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Korean Oaks 2024 Form Comments

Eclipse Berry enters the second leg of the Triple Tiara as hot favourite to take out the most prestigious jewel in the series, the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. The Korean Oaks is race 6 on the 7-race Sunday card at Busan with a local post time of 16:05. There is also a 10-race Sunday card at Seoul. SEE HERE FOR THE RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW.

Eclipse Berry (Pic: KRA)

The top-nine placegetters from the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-L) on March 31st all return, but with ECLIPSE BERRY having won that race by a cool seven-lengths, making all the running, she is going to be hard to oppose. She has already won over 1800M, the only one in the race to have done so, and that was on a wet track. Rain is forecast for Busan on Sunday afternoon. Moon Se-young returns to Busan to partner the Seo Hong-soo trained Shackleford filly.

GLOBAL TAEYANG was 2nd in the Luna Stakes and from a much better draw this time can get closer, while last year’s champion juvenile BAEKDUUI KKUM is not to be dismissed. WONPYEONG LIST had plenty of excuses in the Luna and is a class 3 winner already while BANG BANG BANG was a revelatory 3rd in the opening jewel of the Tiara and only four races into her career, still has plenty of scope for further development.

1. STAR CHANGER – Maiden winner at start seven at class 5 level over 1700M on March 30th making all. Well drawn but a big ask here.

2. GLOBAL TAEYANG – A winner up to a mile and class 4 level and 2nd in the Luna Stakes. Has seven-lengths to make up on Eclipse Berry but draws better this time and can get closer. Second favourite.

3. PERFECT ACTION – Won three of nine up to a mile and class 4 but was 8th in the Luna Stakes so plenty of form to overturn. Will race handy and may offer each-way value.

4. LOVE MUNMAK – Only win came at class 6 level but was a smart 2nd over 1700M at class 5 last time out when on pace. Plenty to find in this company but has a strong finish.

5. FLYING STAR – 5th in the Luna and was found to be slightly lame. Returned to work on April 19th. Has won at class 4 over a mile but a few too many question marks to recommend.

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Can Nut Play Overturn Form on Global Hit in YTN Cup?

The Stayers’ Series reaches its second stage on Sunday when a field of fifteen line up for the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON SUNDAY.

Global Hit remains the one to beat in the YTN Cup (Pic: KRA)

After running 2nd to Winner’s Man in both the President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes, last year’s Korean Derby winner Global Hit asserted his claim to be the new King of Korean racing with victory in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul last month.

Despite Winner’s Man being out of the picture for the foreseeable future – and possibly to be retired – the margin of victory was less than a length as another four-year-old, Nut Play was bearing down on Global Hit. The pair head the line up for the YTN and a reversal in form shouldn’t be ruled out.

At his best though, (14) GLOBAL HIT may prove hard to beat. He draws the same wide gate as he did in the Herald Business and Kim Hye-sun on board will be very aware of the threat that Nut Play – and others – can pose. Expect tactics to be adjusted accordingly.

(3) NUT PLAY also featured on the Triple Crown trail last year, running 4th in the KRA Cup Mile, before 3rd place finishes in both the Korean Derby and the Minister’s Cup. He picked up a Listed win last September over 1800M and began this year with a victory at class 1 level before his Herald Business runner-up. He comes into a much better gate this time.

Although they will be at the top of the market, this is no two-horse race. (7) TUHONUI BANSEOK is the defending champion, having demolished a field including Winner’s Man by an astonishing eleven-lengths. He made his season re-appearance in the Herald Business, running a creditable 3rd. A big run is possible here.

The wildcard is a stablemate of Tuhonui Banseok’s. In fact, it isn’t initially obvious which is the second string from the Bart Rice barn as (2) JEONGMUN COBIT enters in sensational form, having won his latest four at distances between 1400M and 2000M, posting some very quick times and for the most part, giving away weight. This is a step into the unknown competition wise, but he may well step up.

