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Herald Business Cup – Stayer Series 1st Leg Form Comments

Last weekend the Sprinting division was shaken up by the new generation as Raon The Point and Something Lost came home 1st and 2nd in the Busan Ilbo Sprint with Eoma Eoma trailing home in 5th. This Sunday, the four-year-olds will bid to ascend to the top of the Staying ranks as last year’s Korean Derby winner Global Hit heads the field in the Herald Business Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse, the first leg of the 2024 Stayer Series and first step along the road to September’s international Korea Cup. (SEE HERE FOR PREVIEWS OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL & BUSAN).

Stablemates Global Hit and Speed Young will face off again (Pic: KRA)

The established old guard, for the most part, won’t be there.  Raon The Fighter has been on the long-term injured list since last summer while Winner’s Man joined him after his successful Grand Prix defence, and both are doubtful to appear on a racecourse again. Success Macho underwent arthroscopic surgery for a chip fracture last month while earlier this week, Haengbok Wangja suffered a trackwork injury that has his future career in doubt too.

GLOBAL HIT was the standout three-year-old of last season, skipping the first leg of the Triple Crown, but then running out the dominant winner of both the Korean Derby and the Minister’s Cup, to claim the final two jewels under jockey Kim Hye-sun, who returns to Seoul to ride him again. He then finished an in no way disgraced 8th in the international Korea Cup, before rounding out the year with runner-up finishes to Winner’s Man in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes, in the latter of those, pushing the defending champion all the way to the line, going down by just a nose.

That Grand Prix run was a standout performance by Global Hit and marked out the To Honor And Serve colt, who is slight in stature but full of speed as the heir-apparent to the Raon The Fighter and Winner’s Man generation. While it now transpires that he may not need to actually beat them in order to replace them, the standard of opposition that remains, means he will still need to earn it.

VICS GO comes in off a stand-out performance to win the Listed Segye Ilbro Trophy over 1200M a month ago. He is a class 1 winner over 2000M though and only looks to be getting better with every run. Meanwhile TUHONUI BANSEOK was runner-up in this race last year and went on the win the second leg of the Stayer Series, the YTN Cup, last May.

SPEED YOUNG is a stablemate of Global Hit and was champion Juvenile in 2022. Although an also-ran in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, he ran 2nd to Global Hit in the Minister’s Cup and was then 3rd in the President’s Cup. Although beaten when a short-price favourite at class 1 over 2000M at Busan at the end of January, this race was clearly the target, and he may still have more improvement in him.

NUT PLAY and NAOL SNIPER are other four-year-olds who can still have more upside, while the veteran SIMJANGUI GODONG returns from an unsuccessful trip to the Dubai Carnival and should be much more at home on the Seoul sand.

The Herald Business Cup is race 7 on the 11-race program at Seoul with a local post time of 15:40.

1. THE GUMPU – Well back on only start of 2024 in January but trialled nicely alongside Eoma Eoma last month.

2. CHIEF INDY – Strong class 1 winner over 2300M in February. Tends to come unstuck among the elite though.

3. NAOL SNIPER – Runner-up in last year’s Derby, he has won his latest three up to Class 2 level. Moon Se-young aboard and a big run is not impossible.

4. FANTASTIC MAN – Also-ran in the Grand Prix and 4th behind Crazy Conti over 2000M in January. Trialled well since but outsider here.

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RAON THE POINT LEADS NEW GENERATION TAKEOVER IN SPRINT SERIES OVERTURE

Raon The Point led home fellow four-year-old Something Lost as the new generation of sprinters thoroughly vanquished the old in the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. 2022 winner and pre-race favourite Eoma Eoma, briefly touched the front with a furlong to run, but succumbed to the youngsters and could only manage 5th.

30/1 chance Doctor Caesar took full advantage of drawing gate one and set the early pace with Raon The Point, Eoma Eoma, Something Lost and Ssonsal all in close attendance. The five of them would fan across the track as they entered the home straight and with 300M to go it was anyone’s race with Black Musk and Daemangui Gil also looming withing striking distance.

Just as Eoma Eoma looked set to go on, the younger horses struck. Raon The Point and Something Lost came surging down the outside to pull clear and would dispute the finish all the way to the line, Raon The Point ultimately prevailing by an official margin of a neck – a very small neck.

