While Cheonnyeon Daero’s stunning last-gasp win in the Korean Derby was the big story of the weekend, there was plenty of other action with Gippeumnuri the star as she landed the Japan Racing Association Trophy.
Gippeum Nuri wins the JRA, Yoo Sang Wan up - Pic: Ross Holburt
As we reported on Saturday, the AJC Trophy and HRI Trophy races were won by Yeopungjudo and Cheot Insang respectively. Fallight now has the videos of both races:
AJC Trophy – Yeopungjudo
HRI Trophy – Cheot Insang
On Sunday, the warm-up act for the Derby was the JRA Trophy. Traditionally a race which features the best of the up and coming imports at Seoul, it was won in impressive style by third favourite Gippeumnuri. The three-year old American bred filly led from gate to wire to take victory by three lengths.
Gippeumnuri [Eurosilver – Regatta Queen (Danzig Connection)], third in February’s Segye Ilbo Stakes, now has a record of four wins from seven starts and looks a real force for the future:
The weekend ended on a downbeat note, however. The build-up to the Derby had been all about the showdown between Money Car and Northern Ace – with a likely cameo from Seonbongbulpae. While Money Car was being turned over by Cheonnyeon Daero in the final few metres – possibly as a result of Seonbongbulpae’s pressure in the opening stages – Northern Ace was nowhere to be seen.
Sensing something was wrong with his previously unbeaten mount, jockey Moon Se Young eased the colt in the home straight and, clearly distressed, immediately dismounted. The vet arrived and the diagnosis was not long coming; a fracture to his left foreleg and a potentially golden career cruelly curtailed.
Northern Ace pulled up after the Derby (Pic: Roar)
Money Car crashes out of Triple Crown in the last stride
Cheonnyeon Daero snatched away Money Car’s chances of sweeping the Triple Crown in the very last strides of the Korean Derby at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Entering the final furlong, Money Car looked to be cruising to an easy victory until out of the pack emerged Cheonnyeondaero, who reeled in the tiring KRA Cup Mile champion, overtaking him inches away from the line.
Park Geum Man punches the air as Cheonnyeon Daero wins the Derby (Pic: Ross Holburt)
As expected Seonbongbulpae burst out of the gate like a train, beating Money Car for the early lead. Money Car tried to match him stride for stride and maybe paid for it in the later stages. nevertheless, as they turned for home, Seonbongbulpae began to weaken and Park Tae Jong steered Money Car into the lead. Entering the home straight, they had a length on the field.
By this stage it seemed a case of just how far they would win by and with a furlong to go, the gap was at least five lengths. Then came Cheonnyeon Daero. With two hundred metres to go it looked as though Money Car would be comfortable, by one hundred it was looking close, by fifty, punters were gasping in disbelief. The instant reaction was to question whether Park Tae Jong – the greatest Korean jockey of all time – had badly misjudged it. A look at the replay showed he had not. Money Car had simply run out of gas.
Behind them Dangdae Bulpae took a surprise third ahead of Triple Sinhwa. The sour note of the race was an injury to second favourite Northern Ace. Showing towards the front in the back straight, he looked poised to make a run. Dropping back on the final turn though it was clear he had nothing in him and jockey Moon Se Young sensibly opted not to ease him. Devastatingly, following the race a vet’s inspection showed a fractured forelimb.
So a Triple Crown winner is off the agenda for another year. Instead we have a clash of Classic winners to look forward to in October when this year’s best three-year olds reconvene for the Minister’s Cup. Cheonnyeon Daero – second in last year’s Busan Breeders’ Cup and third in this year’s KRA Cup Mile now heads this generation. This was only his third win but he had never been out of the money in ten previous starts. For both trainer Oh Moon Sik and jockey Park Geum Man the victory is by far the biggest in their careers.
