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Sprint Series 1st Leg: Busan Ilbo Preview & Form Comments

SEE HERE FOR RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN

Not since Success Story in 2017 has a Busan-trained horse provided a home winner for its leg of the Sprint Series as Seoul has dominated the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). In that time visitors such as Silver Wolf, Eoma Eoma, Raon The Fighter and most recently Vincero Cavallo have been the most notable winners.  This year may be different though as the home track provides most of the probable favourites among the twelve-strong field.

Vincero Cavallo swept all three legs of last year’s Sprint Series (Pic: KRA)

The defending champion is back though. VINCERO CAVALLO swept all three legs of the Sprint Series last year, but he didn’t hold his form for the rest of the year, missing a summer prep before running 6th in the Korea Sprint (1200M IG3) but was well back in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-G3) in October, and hasn’t raced since. He did though win a February trial.

Busan is dangerous this year. WINNER CLEAR and YEONGGWANGUI WORLD enter as the in-form horses. The former won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam in November and edged out BORN DIA at class 1 level in January. Yeonggwangui World meanwhile looked set to won the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) at Seoul three weeks ago before Speed Young, who skips this race in order to go to the opening leg of the Stayer Series next week, ran him down late on.

GANGSEO GIANT is another Busan trained horse who will be firmly in the market while FANTASTIC KINGDOM and veteran BLACK MUSK are others who may play a role in the finish. The Busan Ilbo Sprint, kicking off the Sprint Series, gets underway at 16:05 local time on Sunday:

1. BORN DIA – Class 2 winner at this distance in October and then led on January 11th only to be denied by Winner Clear in the final strides by a neck. Good draw and a 2kg mare allowance which brings her right in contention. Chance.

2. GANGSEO GIANT – Won the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M in 2024 and was 3rd in the same race in 2025. Won at class 1 over 1200M in November and hasn’t raced since but looked well in a February trial. Likes to come from off the pace, Seo Seung-un is on, and she will be among the favourites.

3. WINNER CLEAR – Dueled with Clean One as a juvenile but has found his niche at 1200M where all seven of his wins have come. He won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam on Grand Prix weekend in emphatic fashion before just getting up to beat Born Dia on January. Comes from off the pace and has a fiendish turn of foot. He will be favourite.

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Korea Racing Report: February 13-15 – Speed Young Sprints To Segye Success

SPEED YOUNG (Menifee) showed why he was recently crowned Korean Horse of the Year for 2025 when overcoming many obstacles to become the first Busan prepared horse to take out the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed), the first black type race of 2026. at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.

On a day where six of the ten races were won by leaders, Speed Young came from the second half of the field to storm down the outside to deny a game YEONGGWANGUI WORLD, who led all bar the last fifty metres.

Speed Young, who had never won over 1200M prior, was outpaced and under pressure in the early stages but, on a front running dominated track, proved to be by far the best under a brilliant first ride on the horse for Jo In-kwon.

ZIGGURAT was a further five-lengths away in 3rd, also coming from well back, ahead of HAKSAN SPEED in 4th.

Korea Sprint 3rd SUPER FINISH and BEST RACE, who drew either side of the stalls, were the next pair home followed by last year’s winner CROWN HAMSEONG.

The major disappointment was the 3.5 favourite MUNHAK BOY who came into the race on a streak of six victories but was effectively beaten from the start, proving unable to get onto the early speed and ultimately, ended eight and three quarters lengths in 10th.

“(Speed Young) hadn’t raced over the distance for a year so there was always that concern,” winning jockey Jo In-kwon told KRBC. “But as soon as I saw Munhak Boy hadn’t managed to get on to the speed, I was more at ease and thought we could win. If Munhak Boy had been in front of me, I would have been anxious, but from then on I just left it to Speed Young.”

Speed Young doesn’t currently hold an entry to the first leg of the Sprint Series next month and trainer Bang Dong-suk was non-committal about where his charge would next run: “The first priority is the health of the horse, but we will consider going back to the Stayer Series. For now, I am happy to start 2026 with a win.”