(10) SPEED YOUNG was champion juvenile in 2022 and has consistently threatened to break through at the very top level, including a strong 2nd behind Global Hit in the Minister’s Cup and a 3rd in the President’s Cup. He can mix his form, but he was a fair 5th in the Herald Business and shouldn’t be dismissed today.

Others who may find some interest at longer prices include (11) CHIEF INDY and the only filly in the race, Luigi Riccardi’s (4) WONDERFUL SLEW.

The YTN Cup is race 7 on the 11-race card at Seoul on Sunday which runs from 10:35 to 18:00. There are also 6 races at Busan from 11:25 to 16:05.

Selections(14) Global Hit (3) Nut Play (2) Jeongmun Cobit (7) Tuhonui Banseok
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 10, 14

Beolmaui Star Puts Start & Dubai Woes Behind Him in SBS Sports Sprint Triumph

It was always going to be about the start for Beolmaui Star. At Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, the five-year-old shrugged off his recent gate woes to begin beautifully and cross to the lead and then proceeded to make every post the proverbial winning post in the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Beolmaui Star and Seo Seung-un after winning the SBS (Pic: KRA)

The so-called generational shift hinted at with Raon The Point’s victory over fellow four-year-old Something Lost in the first leg of the Sprint Series, the Busan Ilbo Sprint last month, will have to wait. Something Lost was sent off as favourite and was in the race a long way, crossing the line 3rd, just a length and a half behind Beolmaui Star.

But Raon The Point, while showing near the front early on, faded from the scene early and finished well back. Instead, it was the veteran Eoma Eoma, showing he is far from done yet, who was a fast-finishing 2nd, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

Beolmaui Star was unable to run in the Busan Ilbo as his quarantine period on his return from his disappointing Dubai sojourn meant that he wasn’t able to return to work in time Local punters didn’t care about that and also ignored those Dubai results and his latest start in Korea, when missing the start in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy last November, and they made him 2nd favourite behind Something Lost. 

“I was actually nervous” winning trainer Baik Kwang-yeol told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “The first time I have ever been nervous before a Group race.”

Eoma Eoma made a late bid but couldn’t get there (Pic: KRA)

Baik didn’t talk much more about the race but expanded on his chastening experience at the Dubai Carnival with a horse he felt, given the times he had run at 1200M – and having finished just four-lengths behind international superstar Remake – should have been competitive, but was not:

“I thought we prepared well for Dubai but ultimately, I felt like that frog in the well (who knows nothing of the sea). He can (run the times necessary to be competitive) but just couldn’t adjust to the pace and tempo of the race there. If we can’t adjust to that then (Korean racing) will never be any better, I feel good and fortunate to have won today, but I will not just be satisfied with this.”

Beolmaui Star seems to love racing at Seoul. After the Korea Sprint and before his Dubai disgrace, he also messed up the start in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy in Busan last November, but this time, back in the capital, there was no mistake.

“(Beolmaui Star) has just one drawback” winning jockey Seo Seung-un explained to KRBC. “He can get anxious in the gates, and he is a lead horse so if he makes a mistake at the start, he simply won’t get a result. So, we trained a lot to get the start right and he did and then we were able to carry out our plan effectively.”

(Pic: KRA)

As for the Dubai expedition, Seo, who travelled over to Meydan to ride his first race, didn’t have much of an explanation and quickly moved on. “There wasn’t a particular problem with the horse, he just didn’t run well. Next month is the SROA Chairman’s Trophy over the same 1200M distance so if the horse is in good health and condition then there will be a high possibility that we will be here.”

Like Moon Se-young two weeks ago, Seo also noted the demographics among the racegoers. “When I come to Seoul, I feel like I can receive a lot of support because the crowd is so big. The number of younger fans has increased a lot, so the atmosphere makes it feel like the culture has changed a lot compared to just ten years ago. It is really nice to see.”

The final leg of the Sprint Series is the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul on Sunday May 19th. Next weekend, the focus shifts back to the Korea Cup lead-up with the Stayer Series and Global Hit heading the field in the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on Sunday afternoon.