Something Lost was strong in 2nd place while there was only a length-and-a half back to the very game Doctor Caesar in 3rd place, who at five-years-old, falls into the younger category by age, if not by experience – he has only raced two times fewer than Eoma Eoma. Daemangui Gil closed for 4th ahead of Eoma Eoma.

Choi Bum-hyun rode Raon The Point, who is trained by Park Jong-kon and is owned by Raon Land.

Raon The Point is by I’m Your Father (by Tiznow), who did his racing in Korea and won the 2017 Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G3) for New Zealand trainer David Miller. Raon The Point is from his first crop to hit the track and his first Group level winner. He stands at Cheongma Farm. Raon The Point’s dam is Australian bred Raffiner (by Bel Danoro). She won one of eight starts in Korea and is also the dam of Choegang Ssonsal, a winner of eight.

As for Eoma Eoma, despite winning a trial in fast fashion just over a week ago, he looked slightly flat when it mattered. All being well, he will be back for a rematch with the younder sprinters in the remaining legs of the series where they are likely to be joined by last year’s Korea Sprint runner-up Beolmaui Star, who has returned from a poor showing in Dubai.

The Sprint Series moves to Seoul for its concluding two legs. They are the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on April 14th and the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on May 19th. Both races have recently been awarded International Part 2 Listed status for the first time.

Class 1 Ratings Get New Year Overhaul

The rating scale used for class 1 races at Seoul and Busan has been amended. The new system goes into immediate effect with both tracks hosting class 1 handicaps on Sunday. The changes are as follows:

The move is intended to address the issue in class 1 where in recent months such races have frequently seen a majority of the starters being out of the handicap.

Beolmaui Star To Make Meydan Debut in Dubawi Stakes Friday

Korean runners return to the Dubai Racing Carnival on Friday evening (early Saturday morning Seoul time) as Beolmaui Star lines up in the G3 Dubawi Stakes over 1200M on the dirt at Meydan.

Beolmaui Star and Seo Seung-un at the Korea Sprint last year (Pic: KRA)

Trained by Baik Kwang-yeol at Busan, Beolmaui Star is a five-year-old entire by To Honor And Serve and is is a winner of five of his seventeen starts. His standout performance came in last September’s Korea Sprint where he overcame gate thirteen to lead for most of the way, ultimately finishing in 2nd place, four-lengths adrift of the Japan-trained winner Remake. In his only subsequent start, in November’s Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy, Beolmaui Star became anxious in the gate and missed the break, never featuring.

In the Dubawi Stakes, Beolmaui Star has drawn gate nine and as ever for him, the start will prove crucial. If he gets away well – and if he takes to the dirt instead of the Seoul and Busan sand – then anything can happen. In a departure from the usual Korean practice of booking the best available local, regular rider and reigning Busan Champion Jockey Seo Seung-un has been flown in to ride.

Beolmaui Star is available at between 12/1 and 20/1 in fixed odds markets. Favourite is the Doug Watson trained Sound Money.

Beolmaui Star is one of two Korea-trained horses at this year’s carnival with the other being 2021 President’s Cup winner Simjangui Godong who is expected to be targeted at two-turn races on the dirt. The pair of them flew to Dubai in early December.

Winner’s Man Beats Global Hit in Grand Prix for the Ages

Winner’s Man became only the fourth horse in forty-one-years of the race to successfully defend the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. But those who had taken the favourite at odds of 1.2 had the fright of their lives as Korean Derby winner and champion three-year-old Global Hit put up an epic feat of resistance, requiring the Horse of the Year elect to summon every last ounce of effort before prevailing by a nose in a photo-finish.

Winner’s Man and Global Hit go nose to nose (Pic: KRA)

On a bitingly cold day in the capital city where temperatures failed to go higher than seven degrees below zero all afternoon, Winner’s Man was heavily backed to repeat his success of a year ago when he saw off Raon The Fighter by a length with Tuhonui Banseok a close 3rd. With Raon The Fighter on the long term injured list, Tuhonui Banseok was among the leading contenders to dethrone the champion this time around, although few truly believed it was possible.

Remote of one of the best ever finishes to the Grand Prix (Pic: Hong Jong-woo/KRA)

It was almost possible, but not by Tuhonui Banseok. Winner’s Man settled just behind the early leaders and back on the fence as Jeongmun Sai and Fantastic Man set the pace. That pair gave way very early leaving Tuhonui Banseok out in front and Winner’s Man with clear track ahead to join him before the end of the backstraight. All the time, Global Hit was in close attendance and as they entered the home straight, the three of them, along with Success Macho were clear.

