ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL A 1400M CLASS 1 WAS THE MAIN RACE OF THE WEEKEND AND SUPER FINISH produced his best effort since finishing 3rd in the Korea Sprint last year with a dashing front-running display in his first race for almost six months (writes Luke Humphreys).

Super Finish (Federalist), which was being ridden for the first time by Ruan Maia, proved too good at odds of 4.9 over the topweight Vics Go which ran a very admirable race in 2nd beaten a half-length. The very consistent Ziggurat, 1.8 favourite, was a never nearer 3rd.

Johan Victoire and Lee Joon-chel combined for a race-to-race double on the card and that began when the very consistent FLYING HONOR (To Honor And Serve) bounced back to winning ways in Race 7 (1700M Class 4) scoring by one-and-three-quarter lengths as the 3.0 favourite. The locally bred three-year-old gelding has never missed the top four in seven starts and has now recorded three career wins. He was reversing form on the 3rd placed Hyeukmusang, 5.9, from their encounter on July 25 whilst another decent three-year-old JD Gangja, 3.4, split them in 2nd. The consistent but non-winning Geuma Foremost, 7.5, was 4th whilst the leader in the race Saenae Hunter, 8.6, who was up in trip was 5th.

Victoire and Lee followed up with 1.8 favourite GWANAKSAN SKY (Concord Point) in Race 8 (1800M Class 4) which bounced back to winning ways after winning his first three starts before finishing 9th in The Derby and 7th at his latest appearance. Gwanaksan Sky received a lot of pressure in front when beaten nine-lengths at his last start and was expected to lead once again and did so through the first quarter-mile however Kozzi Asano on Shining Road, which eventually finished 3rd, was keen to make the odds-on chance earn it and they eventually found the lead as Victoire was very keen to surrender the front-running on the popular pick once pressure came. Gwanaksan Sky then raced in 2nd, out of kickback, before leading in the home straight and proving too strong by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Asano and Tony Castanheira book-ended the card, winning the last with HERO CHEETAH (Yaupon) who made it five wins from seven starts in the concluding Race 10 (1200M Class 3) when he scored by a soft three-lengths as the 1.8 favourite. The other victory for Castanheira and Asano was with TONGKWAEHANSEUNGJA (Concert Tour) in Race 1 (1400M Class 6) for the juveniles who scored by two-lengths as the 3.8 second choice and in doing so went one better on the second place he had recorded at his second career start.

Luis Quiroz rode the beaten favourite in that race in the shape of the last placed 2.1 chance Eco Bolt, who lost his chance when getting upset in the gate, subsequently missing the start and then working hard to regain his position, but Quiroz put that behind him twenty-five minutes later when riding JEJU PRINCESS (Musket Man) to a three-length success in Race 2 (1300M Class 6) before following up on STUNNING SKET (Musket Man) in Race 5 (1400M Class 5), who was breaking through at start four following three minor places, which won by the same margin. The victory of Stunning Sket was the first of two wins for trainer Kim Dong-kyun on the card as he later prepared Super Finish to win the Class 1.

Trainer Lee Shin-woo continued her fantastic recent record with foreign jockeys as Ruan Maia rode COWBOY SOCKS (Cowboy Cal) to victory for the stable by two-and-a-half lengths in Race 4 (1300M Class 5). Cowboy Socks was the 3.3 second favourite and was having her first run for four months. Other popular picks in the event included Lucky Day, 6.5, who was 2nd, Haksan Winner, 2.5, who was 3rd, and Daebi Mama, 4.5, who was well turned over in 10th place in the eleven strong field. Ruan Maia subsequently completed a double as he later rode the previously mentioned Super Finish to success.

ON SUNDAY AT BUSAN A 1400M CLASS 2 WAS THE PRINCIPAL RACE ON THE CARD AND THE OLDEST HORSE IN THE FIELD IN WIND WINNER was an upset winner as the rank outsider at 52.0.

Wind Winner (Federalist) came from well back to grab victory in the dying strides over 2.1 favourite Geuma Adept which lost no admirers after working hard after a slow start and being left in front a long way from home early in the home straight. 7.2 fifth market choice Dragon Ninja, who had beaten Geuma Adept at his last race in June, was 3rd whilst the smart Bart Rice trained three-year-old filly Twin Rainbow was 4th as the 5.7 second pick. World List Cat, which was a 6.6 chance, was 5th.