SBS Sports Sprint & International Trophy Exchange Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (April 14)

The second leg of the Sprint Series, the SBS Sports Sprint at Seoul, takes centre stage on Sunday, but there are plenty of other valuable races spread across both the capital and Busan with Trophy Exchange races for the Singapore Turf Club (evidently for the final time), Jockey Club of Turkey, Tokyo City Keiba, Royal Western India Turf Club and the China Horse Industry Association. There is also a big money race to mark the end of the Cherry Blossom season. There are 11 races at Seoul on Sunday from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 in Busan from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

Raon The Point won the opening leg of the Sprint Series (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) SEOBU CHAMP comes in off a 3rd place over this distance on March 16th when settling back and running on strongly. She comes in here carrying the same weight and has every chance of coming out on top this day. It’s a competitive maiden though. (4) TAP DIA has a 2nd and a 3rd among her own three starts so far. In this company, she may be further forward than in those races and the slight step up in trip can suit. (8) PROCEED showed improvement to run 3rd at start number two over 1300M on March 2nd. He too may like the increased distance and CC Wong climbs up. (3) EUMSEONG POWER and (10) ALL EYES ON ME among others capable of at least challenging for the places.

Selections(5) Seobu Champ (4) Tap Dia (8) Proceed (3) Eumseong Power
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start1, 4, 8, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies here and it’s hard to go past (3) APPLE QUEEN. Having run 4th on debut, all the way back last June, she didn’t race again until this March 16th when she was an on-pace 3rd over 1400M. She should strip fitter for that run and will be strongly fancied to lead from gate to wire. (6) SHINE BOLT has shown steady improvement across three starts so far, culminating in a 4th place over 1200M on February 24th over this distance. She comes into a better gate here and can continue to get closer. (8) COMPLETE PARTY has two 3rd places among her four appearances. That means that any top-three finish will get her a rating and see her at class 5 next time and she could well match or better. (4) SMILE GOLD and (7) BYLONG STAR, the latter having been back to trial since a chastening debut, are others to consider.

Selections(3) Apple Queen (6) Shine Bolt (8) Complete Party (4) Smile Gold
Next Best7, 11
Fast Start2, 3, 4 ,7

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Competitive opener. (10) GANGSEO PRIDE ran 2nd on debut over this distance on March 8th, when on pace throughout. It wasn’t a quick time, and he was well beaten by a good winner, but he should have derived benefit from the experience and with some natural improvement, he has as good a chance as any here. (9) GIANT MARINE raced three times without distinction up until July last year. He was then put away and returned on March 15th this year and ran much better, finishing 3rd in a decent time over 1200M. He should strip fitter for that run and can challenge here. (11) ONE WAY ROAD has been getting steadily better in recent outings and can continue his upward trajectory here. (5) CHOEGANG CHONGAL and (8) DREAM WAY others in at least the placing hunt.

Selections(10) Gangseo Pride (9) Giant Marine (11) One Way Road (5) Choegang Chongal
Next Best8, 4
Fast Start4, 8, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) LOVE COWGIRL returns to action for the first time since last September. After winning on debut, she finished 4th, 3rd and 2nd in three subsequent starts before her layoff and going by her all the way trial win two weeks ago, she can pick up from where she left off. (8) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA got his maiden win at this class and distance on March 3rd, settling handy and running on. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights today, but he can be competitive again. (6) THE SUN FIGHTER got his maiden win at this distance three starts back and has since run 4th and 5th in two tries at this level, most recently over 1700M. He looks nicely in here and should go close. (4) SINUI YEOJE and (11) GOOD SEONGBONG the other logical place chances.

