money finish n. (11) HEEMANGBAND and (6) WITH DIS KURO others to consider.
Horse Racing in Korea 