Earlier, THE CLASSIC (Concord Point) was an impressive eased down twelve-length winner of the opening race. He is a “full” brother to the 2023 KRA Cup Mile (2000 Guineas) winner Betelgeuse and looks to have similar ability based on his debut. Betelgeuse didn’t run again after that Cup Mile win but does stand at Stud and just this month his first foals have been reported to be on the ground.

GENERAL WIND (Yeonseung Daero) justified 2.9 favouritism to impressively lead throughout in race 4 under Kim Yong-geun (1400M Class 5) scoring by four-lengths over 3.3 second pick VALID YOUNG who lost no admirers in second.

The American bred MOVING VOLCANO (Stay Thirsty) was a good one-length winner from the top in race 8 (1200M Class 4). The three-year-old colt was the last of the two winners on the program for both Kim Yong-geun and Hong Dae You in a race which saw fancies MUNHAK DAESE and RAON SPILETTA never land a blow.

CIRCLE A (Higher Power) was yet another front running winner on the program scoring in race 9 (1700M Class 4) by four-lengths and in doing so brought up a riding double for Turkish jockey Furkan Yuksel who earlier scored in race 2 with X-TEN (Mischievously). CC Wong was also among the winners on CHRYSOL STONE (Chrysolite).

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SENSATIONAL CLEAN ONE RAMPAGES TO GRAND PRIX GLORY

Clean One pulled off one of the most comprehensive demolition jobs in Korean racing history at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday. The three-year-old led from gate-to-wire to win the Grand Prix (2300M KOR-G1) by nine-lengths, the biggest winning margin recorded in the traditional final G1 of the year in thirty years. Gangpungma was the distance 2nd with Speed Young and Japanese visitor Yumeno Honoo a strung-out 3rd and 4th.

Clean One dominated the Grand Prix (Pic: KRA)

Relatively unexposed with a 3rd place in June’s Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) his only previous Group race experience, Clean One entered the race with four wins from eight starts. But, while he hadn’t raced since a strong Class 1 victory over 2000M in August, the market didn’t entirely miss him, and the public sent him out as the sixth favourite among the sixteen runners at approximately 13/1.

The market elect was Yumeno Honoo. Making his second visit to Korea after his 3rd place in April’s YTN Cup, the Kochi star’s adeptness at staying distances persuaded punters to send him off just the right side of even money. With Seo Seung-un and Global Hit tracking his every step, Yumeno Honoo and Yoshihara Hiroto settled midfield and wide and while he got a bit closer around the final turn, he did well to ultimately run into 4th place in a tumultuous race. He lost nothing in defeat.

Gangpungma had been slow away but grew gradually into the race, sitting midfield exiting the back straight and ran on quicker than all but the winner. Speed Young sat in midfield early before steadily improving and finished as well as ever. Behind Yumeno Honoo, the recently out of form Tuhonui Banseok put in a spirited 5th ahead of Wonpyeong Storm and Global Hit. The gap from 1st to 5th was twenty-six-lengths.

Clean One simply ran the legs off them. Jockey Franco Da Silva took Clean One straight to the lead from gate eleven and by the time they were halfway home, they already held a two-length lead. This would be stretched to four with three-furlongs to run and five entering the home straight. Still full of running, he continued to extend, completing the final furlong in a quicker time than any, Gangpungma included.

Not since Ka Shock Do landed the 2nd of her two Grand Prix in 1995 had a horse won the big race by such a margin and only Po Gyeong Seon in 1985 and 1986 have exceeded it (in all three of those races, the Grand Prix was contested at a shorter distance).

“I don’t have many words because I’m speechless” winning jockey Franco Da Silva told KRBC. He promptly found some: “The plan was I always go with the horse’s speed, without worrying about anybody else. I talked to the trainer, and he let me ride very freely so I told him if I go to the front, it shouldn’t be a problem or if the pace is too fast, I can sit 2nd.”

“I was lucky, I got an easy lead and from there I just had to control the pace and make sure nobody can catch me.”

“I’ve always known he was a very talented horse since he was two years old; unfortunately, I didn’t ride him for his first few starts, so I’m lucky he’s shown his potential now.” As for how far Clean One can go: “I think he’s a really special horse, I still think he has plenty in the tank although, of course, we never know for sure.”