Selections(3) Love Cowgirl (8) Seoul Choegangja (6) The Sun Fighter (4) Sinui Yeoje
Next Best11, 9
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) I AM LEGEND got her maiden win two starts back over this distance before running 2nd at big odds on her first try at this level on March 8th settling right back and running on. She seems to be hitting her groove and she can win this. (3) RAON THE TANGO enters off a useful 3rd place at this class over 1400M on March 8th. The same apprentice jockey keeps the edge off his carried weight and from a good draw, he can go close again. (11) HANEUL EUTTEUM scored a close 2nd place at this class and distance on March 15th. He comes up 2lg in the weights and he draws a touch wider than ideal, but he should be running on to be a danger once more. (2) YONGSAN KEUNBYEUL and (7) JEOLDAE BOSS are others who can enter at least the placing calculations.

Selections(5) I Am Legend (3) Raon The Tango (11) Haneul Eutteum (2) Yongsan Keunbyeul
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start2, 7, 8, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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Success Baekpa Swoops To Claim Triple Crown 1st Leg

If there is to be a Triple Crown winner this year, his name will be Success Baekpa after the Min Jang-gi trained colt roared home late to sweep past Nice Time to claim the first jewel, the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Last year’s champion juvenile Hangang Class was sent off as the odds-on favourite among the thirteen-strong field, but just as in the Busan Classic Trial in February, he was a touch slow coming out of the gate and was always on the backfoot from there on. Ultimately, he did well to run 3rd.

Seoul’s Classic Trial winner Nice Time set the early pace along with second-favourite Wonderful Lear. The latter was quickly beaten but Nice Time stayed on and looked set to go on to score until You Hyun-myung launched 13/1 chance Success Baekpa, who had settled well back in the pack, down the centre of the track to sweep past everything in his path and beat Nice Time by three-quarters of a length on the line.

“The horses drawn in one, two, and three (Hangang Class, Wonderful Lear and Nice Time) were so strong that I would have been very happy even to make it into the top-three, so it is a little unexpected” winning trainer Min Jang-gi told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “I instructed (You Hyun-myung) to follow the leaders from midfield and I think he made good decisions at the right time and was able to win the race.”

Accordingly, expectations have changed now for the remainder of the Triple Crown series. “Now that he has successfully passed the first hurdle, there are two races left. This horse can come from behind and pick up speed, so I think that the distances getting longer mean his winning chances increase.”

For You Hyun-myung it was a return to the Graded Stakes winning enclosure for the first time since enduring a horrible 2023 when he missed most of the season after two heavy falls resulting in multiple surgeries.

“It makes it more special because it’s my first Grand Prize since returning and my family were here today so I’m even happier” he told KRBC. “I think of winning this race as a new beginning and a reason to work even harder, starting from next week.”

You may have to wait a little longer than next week as he picked up a 2-day ban for excessive whip use. Moon Se-young on Nice Time also got a two-day ban for shifting out in the straight.

Success Baekpa is by Purge and out of the 2007 Korean Oaks winner Baekpa (by Revere). She was bred by Kang Seung-youn and was purchased by her owner Lee Jong-hun for KRW 90 Million at the November 2022 Yearling Sale. She moves on to a record of four wins from seven starts – and four in a row.

The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul on Sunday May 12th. Next week, attention shifts to the Sprint Series and the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Seoul on Sunday afternoon.

KRA Cup Mile – Triple Crown 1st Leg Preview & Form Comments

The 2024 Korean Triple Crown gets underway at Busan on Sunday afternoon as thirteen three-year-olds line up for the first jewel, the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2). SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL ON SUNDAY.

Nice Time and Eunpa Sarang have headed South for the KRA Cup Mile (Pic: KRA)

Six colts have made the trip down from Seoul to face seven from the host track and it is a race of many chances.

Champion juvenile HANGANG CLASS will probably start as the betting favourite locally, but he comes in having been beaten in Busan’s Classic Trial, the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Trophy (1400M KOR-Listed) in February, when taken down late by WONDERFUL LEAR. The pair meet again with Hangang Class this time much better drawn.

NICE TIME was Seoul’s best juvenile last year, and he has started 2024 in fine fashion with two wins, including in the capital city’s Classic Trial. He will be ridden by Moon Se-young, who last week won the opening leg of the Triple Tiara on Eclipse Berry and could well make it a double here.

