Crown Hamseong wired the field to walk off with the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. The four-year-old filly scored a first Stakes win for herself and in the process a maiden Korean Principal race win for jockey CC Wong.
Crown Hamseong and CC Wong have plenty in hand on Daemnagui Gil on the line (Pic: KRA)
It had been a day for pacesetters with all prior winners on the card having led practically from gate to wire and there was accordingly a cavalry charge to get the coveted leading position after the short run heading into the turn from the six-furlong start. Vincero Cavallo, Naol Sniper, Something Lost, Yeonggwangui World and Saenae Town all tried, but coming out of gate two, CC and Crown Hamseong were too quick for them all.
Opening up a lead of three-lengths into the home straight, Crown Hamseong made the closing stages a procession as the other front-runners fell away. Daemangui Gil and Speed Young would eventually emerge from the rear to get closest, albeit a full two-lengths back on the line. Crown Hamseong returned as the 9.9 fifth favourite in the local win pool.
It was perhaps a race too far for Vincero Cavallo, who showed close to the pace early, but ran out of petrol equally quickly and finished well down the field. The pre-race favourite had run every month since his 6th place in the Korea Sprint and it showed.
As for Speed Young, giving the prevailing track conditions were evidently favouring front-runners, it was always going to be a hard ask given his racing style and widest gate. Under a sensible Kim Hye-sun ride, he perhaps did well to run 3rd.
Veteran Daemangui Gil ran a super race to run 2nd, Kim Tae-hui threading her way through the field late to get closest to the winner. It was a pick-up ride for Kim after scheduled jockey Jung Do-yun suffered a broken shoulder in a fall at Busan on Friday. Jung is expected to be out for several months.
Crown Hamseong [Freedom Child – Choegoya Choego (by Menifee)] is a four-year-old filly who was purchased by her owner Hwang Eui-young for 30 Million Won as a yearling in 2022. Trained by Lee Gwan-ho, she came into the race boasting seven wins from ten starts, up to class 1 level and a mile. She skipped all three legs of the Triple Tiara series last year. She could be very interesting in this year’s Queens’ Tour.
For jockey CC “Jimmy” Wong, it was a 43rd win in Korea and his first in a Listed or Graded Stakes. After an initial very successful stint in the country early in 2024, he returned to Singapore to see out the final days of racing in the Lion City but returned in late autumn and is gradually picking up from where he left off.
CC Wong is part of a very strong visiting jockey group at Seoul that also includes Ruan Maia, Kozzi Asano and Harry Kasim, as well as long-time Korea based multiple Group winner Johan Victoire and former Champion Apprentice in Turkey, Furkan Yuksel.
Next weekend, attention turns to the three-year-old crop with Triple Crown Classic trials at both Seoul and Busan.
With the short Lunar New Year holiday now over, the 2025 Korean racing season gets underway in earnest in February with racing returning from its one week break on February 7th at Busan and with the first big race due to be run the following weekend.
Those aforementioned big leagues get underway with the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over 1200M at Seoul on Sunday February 16th, a lead up to – if not an actual part of – the Sprint Series. Currently thirteen remain entered, chief among them Speed Young, winner of the Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan last summer and notably the best placed local finisher in the international G3 Korea Sprint over 1200M in September.
Vincero Cavallo was 6th in the Korea Sprint in 2024 and has won three out of four subsequent starts, most recently an impressive score after getting a long way back over 1200M at class 1 level on January 12th. An intriguing entry is Naol Sniper, who boasts a rating lower than only Speed Young. Were he to take his place in the gate, he would be tackling 1200M for the very first time (although he did win at five furlongs as a juvenile in 2022). Solid sprinters Raon The Point and Saenae Queen are also among the entries.
The following week, the Triple Crown picture is scheduled to start to take shape with the running of Classic trials over 1400M at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday February 23.
Group racing commences with the speedsters in the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday March 9th while the route horses get their first chance for a big prize a week later at Seoul in the Herald Business Cup (2000M), the opening leg of the Stayer Series, on March 16th.
That latter race would normally have marked the seasonal debut for Korea’s top-rate horse, Global Hit. However, last year’s winner remains in Dubai where after a luckless opening effort at Meydan at the end of January, he will take his chance in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic on March 1st.
March 23rd sees the opening leg of the Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares with the DOnag Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-L) at Seoul. As it was in 2024, the series is split into Spring/Summer and Fall Winter with the three-year-olds expected to join the latter on the conclusion of the Triple Tiara.