Tuhonui Banseok was the first to have run his race and to most observers that meant Winner’s Man was surely set to cruise away. But Global Hit would not lie down, and the pair came close together and began a duel. The three-year-old briefly struck the front inside the final furlong only for Seo Seung-un to lift the champion up from off the canvas for one last drive. They crossed the line together and it went officially to the judges, but Winner’s Man had it by a nose. Success Macho was just over a length back in 3rd.

The official photo

The pre-race buzz locally had been around Haengbok Wangja, the 2021 winner having snapped a run of desperate form with 5th in the Korea Cup and 3rd in the Cup Classic. Moon Se-young being booked to ride did nothing to dampen that enthusiasm and he ran well for 4th with Tuhonui Banseok in 5th. They were the top-five in the market, and that elite level of horses were a cut above the rest. The remaining eleven were, as anticipated, in a different race with nine lengths until the next best.

Speaking to YTN News after the race, winning jockey Seo Seung-un was both happy and relieved: “His condition coming in this week was so good that I really was confident that we would win comfortably, but the other horses have clearly improved a lot, especially Global Hit, and if (Winner’s Man) had not been at his best, we would have lost. Fortunately, he was, and we were able to win.”

Seo was questioned about the tactics in the race that saw Winner’s Man getting kickback in the early stages. “Winner’s Man likes to run on the outside, so it was a bit uncomfortable when I got stuck inside around the 1st and 2nd corners, but then we got through those corners, and things opened up in front and outside and I was able to attack. That made the difference.”

As for the future: “(Winner’s Man) will only be six years old (in 2024) but the most important thing is his health and so long as he is sound, we will be back for a go at a third Grand Prix this time next year.”

Winning trainer Choi Ki-hong told in-house broadcaster KRBC that the close nature of the race only enhanced his delight at the result: “Actually, I think my joy is doubled because it was such a thrilling win.  The track condition was good and Global Hit ran a great race against us. I want to thank the owner but also the jockey for a great ride and my stable crew for all their hard work to get Winner’s Man to this point.”

Kim Hye-sun, who became the first female rider to win the Korean Derby in June with Global Hit, came within a nose of repeating the achievement in the Grand Prix and in the immediate aftermath, her thoughts were of what might have been: “It’s actually disappointing to lose by a nose. When Tuhonui Banseok (was beaten) but we stayed with Winner’s Man, I realized that we had a chance. We came so close together (with Winner’s Man) that I couldn’t even use the crop and I just feel regretful that maybe we lost our opportunity.”

Kim though quickly saw the bigger picture about what Global Hit had achieved: “Overall I think Global Hit ran really well and the more I think about it, the more I am amazed. He is three years old and racing 2300M for the first time and he caught up with Winner’s Man. So, I am excited about next year and quite emotional about this horse.”

Seo Seung-un (Pic: KRA)

It was the first time ever that two Korean Derby winners have finished 1st and 2nd in the Grand Prix, with Winner’s Man having won the jewel in the three-year-old Crown in 2021. Power Blade and Winner’s Man are the only two Derby winners to go on and win a Grand Prix. A year from now, Global Hit may follow. Winner’s Man may have something to say about that though.

That’s the end of Group races in Korea for 2023 but there is still plenty of racing to come before the year end including a four-day program of races next weekend beginning on Friday at Busan and culminating with 12 races at Seoul on Christmas Day. There will also be another three-day program from December 29th and concluding on New Year’s Eve.

Grand Prix 2023 – Full Preview

A month ago, Winner’s Man became the first horse to win four different Korean Group 1 races. On Sunday at Seoul Racecourse, he seeks to win the Grand Prix Stakes (2300M KOR-G1) for a second time and in doing so match Triple Nine’s five Group 1 successes.

Winner’s Man

The Grand Prix is the oldest, and in the eyes of most Korean connections, the most prestigious race on the calendar with it first being run at Ttukseom Racecourse on Boxing Day 1982. Since 2005, the distance has been set at 2300M – the longest distance in use in Korea – and since 2009, it has expanded to include horses trained at Busan as well as Seoul. In the thirteen runnings of the so-called “open era”, (there was no race in 2020) Seoul has won five times and Busan has won eight times.