Clean One is owned by the Healing Farm Union and trained at Busan by Moon Hyeon-cheol. Moon is third-year trainer who scored his first Group race win just last week with Supex Winner in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie. The juvenile was also ridden by Franco Da Silva, who with Clean One registered his ninth Korean Group race success and second G1. The 46-year-old Brazilian rider is just shy of 540 Korean winners overall over nine seasons in the country.

An American bred, Clean One is by Bernadini and out of No Fault (by Blame). He was a $22,000 purchase out of the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The Graded race schedule for 2025 may be over but racing doesn’t stop. Action returns to Busan next Friday and Sunday and Seoul next Saturday and Sunday.

GRAND PRIX 2025: FORM COMMENTS

SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES AT SEOUL AND BUSAN

1. NEW DOLKONG (USA) [Accelerate – Swear By It (Broken Vow)] C 4 – 19(4/3/2) O: Lee Tae-in T: Seo In-seok J: Jang Chu-youl – Has slowly worked his way up the grades and has established himself at class 2 with three placings, two at 2000M. Has been racing closer to the pace recently although his wins have come from further back. Can stay the trip but may struggle with the tempo his rivals will set here.

2. YEONGGWANGUIFIRST (KOR) [Boys At Tosconova – Yeonggwangui Kiss (Hansen)] C 4 – 20(6/8/1) O: Byun Chang-deok T: Kang Eun-seok J: Song Kyeong-yun – Only managed 9th of eleven behind plenty of these in the KRA Cup Classic in August but gets his chance having won at class 1 level over 1800M on September 21st when settling back and running on. That race had rating cap of 100 though and at level weights against the elite, it may be hard again.

3. BLACK BELT (KOR) [Speightster – Lovin Empire (Empire Maker)] H 4 – 26(7/4/6) O: Lee Kang-woon T: Luigi Riccardi J: Jeong Jeong-hee – Joined the field at the late entry stage, he finished 8th of fourteen in this race a year ago as a three-year-old. He has one class 1 win in ten 2025 starts which came at 2000M in June, beating Gangpungma, and enters off a 3rd at 2300M and 4th at 1800M from his last two. He can race on pace or behind the speed and while he doesn’t shape as one of the leading contenders, he will get the trip.

4. YONGAM SESANG (KOR) [To Honor And Serve – Chalanhanyeonmeoung (Pure Prize)] G 4 – 11(6/2/1) O: Kim Hak-rok T: Bae Hou-jun J: Lee Hyeok – Won at Listed level over 2000M in May but only managed a midfield finish in similar company to this in the President’s Cup. A winner of six from eleven who is tactically versatile, the extended trip may suit but this is a very tough ask.

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Champion Filly & Mare / Juvenile Prizes To Be Decided on Busan’s Big Sunday

SEE HERE FOR FULL RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES AT BUSAN AND SEOUL

It’s just a week until the Grand Prix Stakes when Yumeno Honoo will likely start as favourite to become the first overseas trained horse to win the traditional final Group One of the Korean racing season. Before that, however, there are some intriguing domestic loose ends to tie up at Busan on Sunday with the Breeders’ Cup Queen (1800M KOR-L) and Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2).

Boreyonglightqueen downed Gladius and Jeulgeounyeojeong in the 1st leg of the series (Pic: KRA)

The Breeders’ Cup Queens is the final leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter and defending champion FLYING STAR returns. After scoring in this race as a three-year-old a year ago, she had an indifferent start to her 2025 campaign but has been coming back into form in this series, finishing 3rd in the Jeju Governor’s Cup over 1400M at Seoul in September, before winning the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at 2000M on October 26th with lots of today’s rivals behind her.

Trained by Seo In-seok and partnered by jockey Jang Chu-youl, who has ridden her in her past two starts, Flying Star is the probable market favourite to prevail but in both editions to date of this relatively new race on the calendar, the Breeders’ Cup Queen has been won by a three-year-old with JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG – who returns again – prevailing in the inaugural running on 2023. There is a smart young filly in the field this time too and she may just keep that trend going.

BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN was 3rd in the Luna Stakes and Korean Oaks before winning the final leg of the Triple Tiara over 2000M at Seoul in July. She then returned to the capital track and took the first leg of this series, the Jeju Governor’s Cup over 1400M, with a dashing late burst to flash past Jeulgeounyeojeong and GLADIUS. That led her to be sent off as favourite for the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup and although she only managed 5th that day, the Rock Band filly should have a big part to play here.

In winning the final leg of the Tiara, Boryeonglightqueen denied a clean sweep to FANTASTIC VALUE, who won both the Luna and the Oaks. She races for the first time since missing out on the Tiara, but she looked very well in a trial at the beginning of this month. Gladius and Jeulgeounyeojeong are more than capable of having a say, while the ever-reliable RAON FOREST should also be in the mix.

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Geudaemaniddamyeon & CC Wong Land Juvenile Honours for Trainer Choi Yong-geon

Geudaemaniddamyeon ground down Wonpyeong Sket to claim victory in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (1200M Listed) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon and in the process establish himself as the capital track’s top imported juvenile and one of its most exciting prospects for next year.

Geudaemaniddamyeon and CC Wong get the better of Wonpyeong SKet and Ruan Maia (Pic: KRA)

After running 2nd on debut, Geudaemaniddamyeon was a comprehensive winner at start number two over 1200M and that led him to be sent off as the favourite for what is the biggest juvenile race at Seoul open to imported youngsters.

Second favourite Wonpyeong Sket, the only Korean bred in the race and one of only two fillies, bounded out of gate six into an early lead under Ruan Maia and seemed poised to go all the way until Geudaemaniddamyeon and CC Wong swept by late to score in the final few strides. My Empire, a Classic Empire colt, was two-lengths back in 3rd.

For Wonpyeong Sket it marked three times in a row in Listed Juvenile races that she has led, only to be overhauled late on, having suffered the same fate at the hands of Mujehan Geup in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy and Chief Star in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy. Connections decisions to swerve next week’s G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie, where the Musket Man filly would likely have met both of those two again, were probably vindicated.

It was CC Wong’s third Listed success in Korea, following on from Crown Hamseong and Chan Famous earlier in the year. Geudaemaniddamyeon brought up 70 Korean winners in total for the former Singapore based hoop.

Trainer Choi Yong-geon was winning his first Listed or Graded race in his own name, since becoming licensed in 2020 after a long career as an assistant. He was as ever reserved when talking with KRBC after the race. “My heart is ready to burst; I haven’t felt such a thrilling feeling in a long time” he enthused. “I want to thank my very good friend (owner Woo Tae-yul) for trusting us with him and for giving him such a great name.”

Owner Woo is known for giving his horses wistful and melancholic names and Geudaemanuiddamyeon, a name never likely to be beloved by race callers, roughly translates into English as “If only you were here now”.

CC Wong, owner Woo Tae-yul (in scarf) and trainer Choi Yong-geon (Pic: KRA)

“We try to win every race, and every win is meaningful” Choi continued. “But I was wondering when I would win my first Trophy. (Geudaemaniddamyeon) only came in to us during the summer, he is a tall horse, and he has a big build and hasn’t been straightforward. Because he is growing into (his frame) we have had to monitor him closely. The team has worked hard and been rewarded.”

As for the future: “We’ll do our best to make him a star.”

As the trainer noted, Geudaemaniddamyeon [Tacitus – Annies Law (by Harlan’s Holiday)] was a relatively late arrival to Korea. He was purchased out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2025 March 2yo in Training Sale earlier this year for $100,000. He is owned by Woo Tae-yul and trained by Choi Yong-geon.

Busan was scheduled to run its own race for imported juveniles but didn’t attract enough entries for it to go ahead. However, a full field of sixteen is expected on the south coast next Sunday for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) which will decide the title of Champion Korean bred Juvenile.

RUAN MAIA GUIDES MUNHAK BOY TO G3 SUCCESS AS SEOUL HORSES COMPLETE RARE GROUP RACE DOUBLE AT BUSAN

Jockey Ruan Maia has been dominating Seoul in recent months and on Sunday secured his first Group race success in Korea when making a flying visit to Busan and partnering American import Munhak Boy to an all the way success in the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3).

