AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY THE 26TH RUNNING OF THE MINISTER’S CUP PRODUCED A DRAMATIC FINISH WITH FUNNY WILD PRODUCING A VERY GAME PERFORMANCE TO SCORE BUT, ON THE UNDERCARD, THE MAIN HANDICAP WAS THE CONCLUDING CLASS 2 AND REMEMBER AGAIN ran out an easy five-length winner under CC Wong (writes Luke Humphreys).

Remember Again (Chrysolite) had failed at his first run at Class 2 level in April when using too much petrol in the run, but under a conservative ride by CC Wong, who was aboard for the first time, he pulled away to score. King Honor continued his recent good form with a 2nd place finish for him whilst The Player was a neck behind him in 3rd. The 1.9 favourite More Than Joke could only managed 6^th.

Whilst Funny Wild was the star of the day the most well-known horse running on the day was LALA K (Hansen) and he recorded his first victory since his famous juvenile days when holding on to win Race 9 (1200M Class 3) by a head as the 2.6 favourite.

Lala K went viral on the internet when winning the 2023 Rookie Stakes coming from an incredibly long last and had only won once since in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy later that year. That changed on Sunday as he raced on pace and fell in to score, the total opposite of his famous Rookie Stakes victory. Haksan Dark Horse, attempting to replicate his course, distance, and grade victory from April, was narrowly denied whilst the Japanese bred Gwanaksan Rickey, 4.2 second choice, did his chances no good with a horrible start and was a never nearer 5th.

CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG (Shackleford) had been knocking on the door for a victory after chasing home some decent types in recent starts and he got his elusive first win in Race 3 (1200M Class 5) with a comfortable four-length score as the 2.0 favourite. Fifty minutes later in Race 4 (1300M Class 5) LOVERMAN (To Honor And Serve) took advantage of the leaders going too fast too soon with a last to first victory at much bigger odds of 22.0 completing a race-to-race double for jockey Jang Chu-youl and trainer Lee Gwan-ho. That race saw the 3.0 favourite Stepping Stone miss the start before being rousted up to take a forward role and was one of the first beaten finishing 9th of the eleven runners.

Jang Chu-youl completed a treble in Race 6 (1600M Class 4) on SLING STAR (To Honor And Serve) who was excellent in completing four victories in a row with a one-and-three quarter length score under the topweight of 58kg. Yongbi Hero was 2nd and is surely close to a win whilst the 3.2 favourite Mighty Choice was 3rd.

The victory of Sling Star completed a double on the day for trainer Kim Dong-kyun as STUNNING BOLT (Cowboy Cal) scored for him and Furkan Yuksel in Race 2 (1300M Class 6).

Other winners on the card included BLISS STAR (Cowboy Cal) who won Race 5 (1400M Class 5) by one-length as the 2.7 favourite under Jo Jae-ro whilst BARAMGAEBI (Medici Glory) was an easy six-length winner of Race 1 (1300M Class 6) under Kim Tae-hui.

AT BUSAN ON SUNDAY A 1400M CLASS 2 CLOSED THE CARD AND YONGBI PAEWANG got the verdict recording what was just his third career win at start eighteen.

Yongbi Paewang (Concord Point) had gone around in the Derby last year finishing 10th and this was clearly a return to form at his fourth run this preparation. Road Star was 2nd beaten three-quarters of a length whilst the 3.7 favourite Race Man was four-lengths away in 3rd. The other favourites included Black Spring, 5.8, who was 4th, Beolmaui Angel, 9.4, which finished 5th, World List Cat, 4.3, who ran 7th and Flying Ace, 8.7, who came home in 8th.

Jo In-kwon had a riding treble on the card and that began when GRAND HERO (Chrysolite) won the opening maiden (1600M Class 6) by two-lengths as the 3.2 second favourite before BARBELL MOMO (I’m Your Father) dominated Race 5 (1800M Class 4) by four-lengths as the 3.6 second favourite. Barbell Momo has now won twice and both times he has run his rivals ragged so there is no doubt as to what his preferred racing style is. SAENAE HUNTER (To Honor And Serve) completed the treble for jockey Jo when he led and won Race 6 (1400M Class 4) by one-and-a-half lengths. Saenae Hunter has now won two races from two starts this preparation and landed the 1.9 odds in fine style.

BEOLMAUI LAND (Yeonseung Daero) returned from a chip fracture with a very impressive five-length victory in Race 3 (1300M Class 5) for Choi Si-dae and Baik Kwang-yeol. He started the 3.0 second favourite and the three-year-old colt looks one to keep following. Power Tiger started the 1.9 favourite following an impressive maiden victory at his second start, but he could only manage 4th. He has now had three runs for one odds-on win and two odds-on defeats.

SATURDAY AT SEOUL SAW THE CONCLUDING CLASS 3 AS THE MAIN RACE AND MARU JANGGUN landed the spoils under Kozzi Asano.

Maru Janggun (Shackleford) was recording his fifth victory at start nineteen and the 3.6 second favourite got the verdict by a half-length over Tap Tier with Toho Sky a nose away in 3rd. Best Pitch, 4.4 third choice, and Cheongryongui Cal, 2.6 popular pick, were 4th and 5th. 