Three horses have won it twice, Pogyeongseon in 1985 and 1986, Ka Shock Do in 1990 and 1991, and Dongbanui Gangja in 2008 and 2009. Winner’s Man, the 2022 champion, will be hot favourite to emulate them in 2023.

Global Hit (Pic: KRA)

Korean Derby winner Global Hit will aim to become the first three-year-old to win the race since Bold Kings in 2015. The youngsters used to triumph regularly; Bold Kings was the 5th three-year-old to win in eight runnings following Dongbanui Gangja, Mister Park, Gamdonguibada and Indie Band. Gamdonguibada was the last filly or mare to win when she triumphed under Joe Fujii in 2012. Ony one, Eodigana, lines up this time, while Global Hit is the only three-year-old.

Along with Global Hit, Success Macho, who ran 4th in the Korea Cup and then 2nd in the President’s Cup, and Tuhnonui Banseok, who downed Winner’s Man twice this summer, are set to be the other leading contenders. Haengbok Wangja, the 2021 victor also goes, bidding to be the first two-time winner to score in non-consecutive years. Here is a full run-down of the field (jockey/trainer):

1. TIZ BAROWS (KOR) Antiono Davielson Da Silva/Seo In-seok – Well back in both KRA Cup Classic and President’s Cup this preparation. Looked to have a load of potential when winning the Listed Sports Chosun in May but hasn’t kicked on since. Jockey won the race in 2019.

2. WINNER’S MAN (KOR) Seo Seung-un/Choi Ki-hong – The best in the country despite his mid-season stutters behind Tuhonui Banseok. Those seem to be behind him now and at anything like his best, he will win again.

3. EODIGANA (KOR) Yoo Seung-wan/Kim Yoon-seop – The only filly or mare in the race and a big run shouldn’t be discounted. She flashed home for 5th in the President’s Cup and the 2300M should suit. Not a winning chance but a minor money hope.

4. CHIEF INDY (KOR) Johan Victoire/Park Jae-woo – Well back from a wide gate in the President’s Cup but ran 5th and 3rd in two class 1 races over this distance this year. Can be doing his best work late here.

5. FANTASTIC MAN (KOR) Kim Dong-young/Moon Hyeon-cheol – First start since running 2nd to Galaxy Road over 2000M in September but looked well in a trial just last Saturday. Big ask first-up though.

6. JEONGMUN SAI (KOR) Park Tae-jong/Hong Dae-you – Likes to be on pace so a potential early leader here. Comes in off a fair 7th in the President’s Cup and can be in this a long way. Not a winning chance though.

7. GLOBAL HIT (KOR) Kim Hye-sun/Bang Dong-suk – The Derby winner is this year’s champion three-year-old, and he finished off the President’s Cup very well. He will be on or close to the pace and he is the main danger.

8. BLACK MUSK (KOR) Jo Sang-beom/Choi Yong-goo – His last five starts have been in Group company at distances between 1200M and 2000M, but he has finished midfield or worse in all of them. Tactically versatile but hard to have on this year’s form.

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Hangang Class, Nice Time, Lala K Vie for Champion Juvenile Crown While Wonderful Slew Heads Breeders’ Cup Queen Field Sunday

Busan hosts its final big races of the season on Sunday and it’s a double header as the countries best juveniles come together for the first time to contest the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie. An hour later, the older fillies and mares get a final chance in 2023 to run for a big prize in a new race on the calendar for this year, the Listed Breeders’ Cup Queen.

Hangang Class (Pic: KRA)

A full field of sixteen will take their chance in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) HANGANG CLASS has earned his probable favourite status. He ran 4th behind Baekduui Kkum (who last week easily confirmed her Champion Juvenile Filly Status) in the Rookie Stakes before storming away with the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy in a Korea Sprint worthy time on November 5th. He seems to be getting better with every run and trainer Gu Min-sung’s exciting galloper will be expected to be on the pace here with every chance of going all the way.

LALA K comes in having won three of his four outings, that last to first score in the Rookie Stakes in August being the highlight. After defeat to Nice Time in Munhwa Ilbo Trophu, he bounced back into form with an off the pace score in the Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy. His running style certainly suggests that as the distances get longer, so can he, and Song Moon-gil’s charge should relish his first crack at further than 1200M.