Coming off the back of five consecutive wins, Munhak Boy was sent off as the slight odds-on favourite as he tackled Group company for the first time but under Maia, he made the race largely a formality, taking full advantage of the inside draw, (his fourth in his last five starts) to get to the front of the sixteen-strong field and never looked like being headed.

Japanese import Smart Boss was 2nd while last year’s winner Gangseo Giant, who entered as a 90/1 chance with dismal recent form, seemed to know this is her race, and closed well for an excellent 3rd.

“It’s my first Group race (win) in Korea and I’d like to thank the trainer, the owner and the staff in the stable for giving me the opportunity to ride this nice horse” Ruan Maia told KRBC.

“I’m very proud of the horse, he showed his performance today and winning a Group race is very important for everybody.”

Munhak Boy is a three-year-old colt by Lord and Nelson and out of the Speightstown mare Miss Guided. He was imported in-utero. He is owned by Kwon Kyung-ja (of Moonhak Chief fame) and trained at Seoul by Jung Ho-ik.

Disappointments in the race were aplenty including Sprint Series winner Vincero Cavallo who was even more lackluster than his Korea Sprint effort, being the slowest away and finishing well down the field. He took a bump at the start and afterwards was found lame in his right foreleg.

Super Finish, 3rd in the Korea Sprint, as well as Champion mare Jeulgeounyeojeong, both also finished down the field. Initial vet checks came back clear for both.

Earlier, in the first Group race of the day, Boryeonglightqueen was sent off as the odds-on favourite for the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter.

It was not to be though for the three-year-old, who won the final leg of the Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies and also took out the first leg of the current series at Seoul a month ago. She settled well back as expected but this time did not run on under jockey Jung Do-yun, ultimately only making it up into 5th.

Instead, it was Flying Star, the 12/1 fifth favourite, who took the honours comfortably, settling handy before taking things up on the turn for home and going on to win by a full seven-lengths with Jang Chu-youl in the saddle.

68/1 outsider Ace High was 2nd with the ever-reliable Raon Forest in 3rd.

Flying Star is a four-year-old by Colors Flying and out of Gaya Gongju (by War Zone). Owned by Song Chang-oh she is trained at Seoul by Seo In-seok. A winner of five races, she was successful in the final race of the same series last year, the Breeders’ Cup Queen.

Chief Star, Super Aero Claim Juvenile Series Scores With Finale Just a Month Away

With a month to go, the G2 Breeders’ Cup at Busan on November 23rd is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing renewals of recent times after Seoul and Busan hosted their respective 2nd legs of the Juvenile Series this past weekend.

Super Aero (far side) gets the better of Wild Park (Pic: KRA)

At Seoul, all the attention was on a filly. Chief Star hadn’t raced since a facile victory in August’s Rookie Stakes took her to two wins from two starts but she had looked very well in a September trial and was accordingly sent off as the prohibitive 1.4 favourite in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed).

There was a brief scare for favourite backers and Chief Star fly jumped as the gates opened, enabling another filly, Wonpyeong Sket, 2nd in both the Rookie Stakes and the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (the latter missed by Chief Star) to get to the lead.

Jockey Choi Bum-hyun didn’t panic and Chief Star tracked Wonpyeong Sket closely before asserting her superiority in the home straight and running on to win by three-lengths.

“She didn’t settle in the gate and was moving forwards and backwards and then she jumped as the gate opened” winning jockey Choi explained to KRBC. “I think the pleasing thing is that even with (this adversity) she still won well.”

“She is a young filly and so long as she is healthy and free from injuries then I think we will see a lot of good things from her.”

Chief Star is by Shackleford and out of Halla Chukje (by the Coronando’s Quest stallion Gottcha Gold). She is owned by Kim Gil-ri and trained by Moon Byeong-ki.

Chief Star (Pic: KRA)

At Busan, things were much closer. After narrow wins in both the Busan Rookie Stakes and in last month’s Gangse-gu Mayor’s Trophy, Wild Park was sent off as the odds-on favourite to complete a hat-trick in the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed).