Cheonnyeon Daero poses in the Winner's Circle, Matthew Lutz, COO of Breeders' Cup Ltd, is on the left (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Korean Derby (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 16, 2010
1. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Park Geum Man – 28.9, 3.3 Money Car (KOR) [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.1 Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Kim Eu Soo – 7.0
Distances: Neck/5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Triple Sinhwa; 5. The Almighty; 6. Tamnaseontaek; 7. Gayabobae; 8. Seonbongbulpae; 9. Donghae Gangho; 10. Forest Wind; 11. Northern Ace; 12. Full Step
Derby day has dawned bright and sunny and racing is set to get underway at Seoul. At 5pm this afternoon, Money Car will attempt to land the second jewel of the Triple Crown as he goes in the 2010 Korean Derby.
He’s going to need to run better and faster than he ever has before if he is to win. Facing him for the first time is the undefeated Northern Ace who has won all his four races by impressive margins without ever being asked for an effort. This duel is one of the most hotly anticipated in Korean racing for years.
Also there will be Seonbongbulpae and although he will be less-fancied than the other two, he may play a big role in deciding the outcome. He will take on Money Car early and how the KRA Cup Mile winner responds to the unfamiliar challenge will be crucial. If he leaves his race on the first corner, Northern Ace could well be the beneficiary.
Then there are the Busan horses. Four colts are seeking to make it three straight derbies for the south. Cheonnyeondaero is better than his Cup Mile performance suggests while Triple Sinhwa was relatively unknown before being the horse that got closest to Money Car a month ago. “Closest”, however, was still eleven lengths away.
Korean Derby (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Sunday May 16, 2010 – 17:00
1. Tamnaseontaek (KOR) [War Zone – Every Michelle (Every Intent)] (5/2/1/1) – Shin Hyoung Chul 2. Gayabobae (KOR) [War Zone – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] (7/2/2/0) – Yang Hee Jin 3. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] (6/4/0/0) – Kim Eu Soo 4. Seonbongbulpae (KOR) [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] (8/6/1/0) – Jo In Kwen 5. Forest Wind (KOR) [Capital Spending – Coffee Royale (Sword Dance)] (4/2/0/0) – Ham Wan Sik 6. Full Step (KOR) [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] (7/3/1/2) – Oh Kyoung Hoan 7. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] (10/2/5/2) – Park Geum Man 8. Northern Ace (KOR) [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] (4/4/0/0) – Moon Se Young 9. Money Car (KOR) [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] (7/6/1/0) – Park Tae Jong 10. Triple Sinhwa (KOR) [Capital Spending – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] (5/1/4/0) – Chae Gyu Jun 11. The Almighty (KOR) [Capital Spending – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] (5/2/1/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 12. Donghae Gangho (KOR) [Psychobabble – Nae Myeon (Somalia)] (14/2/1/3) – Kim Yong Geun
AJC & HRI Trophies on Saturday – JRA Trophy and the Derby on Sunday
The Derby is now less than two days away and it is, along with the Grand Prix, Korean racing’s biggest weekend of the year. See below for a full list of the Derby runners and riders and we’ll have a final preview on Saturday evening.
However, it’s not just the Derby this weekend. For the second consecutive year, the KRA has decided to combine its showpiece event with its traditional “International Exchange Races”. Saturday sees the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Trophies, while on Sunday the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Trophy precedes the Derby. These three races are some of the longest-establshed Stakes contests in Korea. Let’s take a look at this year’s editions:
Restricted to Korean bred fillies and mares at class three and below, the cream of Korean racing isn’t exactly on show here but it should be an entertaining contest nonetheless. A full field of fourteen is entered and Isanghwa is favoured to get the better of fellow four-year old Ruby. Beomtti, Victor Hunter, Sangju Miin and White Dreamer should also come into consideration.
Still for Korean bred class three and below, its open to colts too and Mr. Calgary could get the weekend off to a great start for jockey Jo In Kwen who rides Seonbongbulpae in Sunday’s Derby. He’ll have plenty of competition in a very open race. Cheotinsang is in good form, as is the improving Saebyeogi. A good case could be made for three-quarters of the fourteen strong field.