This year’s Triple Crown series kicks off at Busan on April 6th with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) before moving to Seoul for the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) on May 11th and finally the Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2) on June 15th.
For the three-year-old fillies, the Triple Tiara starts with the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-L) at Busan on March 30th, followed by the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2), also on the south-coast on May 4th, concluding with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on June 8th.
International invitational races, the Korea Cup (1800M G3) and Korea Sprint (1200M G3) will be run on September 7th while eight other races are Listed in the International Blue Book, including the season finale Grand Prix Stakes (2300M KOR-G1) on November 30th.
Thoroughbred racing in Korea takes place on 50 weeks of the year, usually at Busan on Fridays and Sundays and at Seoul on Saturdays and Sundays.
Global Hit will make his Meydan debut on Friday night and Korea’s sole representative at this year’s Dubai Racing Carnival has been handed an assignment as tough as they come in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge over 1900M.
Global Hit with jockey Kim Hye-sun, trainer Bang Dong-suk, and his grooms (Pic: KRA)
Taking part in the Carnival is a chance to be tested against the best, and if nothing else, GLOBAL HIT certainly has that chance in what is shaping up to be a terrific renewal of a race which serves as a step towards the Dubai World Cup, on what is set to be the best night’s card of flat racing anywhere in the world so far this year.
KABIRKHAN, who won this race a year ago returns to racing for the first time since last year’s World Cup, while FACTEUR CHEVAL, winner of the Dubai Turf last year, makes his dirt debut. IMPERIAL EMPEROR and WALK OF STARS both enter off impressive Meydan wins, and GENEROUS TIPPER makes his first Dubai start since being relocated from the United States. None of the others in a field of twelve are to be dismissed either. To make it an even harder ask, Global Hit has drawn gate twelve of twelve.
So, can Global Hit measure up in this type of company? Korea has been represented at each of the last two carnivals, but this is the first time since Dolkong in 2019 that a horse at the peak of his form has travelled. After Main Stay got Korea’s first Dubai win in a Sprint Handicap in 2017, two years later Dolkong won the Curlin Handicap and lined up in the World Cup itself.
Global Hit in the morning at Meydan (Pic: Sorim Lee)
Had a peak Dolkong and a peak Global Hit ever faced off on the Seoul sand, Global Hit would be the betting favourite among the local race going public. But that may not necessarily transfer to the very different dirt of Meydan.
Perhaps one way of assessing Global Hit is that he got within five-lengths of Wilson Tesoro, a top line JRA dirt horse, in the Korea Cup last year. Since returning to Japan, Wilson Tesoro has beaten Meisho Hario when winning and then finished 2nd to Lemon Pop and Forever Young. He would be among the top line of favourites were he in Meydan. Global Hit isn’t on that level, but he is not a million miles away.
A potential plus for Global Hit is his racing style. Korea-trained horses have frequently found the tempo of races at Meydan very different to that back home where the start of the race is usually fast, before they ease off slightly in mid race in advance of going hard for the line. Yet Global Hit’s way of jumping out fairly and then steadily ramping up the pressure, may well fit. In this scenario the wide draw may not be as much of a problem as it first appears. With Kabirkhan having drawn gate two, there should be plenty of pace on, so under a patient ride, Global Hit should have an opportunity to drop in as the field opens up before the first bend.
Global Hit is a five-year-old entire by Korea-based American sire To Honor And Serve (by Bernardini). He is out of the Yankee Victor mare Tammy’s Victress, a winner of seven races during her career in the United States. Global Hit was bred by the Yeonhak Agricultural Company and was purchased by current owner Kim Joon-hyun for 50 Million Won as a yearling in 2001. He has gone on to accumulate 3.8 Billion Won in prize money.
After winning on his debut, Global Hit suffered an injury that curtailed his two-year-old season, and he didn’t make the opening leg of the Triple Crown in 2023. He returned to win the final two legs, the Korean Derby and the Minister’s Cup, and hasn’t looked back. He finished his three-year-old campaign with 2nd places to Winner’s Man in both the President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes, having finished midfield in his first Korea Cup.
2024 would see Global Hit dominate domestically, winning five of his seven starts and going one better in both the President’s Cup and Grand Prix. He also denied Japan a clean sweep of the places in the Korea Cup by running 3rd behind Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro but beating Light Warrior. His only defeat during the year to a locally trained horse came by a nose at the hands of regular rival Tuhonui Banseok in the Busan Mayor’s Cup in May. In total he has ten wins from seventeen career starts.