Once more it was close, and it looked as though Wild Park would prevail again as under Seo Seung-un, he struck the front with a furlong to run in a seesaw stretch battle with Super Aero, who he had defeated in the Rookie Stakes.

That would be to discount the heart of Super Aero, however, as with Masa Tanaka aboard, the Bart Rice trainee rallied on the inside to once more come level with Wild Park and ultimately get the decision in the photo-finish by a nose. The pair finished two-lengths ahead of Wild Park’s stablemate Funny Wild, who was making just his second appearance and also looks a prospect.

A colt by Mischievously and out of Kkeutpan Aero (by Archarcharch), the dam also having been campaigned by owner Kang Bong-han and trainer Rice, Super Aero moves on to three wins from four starts.

“He has high cruising speed, and we used the barrier to full advantage today” winning jockey Tanaka said of Super Aero. “(Wild Park) went in front a half neck at one stage but (Super Aero) fought so hard to get his nose back in front.”

“He’s gained 40kg since his first trial, so he’s growing well. Today’s Seoul winner looked pretty impressive but at 1400M (in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie), it can be a very competitive race.”

Tanaka was of course talking about Chief Star but there is another Seoul juvenile who is three for three. Mujehan Geup has kept out of the way of the filly but in her absence, he was a very impressive winner of the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy in September, with Wonpyeong Sket again 2nd. He came back into training two weeks ago and can add another layer of intrigue in Busan next month.

Not Nearly Anymore! Speed Young Races To Group 1 Glory in President’s Cup

Speed Young, Korean racing’s nearly horse, finally tasted Group 1 glory with victory in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old held out Gangpungma by just under a length with Success Baekpa and the defending champion Global Hit 3rd and 4th. The top four in the market dominated and beat home the rest of the field by a full nine-lengths.

Speed Young is Group 1 (Pic: KRA)

Despite having missed the Korea Cup through lameness discovered after being beaten by Success Baekpa in August’s KRA Cup Classic, Global Hit was sent off as the slight odds-on favourite for the richest open age race in the country that is restricted to local bred horses.

While settling fairly under Kim Hye-sun and taking up a good position coming into the home straight, Global Hit never threatened to win and was beaten a long way from home.

Instead, it was Speed Young who, having raced handy throughout with Jung Do-yun on board, took things up with just over a furlong to go and ran on to hold off the fast-finishing Gangpungma with plenty to spare.

“I think we won because we rode a confident race plan today. I wanted to get forward and not to have to worry about what any other horse was doing” winning jockey Jung Do-yun told in-house broadcaster KRBC.

It was the jockey’s first Group 1 win. “When you choose to be a jockey as your profession, winning Group 1 races is your ultimate goal and now I have done that I am so happy I can’t express it in words…I really want to thank the owner for trusting me with the ride, the trainer for his guidance and the fans in Seoul for their support whenever I come here.”

Speed Young won three of his first five races and was champion juvenile in 2022 but won only another three in his next twenty-one starts with the biggest coming in last year’s G3 Owners’ Cup at Busan.

Always running in Graded Stakes company though he had amassed a slew of top four finishes at distances between 1200M and 2300M. Demonstrating his versatility and reliability – “Swiss army knife” is one of his many nicknames – Speed Young was the best locally trained finisher in the 2024 Korea Sprint and the 2025 Korea Cup.

“I am very happy.” Park Nam-sung, who owns Speed Young through his D R M City group and also, under his own name, Gangpungma and therefore had a very good day, smiled to KRBC. “Of course, the victory had absolutely nothing to do with me but all the staff who made it happen.”

“Finally, it’s a victory. I bought Speed Young for 100 Million Won and since then he has lots of top two and three and four finishes, the occasional win, but always in the best races. He was 4th in the Korea Cup and now he makes a statement by winning the President’s Cup.”

As for what is next, Park didn’t mention the  Dubai Carnival but instead said “Let’s try and win the Korea Cup next year.”

Trainer Bang Dong-suk saddled both the winner and the beaten defending champion and he admitted to KRBC that it was an unfamiliar sensation. “Global Hit was below my expectation, which was disappointing, but Speed Young winning is a new feeling.”