With Mr. Calgary & Seonbongbulpae, Jo In Kwen has a big weekend in store
We’ll have a preview of Sunday’s JRA Trophy tomorrow. Here’s what’s happening and where:
Saturday May 15
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:10 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:50
Sunday May 16
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30
Here are the runners and riders in Sunday’s Derby – we’ll have a final preview on the blog on Saturday evening:
Korean Derby (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Sunday May 16, 2010 – 17:00
1. Tamnaseontaek (KOR) [War Zone – Every Michelle (Every Intent)] (5/2/1/1) – Shin Hyoung Chul 2. Gayabobae (KOR) [War Zone – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] (7/2/2/0) – Yang Hee Jin 3. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] (6/4/0/0) – Kim Eu Soo 4. Seonbongbulpae (KOR) [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] (8/6/1/0) – Jo In Kwen 5. Forest Wind (KOR) [Capital Spending – Coffee Royale (Sword Dance)] (4/2/0/0) – Ham Wan Sik 6. Full Step (KOR) [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] (7/3/1/2) – Oh Kyoung Hoan 7. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] (10/2/5/2) – Park Geum Man 8. Northern Ace (KOR) [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] (4/4/0/0) – Moon Se Young 9. Money Car (KOR) [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] (7/6/1/0) – Park Tae Jong 10. Triple Sinhwa (KOR) [Capital Spending – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] (5/1/4/0) – Chae Gyu Jun 11. The Almighty (KOR) [Capital Spending – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] (5/2/1/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 12. Donghae Gangho (KOR) [Psychobabble – Nae Myeon (Somalia)] (14/2/1/3) – Kim Yong Geun
* Thanks to Fallight and Roar for the video uploads.
Money Car bidding to be thirteenth winner of Korean Classic
The Derby is a relatively recent addition to the Korean racing year. Except for an enforced stoppage during the Korean War, racing has been running on the peninsula continuously since the 1920’s, however, the calendar as we know it today only really started to take shape in the 1980’s. The Ilgan Sports Cup and the Grand Prix started things off with both being run for the first time in 1985.
The introduction of the private ownership of race-horses – and therefore prize money – accelerated the creation of big Stakes races in the 1990s and finally in 1998, the Derby was run for the first time.
In the twelve editions run so far, seven colts and five fillies have taken the prize which for its first three years was run over just seven furlongs before moving up to its current nine in 2001. Here are those winners with pedigree and jockey:
2009: Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Jo Sung Gon
– The filly, a shock winner of the KRA Cup Mile a month earlier made it two in a row for Busan. She couldn’t maintain her form over the whole year, however, and went down to a shock defeat in the Oaks in August before returning for a creditable third in the Minister’s Cup, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown in October.
2008: Ebony Storm [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] – Shim Seung Tae – Two years ago was the first time that Busan’s best three year olds were invited up to Seoul to contest the Derby and it was one of those visitors, Ebony Storm, the longest shot on the board, who took victory in a monsoon downpour.
2007: J.S. Hold [Ft. Stockton – Hwangsangjiljoo (Passetreul)] – Moon Jung Kyun – Widely considered the best Korean bred horse ever. J.S. Hold landed the inaugural Triple Crown injuring himself in the final race and not returning to the track. He is about to commence his first season of stud duties.
2006: Baengnokjeong[Slew O’Green – Lesu Run (Proper Reality)] – Hwang Soon Do – The rank outsider at over 80-1 on Derby day, Baengnokjeong was at the time, the longest priced horse to win the Derby.
2005: Saebyeok Dongja [Fiercely – Cheongpa (The Rodgers Four)] – Chun Chang Ki – Raced on at the top level for three more years and his jockey Chun Chang Ki became a trainer after a battle against cancer.
2004: Mupae Gangja [Didyme – A Heun A Hop Kan (Kinsky)] – Kim Hyo Seob – One of the top colts of this decade, Mupae Gangja won ten of his sixteen races including the Chairman’s Trophy and Minister’s Cup along with the Derby in 2004.
2003: Habidongju [Silent Warrior – Kahwa (Zoffany)] – Park Tae Jong – The last filly to win until Sangseung Ilro in 2009.
2002: Haeam Janggun [Didyme – Ronde (Toast The Champ)] – Lim Dae Gyu – Ronde foaled her second Derby winner in as many years with this filly who won eight of her fourteen races and gave the late Lim Dae Gyu a Derby victory.