Lala K (Pic: KRA)

That step up in trip can help DOCTOR KINGDOM too. While he only has one win to his name, he ran 2nd in all three of the Rookie Stakes, the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes and the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy. He has five-lengths to make up on Hangang Class, but that extra furlong can be in his favour.

NICE TIME is three for three with the highlight being his off the pace win in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, when he swooped home late to deny Eclipse Berry and Lala K and secure a first big race win for second-year trainer Moon Byeong-ki. He hasn’t raced since so comes in fresh off a nine-week layoff and it’s not impossible that he could maintain his 100% record.

Alongside Nice Time, MEGA DRAGON and RAON TIMOTH are both unbeaten in two starts apiece. Both face much stiffer tests than anything they have previously experienced here. Accordingly, it might be Doctor Kingdom’s stablemate in the Baik Kwang-yeol barn, DOCTOR BOWN, who skipped the opening Juvenile Series races but was a super all the way winner over a mile at class 4 level last time out, who has the best chance of causing an upset.

The Breeders’ Cup Queen (1800M KOR-Listed) attracts a strong field for its inaugural running, but three-year-old WONDERFUL SLEW looks hard to beat. Luigi Riccardi’s filly ran 3rd in the Korean Oaks and 2nd in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the final two legs of the Triple Tiara, but got her stakes race reward when winning the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup over 2000M at this track on October 29th, beating plenty of today’s rivals in the process. Still lightly raced, there looks to be plenty more to come.

Wonderful Slew (KRA)

The Triple Tiara was swept by JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG, and she is still perhaps the most talented in the field. She has had such a hard season though. After winning the Tiara, she beat the boys at Class 1 level in August before a dominant win in the Jeju Governor’s Cup in September. While she was 3rd in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup behind Wonderful Slew in October, it looked a race too far. Not as far as the President’s Cup did three weeks ago although she still ran a creditable 8th of sixteen behind Winner’s Man.

Jeulgeounyeojeong is asked to go again here and while it would take a heroic effort after such a season, her class may see her through. Seo Seung-un gets back aboard for the first time since having to climb off her on the morning of her Triple Tiara first leg win.

SUCCESS TIME split Wonderful Slew and Jeulgeounyeojeong in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup and should be a factor again, while Ttukseom Cup winner RAON THE SPURT isn’t to be dismissed either.

The Breeders’ Cup Rookie is race 5 at Busan on Sunday with a local post time of 16:00 while the Breeders’ Cup Queen is race 6 at 17:00.

Geoljak One, Baekduui Kkum Secure Juvenile Filly Crowns

Juvenile fillies had their big day at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday afternoon and while hot favourite Baekduui Kkum produced a professional performance to take the honours on the south coast, there was a surprise in the capital as 23/1 chance Geoljak One came home on top.

Having gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Lala K and Nice Time in the Rookie Stakes and Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, Eclipse Berry was sent off as the even-money favourite in Seoul’s Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed). From a wide gate, Eclipse Berry jumped out well and Moon Se-young was happy to sit wide and handy on the favourite throughout the early exchanges, entering the home straight a few lengths back but with clear track ahead.

Early front-runners Gibunjoeunmal, Starter and Uwaryung saw their challenges falter but there were still plenty in the frame as the field entered the final furlong. Ultimately, while Eclipse Berry was motoring, there was one who was quicker. Geoljak One had been settled midfield by jockey Lee Hyeok and he unleashed his filly at the right time to score by half a length from Eclipse Berry with 30/1 chance Wonpyeong List a close 3rd.

Geoljak One is by Cowboy Cal and out of the Vicar mare Joy Lucky. Joy Lucky did her racing in Korea winning ten of her twenty starts, including the G3 Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup over 2000M in 2013. She was campaigned by Geokjak One’s owner Park Deok-hui and trained by Geoljak One’s trainer Park Youn-gu.

At Busan, the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) was slightly more straightforward. Baekduui Kkum had been a good winner of both the Rookie and Areumdaun Jilju Stakes against the boys before running 3rd in the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy a month ago. That was a CV superior to any of her nine rivals and it was proved.

Baekduui Kkum and Franco Da Silva go clear at Busan (Pic: KRA)

Sent off as the 1.3 favourite, Baekduui Kkum staled the lead under Franco Da Silva throughout the early stages before cruising by in the home straight to win by three-lengths. 18/1 chance Perfect Action was 2nd with 50/1 outsider Road Star a further four-lengths adrift in 3rd.