DOCTOR KINGDOM had plenty of near misses throughout the juvenile series last year but an improvement shouldn’t be ruled out while his stablemate, BACCHUS, has taken the same route that last year’s winner Betelgeuse did, and is already a winner at 1800M, let a lone a mile. SUCCESS BAEKPA and STORM BREAKER are others who skipped the Juvenile Series and the Classic Trials to take a different path here.

1. HANGANG CLASS – Dominant seven-length winner of the Breeders’ Cup in December to be crowned champion juvenile. He was favourite for Busan’s Classic Trial in February but was a touch slow out of the widest gate and was then ridden hard around the outside to ultimately establish a four-length lead turning into the straight before being picked off late. He is drawn much better today for an easier run and his class can see him through. The favourite.

2. WONDERFUL LEAR – Picked off Hangang Class late on to win Busan’s Classic Trial, he is a winner of three from six. He has mixed his form and Hangang Class beat him twice last year. Don’t read too much into his midfield finish at this distance in January in a tough and quick race against older horses at class 3 level. He can be very competitive here.

3. NICE TIME – A winner of five from six stars so far with his only defeat coming at Busan when 4th in the Breeders’ Cup. He was slowly away in Seoul’s Classic Trial but showed a lot of heart to haul himself to the lead and then to keep it under pressure. The mile may well suit.

4. LALA KA – Won the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy but has never come close to repeating his explosive exploits from last August’s Rookie Stakes. 5th of ten at class 3 level in his only start this year back in January, he does at least come in here fresh, and the mile could be to his liking.

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Eclipse Berry Routs Fellow Fillies in Luna Stakes Stroll

Eclipse Berry ran out the dominant winner of the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed), leading every step of the way to effortlessly secure the first jewel in this year’s Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies.

Eclipse Berry wins the Luna Stakes (Pic: KRA)

Sent off as the 2.4 favourite locally among the sixteen-strong field, Moon Se-young guided Eclipse Berry across from gate eleven to assume the early lead and she was never close to being headed, streaking away to win by seven-lengths on the line. Global Taeyang was 2nd and surprise package Bang Bang Bang 3rd. Baekduui Kkum, the top juvenile filly at Busan last year, was 4th.

Winning trainer Seo Hong-soo noted that things had gone as well as they possibly could. “We had a plan, and Moon Se-young carried it out perfectly” he told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “The dam and sire (of Eclipse Berry) are very compatible, so I have always had high hopes for her” he continued. Eclipse Berry is by Shackleford and out of the Speightstown mare Silkberry.

(Pic: KRA)

“Our plan as a stable for this year was to raise our win rate by one or two percentage points and also to win a big race or two, so we are making good progress. We’ll take Eclipse Berry to the Korean Oaks in May and then go up to 2000M to finish the series.”

Moon Se-young told KRBC that it had been a good week. “Eclipse Berry trained really well in the days leading up to the race. Sometimes it can be complicated when traveling young fillies, but she was very relaxed, and I fully trusted her in the race.”

“I’ve ridden winners at Busan before, of course, but this was the first time up on the podium surrounded by fans”. His previous big race wins at the track were in 2022 with one presentation out on a deserted track front and the second held indoors. “It was great that so many fans came out and I was really happy when they were calling my name.”

“What was especially pleasing for me, was how many MZ racing fans travelled to be here today” he said, referring to a term currently used in South Korea to describe a combination of “millennials” and “Generation Z”.

Eclipse Berry and Moon Se-young (Pic: KRA)

“They are the future of this sport and with them I am confident that horse racing will be in a strong place long after I retire.”

Next week it’s the turn of the colts with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2), the first leg of the Triple Crown, at Busan on Sunday afternoon.

Luna Stakes 2024 – Form Comments

The 2024 Triple Tiara series gets underway at Busan on Sunday as a full field of sixteen three-year-old fillies prepare to face the starter in the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed). See here for a full preview of all 17 races across Busan and Seoul on Sunday.