2001: Haetpit Maeul [Mujaazif – Ronde (Toast The Champ)] – Ji Ha Ju – Starting a run of three consecutive years of filly triumphs was Haetpit Maeul. Now a broodmare with some success.
2000: Haekdol’pung [Lost Mountain – Swift Diplomacy (Nice Pirate)] – Park Tae Jong – Korea’s most successful ever jockey got his second straight Derby win on the favourite. It was tight though, with Haekdol’pung getting the verdict in a three way photograph.
1999: Manseokkkeun [Fiercely – Komplication (Kris. S)] – Park Tae Jong – Yes, he really did have three consecutive ‘k’s in his name. Park Tae Jong got the first of his three Derby winners on the colt whose sire, Fiercely, died in 2009.
1998: Useung Yegam [Happy Jazz Band – Man Jang Dae()] – Song Seok Hen – Nine of the 14 runners in the first Derby were fillies and the favourite Useung Yegam, whose dam wasn’t even in the studbook, took the honours by a length.
* For more videos see Fallight’s YouTube page. This post is a slightly updated version of the one posted on the corresponding pre-Derby Monday last year.
KRA Cup Mile Winner bidding for Triple Crown / Busan Sends Four
There will be four raiders from Busan and eight representing the home team at Seoul. With less than two weeks to go, twelve colts remain in contention for the 2010 Korean Derby which will be run at Seoul Race Park on Sunday May 16.
Last year’s Champion two-year old, Seonbongbulpae will be there, the unbeaten Northern Ace will be there. But it is Money Car, winner of the KRA Cup Mile and on course for the Triple Crown, that they all have to beat.
Money Car - Triple Crown hopeful
The Derby will cap a bumper weekend of racing. Just like last year, the KRA has designated it “International Weekend” and races sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland, the Australian Jockey Club and the Japan Racing Association will all be on the card.
We’ll have plenty more on the Derby as the day draws closer, but for now here’s the list of entrants with pedigrees and race records:
Money Car produced a sterling performance to leave the rest of the best of the nation’s three-year olds stalled in the Busan sand as he won the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown at Busan Race Park this afternoon.
Starting the odds-on favourite in a field which was reduced to thirteen following the scratching of Dae Wan (which is another story in itself), Park Tae Jong launched Money Car at full throttle out of the gate and into an early lead. No-one came to challenge him and he was able to cruise away from the field as they left the final corner and entered the home straight – eleven lengths the margin at the finish.
Triple Sinhwa led the field home as a distant second, just edging out second favourite Cheonnyeondaero. South African jockey Martin Wepner’s mount, Dangdae Bulpae, was sent off third in the betting but finished a disappointing eighth. Australian trainer Peter Wolsley saddled both Saeroun Taeyang and Mega Tough, who finished fifth and twelfth respectively.
Money Car is one of the few foals to make the track by the young sire Newsprint, who died tragically young late in 2009. He’s now won six of his seven starts and although his main challenger for Triple Crown honours, Northern Ace, was absent today, Money Car is now in pole position for the Korean Derby which is just over a month away.
Money Car’s victory was the first for a Seoul based horse in a Classic since the Triple Crown series was opened up to runners from both the nation’s thoroughbred tracks. The last horse from the Capital to win one was J.S Hold who would, of course, go on to sweep all three in 2007.
KRA Cup Mile (KOR.G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 4, 2010
1. Money Car (KOR) [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.1 2. Triple Sinhwa (KOR) [Capital Spending – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 2.9 3. Cheonnyeondaero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.4
Distances: 11 lengths/0.5 lengths Also Ran: 4. Forest Wind; 5. Saeroun Taeyang; 6. The Almighty; 7. Udeumji; 8. Dangdae Bulpae; 9. Glory Yeongwang; 10. Baekjeom Manjeom; 11. Almighty Hit; 12. Mega Tough; 13. Sliver Mon
Non-runner: Dae Wan
Money Car wasn’t the only one of the ill-fated Newsprint’s progeny to score today. Up at Seoul Race Park, 2009 Champion Juvenile, Seonbongbulpae, was an emphatic winner in the class 2 race 9 and has qualified for the top-tier of racing. Could a showdown with Money Car in the Derby be the ultimate tribute to his sire?