Baekduui Kkum concludes her juvenile campaign with four wins from six starts. She is from the first Korean crop of new KRA stallion Uncaptured and is out of the Discreet Cat mare Baekdu Cat. She is owned by owner/breeder Hong Kyung-pyo and is trained by lee Sang-young.

While they do take the best fillies away from the Breeders’ Cup race, which takes place at Busan next Sunday, both the Gwacheon and the Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Trophies are, unlike next week’s overall juvenile championship, open to imported foreign bred fillies as well as the locals. Ultimately this year there was only one import in the Busan race and three in the Seoul one where Gwanaksan Tiger in 6th, was the best of them.

Next Sunday the juvenile colts will have their chance to shine. Lala K and the rest are set to assemble at Busan for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G3). They are joined for a new feature race by some of the best local fillies and mares in the Breeders Cup Queen (1800M KOR-Listed). Group winners Raon The Spurt, Jeulgeounyeojeong and Wondeful Slew are among the early entries.

Winner’s Man Claims G1 Grand Slam and Record Earnings in President’s Cup Coronation

Winner’s Man eased away from his rivals and casually wrote his name into Korean racing lore at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon as in winning the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) in emphatic fashion, he became the first horse ever to win four different Group 1 races in the country. He also became the highest earning Korean racehorse in history.

Seo Seung-un and Winner’s Man acknowledge the crowd after making history on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

The so-called Grand Slam is an almost impossible task. To begin with a horse must win a Korean Derby – and of course they only get one crack at that. They must also win a Korea Cup (or a Korea Sprint; nobody is requiring both) where they will most likely need to overcome strong overseas opposition, and they must also conquer the stamina-sapping Grand Prix Stakes with the grueling Seoul sand making the 2300M in sub-zero December equivalent to significantly further on less demanding surfaces.

The President’s Cup, restricted to Korean-bred horses (foreign bred horses can’t win a Grand Slam no matter what they do) and, unlike the Derby, with horses able to run in it for as long as they are racing, and in temperate mid-November is arguably the easiest of the four to win. Triple Nine did it four times. But he didn’t win a Derby or Korea Cup. Winner’s Man has won both, as well as a Grand Prix Stakes.

Last year he could only manage 3rd but this time around it was easy for Winner’s Man in the President’s Cup. While Minister’s Cup runner up Speed Young set the early pace along with Jeongmun Sai and Derby-winner Global Hit, jockey Seo Seung-un eased Winner’s Man into a position midfield and one off the fence, keeping out of trouble but always within striking distance. As the field rounded the final turn, Winner’s Man moved ever closer and once they straightened up, Seo pulled the trigger, and the result was a foregone conclusion.

The margin on the line was seven-lengths to Global Hit in 2nd and Speed Young in 3rd. 2022 winner Simjangui Godong was gallant as ever in 4th while the mare Eodigana pulled off a super run to come from well off the pace and finish 5th.

Winner’s Man defeats Global Hit and Speed Young (Pic: KRA)

“I need to thank all the staff of our stable” winning trainer Choi Ki-hong told in house broadcaster KRBC. “They have worked so hard to prepare Winner’s Man for this and it is a great honour for him to win this title. At the start he settled back, which was no problem, as he had experienced a lot of sand in the KRA Cup Classic and then when he improved around the 3rd corner, I was very confident.”

“I was sorry to his fans that we couldn’t win this race last year, so I am relieved and thankful we did it today.” As for what is next for Winner’s Man: “We go back home, and we prepare for the Grand Prix.”

“I am finally able to relax a bit” quipped Seo Seung-un to KRBC after piloting Winner’s Man into history. “I felt pressure going into the race, but it was on behalf of the horse, not myself, because of what he deserves, but fortunately we did him justice.”

“He has won everything now, except for the Korea Sprint, and he has won more prize money than any other horse (in Korea). But he still has a lot of potential for more so I will work hard with him, and we will prepare for next month.”

Winner’s Man was 7 lengths clear on the line (Pic: KRA)

Winner’s Man’s winning time was the quickest of any President’s Cup to date. He is only five years old but has now overtaken Triple Nine as the highest earning Korean racehorse of all time. By Musket Man and out of the Volponi mare Winner’s Marine, he has now won seventeen of twenty-seven starts.

