It will be a battle of the best Korea has to offer as emphatic Grand Prix Stakes and Herald Business winner Clean One, the highest rated horse in the country, returns to take on the likes of Success Baekpa, Speed Young and Global Hit in the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2), the final leg of the Stayer Series, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday. SEE HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL ON SUNDAY.
Clean One skipped the YTN Cup for workload management reasons with his season being geared around a successful defence of the Grand Prix at the end of November – and hopefully a tilt at the international Korea Cup in September. He’s been back in work since the very end of March and is set to be a short-price favourite. Seo Seung-un will be aboard.
Success Baekpa took the honours in the YTN Cup. It was only his eighth career win but five of those have been at Group race level and while he can mix his form, when he is good, he is undoubtedly very good.
Then there is Global Hit. It would be fair to say that the old, pre-injury, Global Hit would have probably cruised away from the field on the YTN Cup. That he managed to get within a length of peak Success Baekpa, suggests that he is far from done. Whether he has a win left in him at this level is another question though.
Speed Young is the reigning horse of the year, having got his breakthrough Group 1 success last November in the President’s Cup. Like the versatile performer he is, he dropped back to a sprinting distance to win the Listed Segye Ilbo in February before registering 4th and 3rd places in the first two legs of the Stayer Series. Outrageously consistent, he will be in the mix again.
Gangpungma has also been around the placings in elite company over the past few months although may have let slip his best chance of a win. Wonpyeong Storm and Munhak Boy, despite the latter having a Group victory to his name, are also not entirely convincing.
Tuhonui Banseok, a two-time winner of this race, in 2023 and 2024, will reach the end of his racing career with a final run in the race
The Busan Mayor’s Cup will be run earlier than most Group races as it will be shown live on the KBS N Sports channel. It will be race 3 on the card with a local post time of 13:25. Here is a full run down of the field:
1. WONPYEONG STORM – Hasn’t lived up to his early promise and he’s struggled in elite company, most recently 12th in the Herald Business. Comes in fresh and he is one for one over 1800M with plenty of time to make it at this grade, but others are favoured.
2. GLOBAL HIT – Ran on strongly for an excellent 2nd in the YTN Cup, getting within a length of Success Baekpa. The old Global Hit would surely have run down the winner that day, but it was still a fantastic effort, and he is not to discounted from going close again.
3. YOUNG SKYWALKER – Won three in a row between November and February up to class 2 and at 1800M and 2000M but was twelve-lengths back in 6th place in the YTN, struggling late on. Has potential at the elite level but perhaps not quite yet.
4. SPEED YOUNG – Mr. Reliable, the Swiss army knife horse won the Listed Segye Ilbo over 1200M in February before 4th and 3rd place finishes in the Herald Business and YTN Cup. Tactically versatile, he will surely be in the finish again.
5. CLEAN ONE – Won the Grand Prix as a three-year-old last November by the biggest margin in thirty years with his rivals off the bridle three-furlongs out and was then an easy winner of the Herald Business. First start since, and from a good gate he should lead and should be too good.
6. SUCCESS BAEKPA – A four-length 2nd to Clean One in the Herald Business, he then won YTN in Clean One’s absence. He does throw in the odd howler, like in the Grand Prix but he should be close to the pace and if Clean One slips up, is a main contender to take advantage.
7. BEOLGYO MASULSA – Enters off a smart win in a Trophy race over a mile in April and is a three-time winner at 1800M. Ran a fair 7th of twelve from the outside gate in the Herald Business in March so while he has form to overturn the big boys, he can beat plenty again.
8. YEONGGWANGUIFIRST – Class 1 winner over 2000M in February before running 6th in the Herald Business and then 5th in the YTN Cup both times settling in midfield and finishing off well. Those would be par finishes again.
9. CARDINAL FORCE – 4th behind Star Matta over 1400M at class 1 level in March and then overturning the form on that one and Despite win when winning over 2000M on April 14th when leading throughout. Much tougher today.
10. OASIS RED – A five-time winner over 1800M, he was 2nd to Young Skywalker at class 2 level in February before running 5th in the Herald Business. Had a poor day at the office behind Cardinal Force when favourite on April 19th, stumbling at the start. Minor money chance.
11. STAR MATTA – The veteran was a class 1 winner over 1400M two starts back and then 3rd behind Cardinal Force and Despite Win at 2000M on April 19th. Reliable type but plenty to find in this company.
12. TUHONUI BANSEOK – A two-time winner of this race he hasn’t been disgraced in recent outings but nor has he been at his previous heights. Has more than earned the retirement that follows what will be his last race.
13. DESPITE WIN – 3rd behind Star Matta at 1400M in February and 2nd to Cardinal Force over 200M on April 19th. He is a solid class 1 horse, but he will need to loft significantly to be a danger in this company.
14. MUNHAK BOY – All the way winner of the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M on his only previous visit to Busan last October, his sixth victory in a row. Well back in the Listed Segye Ilbo at 1200M and then in a regular class 1 handicap over 1800M in March makes him an outsider here.
15. PRIME SECRET – The least experienced in the race with nine starts having yielded four wins, most recently over 1800M at class 2 level on April 3rd when on pace throughout. Plenty of potential but this is a big step up in grade
16. GANGPUNGMA – 2nd in the Grand Prix he was 3rd in the Herald Business and then 4th when favourite in the YTN Cup. Often does himself no favours coming out of the gate, he can’t be ruled out but will need a lot to go his way. Place chance.
| Selections | (5) Clean One (4) Speed Young (2) Global Hit (6) Success Baekpa |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 13, 14, 15 |
Horse Racing in Korea 