VICTORY SOCKS (Audible) resumed from a four-month layoff to win Race 9 (1400M Class 4) by an extending three-quarters of a length and confirmed form with Hwasan Pokpal, from when they last met, who was 2nd. Victory Socks was the 5.9 third favourite whilst Hwasan Pokpal started the 2.8 favourite. Of the other favourites Geuphaeng Yeolcha, 8.4, was 3rd, Raon Sniper, 3.5, was 5th and Namsan Black, 6.3, was 6th.

CYCLONE POWER (Volatile) made the most of a fast early pace in Race 7 (1400M Class 4) as he came from last to record an upset two-and-a-half length victory. The fourth last event of the day looked like a match race on paper between Concord Blue, 1.7 favourite, and Flutter, 3.0, who were both coming out of earlier legs of the Korean Triple Crown. But they spent way too much petrol in an incredibly quick early speed battle and did well to hold on for 2nd and 3rd places respectively considering the other two horses involved in the initial stages, Thunder A One and Picture, finished 7th and 8th in the field of eight. There were two groups of four in the preliminary stages, and it was no surprise that the winner came from that second group. The victory of Cyclone Power completed a double for trainer Kang Hwan-min as TIGER REVENGER (Power Blade) landed Race 1 (1200M Class 6) for the stable under Furkan Yuksel.

Race 6 (1200M Class 4) saw a big finish and CHUPUNGNYEONG (Peace Rules) was the one that got his nose in front on the line at odds of 8.0. He was reversing form on a couple of reopposing rivals which included the 2nd placed Naol Daewang and Choego Gold who was the 2.6 favourite that came in 4th. Of the other favourites Duson Eutteum, 12.2, was a better run in 6th, Grace Day, 9.9, was 7th, Taeyangui Jeonsa, 7.7, was 9th, Free Time, 7.9, was 10th and Crazy Mango, 10.7, was a bitter disappointment for the second start in a row knocking right up to be a long last of the eleven strong field.

Elsewhere on the card HAPPY TOGETHER (Gaon Champ) was a decent winner of Race 4 (1300M Class 5) whilst Luis Quiroz was on the board riding MR.CARA (Uncaptured) to victory in Race 5 (1800M Class 5) as was Johan Victoire on TAEGEUK WANGJA (Purge) in Race 2 (1400M Class 6).

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT BUSAN, CHOI EUN-GYEONG WAS ONE OF TWO JOCKEYS THAT TOOK RIDING SPOILS WITH A DOUBLE AND HER MAIN WIN WAS IN THE CLASS 3 ON COW LINE which was Race 7 on the card.

Cow Line (Cowboy Cal) was recording his sixth career victory at start thirty-two and was two-lengths clear at the end of the 1800M and paid odds of 6.0 with his come from behind victory. Sori Taepung and Wondaehan Kkum were 2nd and 3rd with the 1.7 favourite Tamna Super only managing a never nearer 4th.

The other victory for Choi Eun-gyeong (Busan’s only current female jockey) was on SO POWERFULL (Gemologist) in Race 1 (1200M Class 6) which scored by a half-length at odds of 4.3 after leading for the majority.

There was also a double for jockey Seo Seung-un, trainer You Hyun-myung and owners Metaplex with CORE TIGER (Race Day) breaking through at attempt two in Race 2 (1400M Class 6) with a one-and-a-half length victory as the 1.8 favourite before TIGER MONSTER (Power Blade) broke a run of minor placings in Race 4 (1600M Class 4) with victory by a half-length as the 2.1 favourite over the 2.6 second market choice in Champ Sonny. Tiger Monster was reversing form on Champ Sonny from May 8 when he was beaten by one-length when carrying 1kg less but this time it was 3.5kg less and that was enough to improve by one-and-a-half lengths.

Trainer Kim Gil-jung also had a double on the card with BUGYEONG TRIPLE (Hansen) winning Race 3 (1300M Class 5) by a neck, a race that saw the 1.3 favourite Powerful Menifee finish only 3rd, before MAGIC MIRROR (Centralcommand) followed up in the concluding 1800M Class 5 by two-and-a-half lengths.

In Race 6 (1400M Class 5) DEMETER (Central Banker) recorded her second win at start four under Franco da Silva with a half-length victory as the 1.8 favourite, after being prominent throughout, taking her record to two victories from four starts.

The Thomas Gillespie stable continues to fire on all cylinders at present and that continued with NAKDONG MYEONGJAK (Concord Point) winning Race 5 (1200M Class 4) under CC Wong. It was a return to form for the four-year-old filly and at odds of 4.9 she defeated Win Win, 3.0 favourite, by three-quarters of a length with Golden Empire, 3.9, two-lengths away finishing 3rd. CC Wong was riding at Busan as one of a small number of jockeys who have taken the opportunity to ride at both thoroughbred tracks instead of being tied to just one.

Next week is the last of sixteen consecutive weekends of black type racing with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (KOR-G3) concluding the three-year-old fillies Korean Triple Tiara over 2000M