Wonderful Slew claimed the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter by successfully defending the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile in the Juvenile Division, Captain P.K. scored in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy (1200M KOR-L) at Seoul, while Wonderful Groom was handed Busan’s Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy (1200M KOR-L) in the Stewards’ Room.
Wonderful Slew and Moon Se-young (Pic: KRA)
A maestro with the fillies, trainer Luigi Riccardi scored his first Korean Group race win with Choego Black in the Korean Oaks at Busan in 2021, but it is Wonderful Slew who has been his stable star, winning this race a year ago and then adding the KNN Cup, also at G3 level this June. The Italian handler has been operating at a win rate in of 18% and a top three rate of nearly 49% over the past year, the stable arriving on the south coast in peak form.
Sent off as the 1.7 favourite to overturn the defeat she was handed by Jeulgoeunyeojeong over 1400M in the Jeju Governor’s Cup at Seoul last month, jockey Moon Se-young sent Wonderful Slew out to track that filly, who herself had settled into 2nd early behind Flying Star.
They would remain in that order, Wonderful Slew glued to Jeugeounyeojeong’s tail, until the home straight when Moon asked for an effort from Wonderful Slew and the pair quickly zipped by their main rival, before dismissing Flying Star with similar disdain and ran on to win by two-and-a-half-lengths on the line. Flying Star held on for 2nd place while Jeulgeounyeojeong had to settle for 3rd.
“She was the defending champion, so I was confident” winning jockey Moon told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “It rained a lot on Friday, which wasn’t ideal, but I was thinking who would be the horses in front and assumed Jeulgeounyeojeong and Flying Star. The idea was to track them, and that’s how it turned out.”
“Wonderful Slew and Jeulgeounyeojeong have raced each other a lot, and at 1400M, 1600M, 1800M, we are the challenger and the underdog, but at 2000M, the expectations are on us, and (I am happy) we were able to do it.”
Moon also talked about his father, who passed away last week. “As I prepared for this race, I thought about it as one last gift I could give to my father, and I felt like he was watching me.”
With the victory, Wonderful Slew [Purge – Worldly Dude (by Volponi)] overtakes Jeulgeounyeojoeng at the top of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter Leaderboard with 650 points to 600. The final leg is the Breeders’ Cup Queen (1800M KOR-L) at Busan on Sunday November 24th.
Also slated for Busan on November 24th, the top juveniles from Seoul and Busan will meet for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) and lead up races were held on Sunday at both Seoul and Busan.
At Seoul twelve lined up for the NACF Chairman’s Trophy (1200M KOR-L) and just as he did in August’s Rookie Stakes, Captain P.K. emerged from the pack late to win by a length-and-a half. Blushing Rose was 2nd and Munhwa Ilbo Trophy winner Silver Rain 3rd, having set the early pace.
Capyain P.K. (Pic: KRA)
Trained by Song Moon-gil and ridden by Kim Jeong-jun, Captain P.K. [Race Day – P.K. Party (By Old Fashioned)] moved on to three wins from four starts and emulated his dam, P. K. Party, who won the very same race as a juvenile herself back in 2017 when it was open to overseas, as well as locally bred runners – P.K. Party that year was the only Korean-bred, beating eleven US-bred runners that included Moonhak Chief, who would go on to win both the Grand Prix Stakes and the Korea Cup in 2019.
In Busan, things were less straightforward in the Gimhae Mayor’s Cup (1200M KOR-L). After running 3rd on debut, Winner Clear won his next two starts by a combined twenty-five lengths and was accordingly sent off as the 1.2 favourite. He was slow out of the gate though and while ridden up hard to take the lead, he wilted in the straight and crossed the line 3rd as his stablemate Oasis Blue romped home by five-lengths.
It was not to be for Oasis Blue, however. Around the 700M mark, he had shifted out slightly when not fully clear of My Dream Day and the resulting chain reaction of checking on heels ended with Mo Jun-ho being unseated from Union Champ.
Under rules of racing, there was no option but to disqualify Oasis Blue and Wonderful Groom [Testa Matta – Shesa Bud Girl (by Giant’s Causeway)] was promoted to 1st place. Winner Clear was awarded 2nd and quinella backers of the odds-on favourite rejoiced. Regardless of the disqualification, for which jockey Jung Do-yun copped a four-day ban, Oasis Blue will surely be a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie in December.