A Grand Slam isn’t out of the question for Global Hit. No Derby winner has won the President’s Cup in the same year – the three-year-old winners of the race have all tended to be slightly later developers – but Global Hit, if he stays sound, looks to be the type that can have a big four-year-old campaign and beyond. For him the Korea Cup – with top line Japanese horses now targeting the race – will probably prove the toughest ask. Speed Young, a stablemate of Global Hit and another three-year-old, can’t win a Grand Slam, but he has every chance of returning to this race next year as well as targeting the Grand Prix and Korea Cup.

(Pic: KRA)

As suspected, the President’s Cup proved a race too far after a demanding campaign for the Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong. The filly is already a star and can be a multi-year talent with connections surely opting out of putting her through a Grand Prix next month. Defending champion Raon First faded after being close to the early pace but another mare, Eodigana, sent off in excess of 160/1, flew home almost as quick as Winner’s Man did in the final two furlongs, ending in 5th and may be an each-way chance in the Grand Prix.

Winner’s Man will be at the Grand Prix. And having overtaken him in terms of career prize money, he will be targeting Triple Nine’s record of five Group 1 wins (four President’s Cups and one Grand Prix in Triple Nine’s case). While the imports will be there, on today’s form and that of last month’s KRA Cup Classic, who is to stop him? The big race is at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday December 17th.   

Winner’s Man Bids for G1 “Grand Slam” in President’s Cup

Winner’s Man will aim to cement his place in Korea racing history at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon as he bids to win the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) and become the first horse to complete a career “Grand Slam” of Group 1 victories.

Winner’s Man and Seo Seung-un (Pic: KRA)

There are only five (local) Group 1 races in Korea. With the Korea Sprint being run on the same day as the Korea Cup, it is generally accepted within the racing community that only one of that pair is required to achieve a Grand Slam. Winner’s Man won the Korean Derby in 2021, and then the Korea Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes in 2022 and the only one that eludes him is the President’s Cup.

Winner’s Man is already the sole horse to have won three different Group 1’s. Triple Nine won four President’s Cups and a Grand Prix, but he didn’t win the Derby. Power Blade won the Derby and the Grand Prix, but he didn’t win a President’s Cup. Gyeongbudaero, Indie Band (President’s Cup and Grand Prix) and Moonhak Chief (Korea Cup and Grand Prix) are the others who have won two different Group 1 races.

Stablemates Global Hit and Speed Young were 1st and 2nd in the final leg of the Triple Crown (Pic: KRA)

The Slam would already be complete had Winner’s Man been able to convert 1.3 favourite status into victory in this race a year ago. It was not to be that day as he could only manage 3rd place as Raon First became the first filly or mare to win a President’s Cup. 2021 winner Simjangui Godong was 2nd. Both return to try to thwart Winner’s Man again. This year’s Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong as well as Korean Derby victor Global Hit, will also be in attendance.

It has been an up and down season for Winner’s Man, who suffered two defeats at the hands of Tuhonui Banseok in the Stayer Series. He then returned to form with 3rd place behind Japan’s Crown Pride and Gloria Mundi in the Korea Cup and then overturned the form on Tuhonui Banseok (as an overseas bred, ineligible for the President’s Cup) to win the KRA Cup Classic in October.

Sixteen are set to line up for the President’s Cup, which is race 8 on an 11-race program at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday and the favourite has drawn wide. Here is a full rundown of the field. All are Korean bred:

1. FLYING THE CHAMP – Runner up to Captain Yankee in last year’s Minister’s Cup over this course and distance and a winner of four from eleven. He races for the first time since April though and this is a monumental ask first-up.

2. GLOBAL HIT – Winner of two legs of the Triple Crown, the Derby and Minister’s Cup both at this course, the latter at this distance. Midfield finish in the Korea Cup. Loads of talent and gets a weight allowance as a three-year-old and tactically versatile. One of the main dangers to Winner’s Man.

3. GALAXY ROAD – A strong class 1 win over this distance in a quick time at Busan in September gets him his chance here. Goes best when on pace and is nicely drawn to get a good position and will have supporters on a place line.

4. JEONGMUN SAI – More than two years since his last win but he regularly picks up a cheque at class 1 level. From a good draw he should be on pace, but at level weights, this looks hard.

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