“I was so disappointed with the last race (KRA Cup Classic), not to take anything away from Success Baekpa who beat us, but today Speed Young looked much more loosened up and Jung Do-yun said he wanted to go for it.”

“With Global Hit, I will review the race again, talk to (jockey) Kim Hye-sun, and obviously have the horse checked for his condition and hopefully we can go again.”

Later in the evening, the stewards reported that the post-race vet examination noted the same conditions Global Hit was diagnosed with in August – desmitis of the suspensory ligament and synovitis of the fetlock joint, both chronic if manageable ailments. He will need to be cleared by the vets before being permitted to race again.

The President’s Cup is part of the Korea Premier Series and while it was restricted to Korean bred horses, the final leg, the Grand Prix Stakes (2000M KOR-G1) on November 30th is open not only to foreign bred, but also foreign trained horses and Japan’s Yumeno Honoo, 3rd behind Global Hit and Speed Young in May’s YTN Cup, is expected to return to Korea for another go.

Speed Young and Gangpungma may now have the best chance of preserving honour for the home side.

BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN LATE BURST OVERWHELMS OLDER RIVALS IN JEJU GOVERNOR’S CUP

She didn’t quite manage to out “Lala K” Lala K, but nevertheless, BOREYONGLIGHTQUEEN pulled off one of the more remarkable come from behind efforts to flash past the two-time defending champion Jeulgeounyeojeong – and everyone else in her way – to win the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Bryeonglighqueen leaves Jeulgeounyeojeong and Gladius in her wake (Pic: KRA)

The winner of the final leg of this year’s Triple Tiara, and the only three-year-old taking her chance, Boryeonglightqueen was sent off as 14/1 fifth choice in the market as she took on her filly and mare seniors in the Jeju Governor’s Cup, the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter. Jeulgeounyeojeong, bidding to win the race for the third year running, began as the 2.5 market favourite.

Second-favourite Crown Hamseong looped the field to take the early lead and as the field settled down was joined on the pace by Born Dia and then Jeulgeounyeojeong and Donga Ilbo Trophy winner Gladius, with the field being strung out behind and the ultimate winner at the back.

Turning into the straight, Born Dia was the first to be shaken off, followed by Crown Hamseong, and it looked as if it would be a straight fight between Gladius and Jeulgeounyeojeong.

That would be to reckon with Boryeonglightqueen who, having been let loose at the top of the straight, proceeded to complete the final three furlongs a full two seconds quicker than the two leaders, improving from 12th to 5th in the penultimate furlong and then sweeping past the rest, winning by two-lengths on the line.

Jeulgeounyeojeong, making her first start for trainer Lee Sang-young, following Kim Young-kwan’s retirement, was 2nd, with Gladius a further length back in 3rd.

“I was concerned about the early pace of the race” winning jockey Jung Do-yun told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “The race got a bit stretched and I think that was how we were able to win.” Jung was bullish about Boryeonglightqueen’s prospects for the remainder of the Queens’ Tour. “She’s better at longer distances so we’ll be aiming to win the Series.”

Winning trainer Kim Gil-jung echoed Jung’s thoughts: “I had some expectations in my own mind but considering her best result had come at 2000M I did fear perhaps the 1400M might be a bit sharp with not enough time for her to come back at them in the straight.”

“We’ll go on to the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in October. Everything is easier in October with the summer over and the horses peaking. She’ll have home advantage (at Busan) and back at 2000M, we will be looking forward to it.”

Jockey Kim Yong-geun, who finished 3rd on Gladius admitted that he had been focusing on his duel with Jeulgeounyeojeong when Boryeonglightqueen surprised them both.

“As expected, (Gladius) didn’t start very well but I gave her a bit of bridle, and we made our way forward. I was confident into the 4th corner when Jeulgeounyeojeong came alongside. She is a strong horse, and we had a good battle. I thought we were making progress back at her, so I was a bit confused when another horse came so fast down the outside.”

Boryeonglightqueen is by Rock Band (by Ecton Park) who was foaled and did his racing in Korea, winning the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup, in 2015. She is out of the Menifee mare, Yaho Prez, who also raced in Korea.

The next leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter is the Gyeongnam Govenor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Busan on October 26th.