Geoljak One won the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy in December (Pic: KRA)

Both of the last two years have seen fillies sweep all three jewels in the Tiara, with Golden Power’s 2022 exploits being matched by Jeulgeounyeojeong in 2023. The latter confirmed her status as the top filly or mare in the nation with her win in the opening leg of the Queens’ Tour, the Donga Ilbo Trophy. After Sunday’s Luna, a race named after Busan’s first champion filly, the second leg of the series is the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2) at Busan on May 5th, before moving to Seoul for the finale, the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) on June 9th.

The home track and the capital have equal representation in the Luna with right Seoul-trained fillies traveling down to contend with eight based at Busan. Among the raiders, GEOLJAK ONE and ECLIPSE BERRY look the best, having come home 1st and 2nd in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) in early December. The latter went on to win very easily over 1800M at class 3 level last month and under Moon Se-young, is set to start favourite.

Busan’s champion juvenile filly last term was BAEKDUUI KKUM, who comfortably scored in the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo (1200M KOR-Listed). Her only appearance of 2024 so far was a somewhat underwhelming 6th of eleven over this distance at class 3 level but it was a strong and quick race, and she can be better today. Franco Da Silva, who enjoyed a golden 2023 and on Friday reached the milestone of 400 winners in Korea, rides.

Others expected to feature prominently in the market are GLOBAL TAEYANG  and PERFECT ACTION from Busan, along with another Seoul raider, WONPYEONG LIST.

The Luna Stakes is race 5 on the 6-race Sunday card at Busan. There is also an 11-race card at Seoul on Sunday:

1. SEONGSIL DAERO – Made all to win over 1300M at class 5 level on February 18th. Draws well so expect to be on pace but this is much tougher.

2. HUIMANG CANDY – One of just four to have won at this distance which she did at class 5 level on February 18th.

3. PERFECT ACTION – Two-time winner at class 4 including at this distance and runner-up to Baekduui Kkum in in the DoMin Ilbo. Not impossible.

4. FLYING STAR – Midfield finishes in Seoul’s juvenile Listed races last autumn, but she enters having won at a mile at class 4 level on February 17th. Minor money chance.

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Jeulgeounyeojeong Bests Wonderful Slew in Queens’ Tour Curtain Raiser

Jeulgeounyeojeong picked up from where she left off at the end of last year as she took the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring & Summer, the Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-Listed), with an assured performance at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Jeulgeounyeojeong holds off Wonderful Slew in the Donga Ilbo Trophy (Pic: KRA)

Sent off as the prohibitive 1.5 favourite locally on a warm Spring afternoon, Jeulgeounyeojeong tracked early leader Raon The Spurt throughout the early and middle stages of the race, before jockey Seo Seung-un took things up early in the straight and then comfortably held off Wonderful Slew by three-quarters of a length on the line. 60/1 chance Yellow Cat was 3rd although essentially in a different race to the first two once they hit the home straight.

Jeulgeounyeojeong was the winner of all three legs of the Triple Tiara last year and while it seemed a gruelling season had caught up with her – she ran eleven times in total in 2023 – after a couple of late season reverses, including at the hands of Wonderful Slew, the Kim Young-kwan-trained filly returned to form with victory in December’s Breeders’ Cup Queen at Busan. She then got a very welcome three-month break.

(Pic: KRA)

For a first up performance, Jeulgeounyeojeong looked formidable and will surely get better for the run. Winning jockey Seo Seung-un agreed, telling in-house broadcaster KRBC: “It was a good run after three months off. There wasn’t really a suitable class 1 race for her in Busan in the lead up, so we came straight here. I had trust in the horse, and I am pleased we were able to come through for the fans.”

Winning trainer Kim admitted there were some nervous moments watching: “Even though (Jeulgeounyeojeong) was first-up after three months and Wonderful Slew had a race in her, I actually thought we would win comfortably” he told KRBC. “But we were almost in trouble in the end there and I think Wonderful Slew has improved a lot since the last time we met.”