On any other afternoon, Seonbongbulpae would have been the star at Seoul, but today was not just another day. The main event in the capital was the coming of age of a different three-year old. Overseas-bred horses aren’t eligible for the Triple Crown but do make up the elite of those running on the peninsula. Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] is one of the most exciting of those to arrive in Korea in recent times and went into today’s showdown with Bulpae Gisang – winner of last year’s Busan Metropolitan and recognised as the second best horse in Korea – with a perfect five from five record.
He maintained it. Haengun Daewang, a winner last time out, set the early pace, but Tough Win took command as the field entered the home straight. Bulpae Gisang is a closer and under Choi Bum Hyun he did indeed make a late run. The younger horse always had things in hand though and, while he won’t have a four kilo weight advantage again, punters were already thinking this could be the horse who could take on Dongbanui Gangja later on this season.
Any final clash would potentially be in the season ending Grand Prix. Today Money Car and Tough Win were both first to their respective “chequered flags”. Later this year we may find out who is the greatest “Prancing Horse”.
It’s Seoul vs Busan and the first leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown as fourteen of the peninsula’s most talented colts line up for the KRA Cup Mile – “The Korean Guineas” – at Busan Race Park this coming Sunday.
Here’s a full run-down of the runners and riders:
KRA Cup Mile (KOR.G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 4, 2010, 15:45
1. Money Car [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] (6/5/1/0) – Park Tae Jong
Heading the Northern raiders, Money Car has looked untouchable at every distance since an inauspicious debut. Will he take to Busan’s brutally difficult track? If he does, he’ll be hard to beat. 2. Baekjeom Manjeom [Fiercely – Mia Victoria (Flying Victor)] (5/3/1/0) – Jo Chang Wook
Didn’t impress in good company over a mile last time but knows how to win. 3. Dangdae Bulpae [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] (5/4/0/0/) – Martin Wepner
Wepner already has a Korean Classic to his name and could get another. Dangdae Bulpae was an impressive winner over a mile last time out. 4. Mega Tough [Concept Win – Keu Roo (March Magic)] (5/1/2/2) – Lim Sung Sil
One of two entrants for Australian trainer Peter Wolsley. Mega Tough only broke his maiden last time out – that was at nine furlongs, having been third in his only run over a mile. 5. The Almighty [Capital Spending – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] (4/2/1/0) – Shin Hyoung Chul
Has never gone more than six and a half furlongs and is completely unproven in this company. Nevertheless,with two wins and a second from three races, he knows where he is supposed to be at the end of the race. 6. Daewan [The Groom Is Red – Greatgrama (Border Guard)] (8/2/2/0) – Kim Hong Il
Will he run? All of trainer Kim Young Kwan’s horses have been scratched the past two weeks. If he does run, he’ll have his work cut out to win for the trainer who scooped all three of last year’s Triple Crown races. 7. Almighty Hit [Concept Win – Dixie Snow (Dixie Brass)] (7/2/3/0) – Park Geum Man
Second behind Dangdae Bulpae last time out, one of three second places. He’s worth a bet to place again. 8. Forest Wind [Capital Spending – Coffee Royale (Sword Dance)] (3/2/0/0) – Ham Wan Sik
A smart winner on both his last two outings but like stablemate The Almighty, has done little to suggest he’ll be competing for top honours here. Place at most. 9. Saeroun Taeyang [Volponi – Glorious Thunder (Thunder Gulch)] (7/3/1/0) – Hitomi Miyashita
Made it up to class 2 racing early and has competed over a mile twice before, fourth being his best finish. The second of Peter Wolsley’s two runners, an overseas trainer and jockey connection would not be welcomed on the backstretch but would be welcomed elsewhere. 10. Glory Yeonggwang [Didyme – Lady Sandido (Sandrigo)] (7/2/1/2) – Jo Chan Hoon
Plenty of experience including a second place finish over a mile. Was runner-up to Almighty Hit last time out. 11. Cheonnyeon Daero [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] (8/2/5/1) – Jo Sung Gon
Never worse than third in eight races and is a winner at class 2 over the distance. Purely on caliber of horses he’s beaten, he’s worth supporting – however, six out of eight times, something has gotton the better of him. 12. Triple Sinhwa [Capital Spending – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] (4/1/3/0) – Chae Gyu Jun
A late entry, Triple Sinhwa was a surprise winner at his first attempt at a class 3 race two weeks ago. That was at two furlongs less than he’ll be running on Sunday though. 13. Silver Mon [Distilled – Silver Fizz (Cee’s Tizzy)] (6/2/1/1) – Boo Min Ho
Seoul’s final challenger is the grey Silver Mon. Disappointing in the Herald Business last season but a surprise third place over eight and a half furlongs on his season debut may have persuaded connections to think he is going to excel at the mile. 14. Udeumji [Yehudi – Lady Dignity (Nordico)] (7/1/0/2) – Kim Yong Geun
Has been in indifferent form of late and there’s no real reason why that should change on Sunday. An outsider.