Franco da Silva was on fire on the day riding a race-to-race quartet of winners which began with the very impressive INFINITE WINNER (Centralcommand) in Race 3 (1300M Class 6). The three-year-old filly was making her belated debut and led throughout to win by six-lengths and looks a smart prospect. The second winner for Franco came with GLOBAL HEROINE (Testa Matta) in Race 4 (1300M Class 5), who was breaking her maiden at the twenty-seventh time of asking, before the Thomas Gillespie prepared KING BLACK (Power Blade) completed the treble in Race 5 (1600M Class 5) as the 3.5 favourite. The quartet was completed when the Bart Rice trained and Pegasus owned STEALTH MODE (Thunder Moccasin) completed brilliant back-to-back on pace victories in Race 6 (1800M Class 3) at juicy odds of 14.0. The five-year-old gelding is a talented type on his day and accounted for the consistent Air City, 2.5 favourite, by three-lengths.

Jin Kyum rode an early double on the card which began with GLOBAL PRINCE (Shackleford) bouncing back to his best in Race 1 (1800M Class 4) as he justified evens favouritism by eight-lengths from the front. He never at any stage looked comfortable when only beating two home at his previous run but prior to that had won a hat-trick of races before finishing 11th in The Derby. He looks a nice type when he is on song. As does the second of Kyum’s winners in VICTORY CHAMP (Old Fashioned) who was outstanding in his debut victory in Race 2 (1200M Class 6) for the juveniles. He started a 1.8 favourite and led throughout to score by an effortless ten-lengths and looks one to put in the blackbook.

AT SEOUL ON SATURDAY A CLASS 2 OVER 1800M WAS THE MAIN CONTEST ON THE CARD AND G B VAULT bounced back to winning ways proving too strong from the front for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi.

G B Vault (Rock Your World) had previously won two in a row in outstanding fashion before failing as a 1.4 favourite when stepping up to Class 1 grade last month. However, he reaffirmed himself as a stayer on the rise with a four-length victory at odds of 2.5 over the hat-trick seeking Keidragon, 5.9, who was a fine 2nd after sitting outside G B Vault. The race was won on the first corner when Johan Victoire was able to drive G B Vault through on the inside to hold the lead over Kim Yong-geun and Keidragon who were unable to cross. Mustang Power, 8.7, once again did his best work late for 3rd, but this time was one-and-a-half length in arrears of Keidragon, compared to the nose margin from their previous run, whilst Haksan Dark Horse, 3.8, lost no admirers over the furthest distance he had run over.

Trainer Park Jae-woo and owner Kwon Kyung-ja combined for a double on the day with MUNHAK BELL (Audible) ridden by Panamanian Luis Quiroz winning Race 4 (1700M Class 5) by two-and-a-half lengths whilst MUNHAK CHUKJE (Blame) with Japan’s Kozzi Asano landed Race 10 (1400M Class 3). Munhak Bell was recording her second win, they have come from her past four starts both over the course, distance, and grade, whilst Munhak Chukje was completing a hat-trick of victories after winning a pair of 1600M Class 4 contests at his previous two starts. Munhak Chukje has now won five races and has been ridden to victory by Kozzi Asano in all of them. He was ridden from the front on this occasion from the inside draw and scored by six-lengths over Raon Nizhinskii, 6.4, which following an easy win at his previous start was a fine 2nd whilst Perfect Danaeun, 3.7, and Charming Queen, 4.9, were only 6th and 8th.

PURPLE KOREA (To Honor And Serve) has done almost nothing wrong in seven starts having never missed the top four and led throughout to record her third career victory in Race 9 (1200M Class 4). She was the 2.3 favourite and held off Phantom Prince, 6.2, by three-quarters of a length, which did his best work late, with Widaehan Hamseong, 4.1, two-lengths away in 3rd.

A couple of decent two-year-old winners at the start of the day included A.K SUN (Old Fashioned) in Race 1 (1000M Class 6) which as an odds-on favourite, 1.6, following a runner-up finish on debut led throughout to score by five-lengths, over debutante and 3.8 second favourite Macheon Mama, and TEUKGEUP GISANG (Yeonseung Daero) in Race 2 (1200M Class 6) who also won from the front as favourite, 2.6, with her margin being by four-lengths. In her one and only previous trial she had chased home Singsing Morning who is due to make his debut this Saturday in a strong race for the juveniles.