Indeed, the way that Wonderful Slew finished off suggests that the Luigi Riccardi-trained galloper may yet have a say in the big ones as the season progresses. The runner-up’s jockey Moon Se-young said he expected some early speed and that he had a key decision imposed on him with 800 metres to run:

 “The likes of Gangseo Giant, Chamjoeun Chingu and Raon The Spurt can be fast, so I was mindful of that. The key moment was around the 3rd corner when (Yellow Cat) came up on the outside and, well…you can review it for yourself later…I had to decide whether to go then or to hold back and I decided I couldn’t hold it any longer. Would it have been a different result if I had? I don’t know. But, anyway, I think at 2000M, we will win.”

(Pic: KRA)

That is something that will have to wait. The Queens’ Tour Spring & Summer moves on to the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) at Seoul on April 28th, before concluding with the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan on June 2nd. As Jeulgeounyeojeong and Wonderful Slew did last year, the best fillies from the three-year-old ranks will then be expected to join the Queens Tour Fall & Winter Series that begins in September.

We’ll get a closer look at just who those fillies might be when the Triple Tiara kicks off next Sunday at Busan with the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed), the first leg of the 2024 Triple Tiara.

Global Hit Takes Stayer Series Opener

Global Hit made his debut as an older horse and last year’s champion three-year-old stepped up to win the Herald Business Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the first leg of the 2024 Stayer Series at a sunny Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Global Hit makes his decisive move in the Herald Business (Pic: KRA)

Sent off as the 1.7 odds-on favourite locally, Global Hit overcame Tuhonui Banseok and then saw off a late challenge from Nut Play to score by three-quarters of a length in the 500 Million Won race. With 4-year-olds coming home in 1st and 2nd, a week after Raon The Point and Something Lost did the same in the Sprint Series, younger horses are coming to the fore at the longer distances too.

It was a fourth Group winner for jockey Kim Hye-sun, and her third on Global Hit. Going into the race, Kim had expressed confidence that Global Hit had trained on over the winter and that belief was shown in the ride, where from a wide draw, she was happy to be patient early (a telling off from stewards for shifting in too soon after the start notwithstanding) before steadily improving and making her move in the home straight, only striking the front in the last half-furlong, running on to win by three-quarters of a length from Nut Play with Tuhonui Banseok in 3rd.

“I was a bit concerned about the draw, but Global Hit’s racing habit is that if he exerts too much energy early in the race, he won’t run well, so I was able to take him back at the start” Kim explained to in-house broadcaster KRBC.

Global Hit and Kim Hye-sun return to scale (Pic: KRA)

Global Hit was racing for the first time in three months and jockey Kim admitted that this had also been a source of anxiety for her. “The owner and the trainer wanted to give him a proper rest after what he did last year but as a jockey I wondered if he might be better (to have a prep race). But looking back now and seeing how some other horses have picked up injuries, I realise that they were absolutely right.”

Still lightly raced, Global Hit [To Honour And Serve – Tammy’s Victress (by Yankee Victor)] is a winner of six from eleven and 1.8 Billion Korean Won in prize money. He skipped the first leg of the Triple Crown last year but went on to comfortably score in both the Korean Derby and the Minister’s Cup before running 2nd to Winner’s Man in both the President’s Cup and then, by just a nose in the season ending Grand Prix Stakes. He has won six of eleven starts.

Pic: KRA

The second leg of the Stayer Series is the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on April 21st before the series concludes on May 26th with the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) on the south coast. The KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) has been moved forward two months to August 4th this year in order to serve as a final stepping stone to the international Korea Cup in early September. As for the two final G1 races of the year, the President’s Cup is in October this year with the Grand Prix on the very first day of December.

Owner Kim Joon-hyun confirmed that Global Hit will be pointed to the remaining races in the Stayer Series but didn’t mention the Korea Cup, in which he finished a creditable midfield last year, telling KRBC “I am considering letting him rest for a bit and then sending him to the President’s Cup and Grand Prix.” He then added: “He truly is a great horse.”