Nine from Busan and Four from Seoul set for Korean Guineas
The first leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown is less than two weeks away and the field is taking shape for the KRA Cup Mile – “The Korean Guineas” – which will be run at Busan Race Park on Sunday April 4.
Four challengers will be travelling south from Seoul in a bid to overturn the capital’s recent dismal record in the Triple Crown. Busan horses have swept all three classic races for each of the past two years.
Money Car leads the Capital contingent. He’s won five of his six starts with dismissive ease and has looked equally at home going round one turn or two. How he takes to Busan’s punishingly long back straight could be key to this race.
Money Car
He’s joined on the trip South by Silver Mon, who’ll have some supporters due to his being grey and the Seo Soon Bae owned pair of The Almighty and Forest Wind, both lightly raced and intriguing prospects.
On the home team, Cheonnyeon Daero is a prolific placer, if not winner, and has already qualified for the top tier of racing at Busan. Dangdae Bulpae, Saeroun Taeyang, Baekjeom Manjeom and Almighty Hit are not far behind. Meanwhile, Australian trainer Peter Wolsley saddles Mega Tough, who has won or placed in all his five races to date. Daewan, Udeumji and Glory Yeonggwang perhaps have less in their favour at this point. However, over the past couple of years, Korean classics have tended not to go to form.
KRA Cup Mile (KOR.G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 4, 2010
Busan
Cheonnyeon Daero [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] (8/2/5/1) Dangdae Bulpae [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] (5/4/0/0/) Almighty Hit [Concept Win – Dixie Snow (Dixie Brass)] (7/2/3/0) Saeroun Taeyang [Volponi – Glorious Thunder (Thunder Gulch)] (7/3/1/0) Baekjeom Manjeom [Fiercely – Mia Victoria (Flying Victor)] (5/3/1/0) Mega Tough [Concept Win – Keu Roo (March Magic)] (5/1/2/2) Daewan [The Groom Is Red – Greatgrama (Border Guard)] (8/2/2/0) Udeumji [Yehudi – Lady Dignity (Nordico)] (7/1/0/2) Glory Yeonggwang [Didyme – Lady Sandido (Sandrigo)] (7/2/1/2)
As always since the KRA Cup Mile assumed the role as the first leg of the Triple Crown, much focus will also be on who is not making the trip south from Seoul. Arguably the most exciting three-year old of the lot, Northern Ace is, like Nice Choice last year, being targeted 100% at the Korean Derby in May. This backfired on Nice Choice but with Northern Ace only just back from a long lay-off, there was never much prospect of him going to Busan.
There are no fillies to follow in the hoof-steps of last year’s heroine Sangseung Ilro, who went on to win the Derby. Both Manjeomhwanhui and the unbeaten Dongbang Rose will stay in their boxes in Seoul waiting for their day to come later in the year.
Whereas in the past two years, the KRA Cup Mile has been given Korean Group 3 status, this year it has been upgraded to Group 2.
We’ll take a closer look at all the runners as the race gets closer. For now, here’s Sangseung Ilro winning last year’s event:
Horse Racing in Korea 