Amongst other events on the card JURING SKY (Power Blade) was rewarded for consistency with a front-running score under Seo Seung-un in Race 5 (1200M Class 5) whilst SEMYEONG DIA (Freedom Child) was an upset winner of Race 7 (1600M Class 4), also from the front, by three-lengths. The favourites in Wild Magic, 3.5, and Mighty Shine, 2.2, never looked like laying a glove on the 20.5 outsider and came home in 3rd and 5th respectively.

AT A VERY WET BUSAN ON FRIDAY LUNA STAKES (KOREAN 1000 GUINEAS) WINNER CLEARLY WINNER returned with a victory in a 1400M Class 3 for the fillies and mares after her narrow runner-up finish in the Korean Oaks in May. 

Clearly Winner (Hansen) was the 1.5 favourite and scored by a soft three-lengths over co-favourites World Blue Pin Cat, 7.8, and Momentum, 4.4, who were far from disgraced.

Clearly Winner was recording her fifth win at start seven and in those seven runs has raced for three different trainers. She was having her first run for Koo Young-jun after owner Shin Woo-cheol elected to remove the grey filly away from Kim Hye-sun for the reasons behind Clearly Winner missing the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, closing leg of the Triple Tiara, on June 14.

Clearly Winner will likely head to the Jeju Governor’s Cup (KOR-G3) over 1400M on September 20 which is the first leg of the Queen’s Tour races for the Autumn.

Franco da Silva was the winning rider on Clearly Winner and he was gaining some sort of revenge on the day after his mount in Race 3 (1400M Class 5), the Thomas Gillespie prepared and Pegasus owned Dalbitwie, was demoted to 2nd and the Seo Seung-un ridden Moon Hyeon-cheol trained BEST TIGER (To Honor And Serve) was promoted to first.

That was the second win of the day for Seo Seung-un after the Bart Rice trained RACE NINE (Uncaptured) was a soft six-length winner of Race 1 (1000M Class 6) for the two-year-old fillies as the 1.3 favourite and therefore was going one better from her debut effort. Moon Hyeon-cheol followed up in Race 6 (1200M Class 4) with 18.8 chance TAMNA FIRST (Uncaptured) who defeated two three-year-old colts who had run in Triple Crown races in Runners High and Legend Hit who both made up good ground. The 3.1 favourite in that race was Daeroui Bit who was crossed from the inside barrier and effectively was gone from there. It did not help that he pulled up lame in the off-hind also.

Song Kyeong-yun also had a double on the program riding ONE PLUS ONE (Old Fashioned) to a four-length score in Race 2 (1600M Class 6) as the 3.7 favourite before JANGGO MAN (J P’s Gusto) resumed with a victory in Race 7 (1800M Class 4) as the 4.2 third favourite getting the better of 3.7 favourite Skylor Jiyou by a head.

Masa Tanaka had success with HANEUL POKPUNG (Cowboy Cal) in Race 4 (1300M Class 5) which got the prize by a nose as the 2.1 favourite.

All roads next week lead to the Korea Cup and Sprint on September 6 with the local star Clean One set to take on two Japanese challengers in last year’s winner Diktaean and Sunday Funday. Romantic Thor from Hong Kong was also set to take part but unfortunately injured himself on the way to the Hong Kong International Airport before leaving for Seoul and was withdrawn. However, Hong Kong, as well as Romantic Thor’s trainer Danny Shum, will still be represented in the Sprint having three runners in the shape of last year’s winner Self Improvement, for Manfred Man and Dylan Mo, Beauty Waves, for Tony Cruz and Jerry Chau and Gorgeous Win, for the aforementioned Danny Shum and Richard Kingscote. Japan will be represented by American Stage, for the Forever Young combination of Ryusei Sakai and Yoshito Yahagi, and Dragon Welds whilst the best of the locals includes Vincero Cavallo, Winner Clear and Born Dia.

Racing as always will take place the day before and multiple international trophy exchange races will be the main events and they recognise France Galop/PMU, Singapore Pools, the Race Coast Turf Club (South Africa), the Selangor Turf Club (Malaysia), the Japan Racing Association, OSAF (South America), and for the first time Sky Channel/Tabcorp (Australia).

Naturally, all focus will be on the nation’s capital, but Busan will have their standard Friday and Sunday fixtures and their main races include an 1800M Class 2, featuring the smart classic aged pair of Breedo Sol and Doctor Chris, and a 1400M Class 1.