Global Hit tightened his grip over the elite level of racing here on Sunday afternoon with a dominant win at Seoul Racecourse in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1).
Global Hit with his grooms, jockey and trainer (Pic: KRA)
Under Kim Hye-sun, the four-year-old Global Hit (by To Honor and Serve) stalked the leaders until unleashing in the home straight and running on to win by five-lengths from Naol Sniper. Global Hit’s stablemate in the Bang Dong-suk barn, Speed Young, was 3rd.
“I’m happy, I’m so happy. It’s a Group 1 race so I was nervous but at the same time I tried to enjoy it. I’m really proud of Global Hit’s performance today” winning jockey Kim Hye-sun told in-house broadcaster KRBC.
“The strategy was just to sit where he was comfortable and then just to maintain that position, let him do his thing and then let him go.”
A year ago, Global Hit, fresh from winning the Korean Derby was beaten seven lengths in the President’s Cup by Winner’s Man. He would then push the older horse all the way to the line. Winner’s Man was formally retired earlier this month and capturing the Grand Prix Stakes is set to be next on the agenda for Global Hit.
Global Hit (Pic: KRA)
“I think we go to the Grand Prix” said jockey Kim. “I know the fans want it and so do I. The Grand Prix is a more meaningful race than the President’s Cup and I still regret and blame myself that we came 2nd (by a nose to Winner’s Man) in last year’s Grand Prix.”
Hye-sun probably didn’t mean to do down the President’s Cup, but the Grand Prix, while worth the same prize money, is a longer standing race and is open to foreign bred as well as Korean bred horses.
“This time there will be no excuses but also, I don’t feel the pressure anymore; I enjoy it. All of the team at Stable 26 (Bang Dong-suk’s barn at Busan) try to make a fun and supportive environment and I am grateful for the trust we all have in each other.”
The win was Global Hit’s second Group 1 success, following his Korean Derby victory last year. Winning the Grand Prix over 2300M on December 1st, will take him to within one of matching Winner’s Man, who achieved a career Grand Slam of winning every Korean G1. Of course, the final one will prove more difficult in the shape of the Korea Cup (or Sprint).
Global Hit goes clear (Pic: KRA)
Overall, it was an encouraging race for the future with the first three placegetters all four-years-old. Chasing them home in 4th place was this year’s KRA Cup Mile and Minister’s Cup winner, Success Baekpa, making a hugely encouraging return to action, racing for the first time since the final leg of the Triple Crown in June.
In a significant downer for the race though, the decision to enter sprinter Beolmaui Star, despite the runner-up in the 2023 Korea Sprint never having run any further than a mile, backfired when after leading, he rapidly faded and crossed the line one from last. Later he was found to have a fracture of the 4th metacarpal bone. World Dragon, who was last, was not reported to have any immediate physical issues.
Next weekend, attention turns to the juvenile division with the NACF Chairman’s Trophy at Seoul and the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy at Busan, both Listed stops on the Juvenile Series.
It’s not the most valuable race on the calendar, that’s the Korea Cup, and nor is it the most prestigious, with that honour going to the Grand Prix Stakes. It is in the President’s Cup though where Korean racing legends tend to be made.SEE HERE FOR SUNDAY’S RACE-BY-RACE FOR BOTH SEOUL AND BUSAN.
Global Hit seeks a second G1 in the President’s Cup on Sunday (Pic: KRA)
There was Dangdae Bulpae, with three consecutive wins between 2010 and 2012. Triple Nine with four between 2015 and 2018. And last year Winner’s Man completed the Grand Slam of Korean Group 1 races by finally adding it as the final piece to his collection (The Korean Derby, the Grand Prix and one of either the Korea Cup or Korea Sprint is required for a full set).
On Sunday, all eyes are on last year’s Korean Derby winner GLOBAL HIT, who in the absence of the now retired Winner’s Man, has become the standard bearer of racing here. While bested by Winner’s Man both in this race and in the Grand Prix last year, the latter by a very narrow margin, he was 3rd in the Korea Cup and now he seeks to stamp his authority over the domestic division by winning the President’s Cup.
It won’t be easy. Global Hit’s stablemate SPEED YOUNG has run him close before and can again, while NAOL SNIPER and WORLD DRAGON are also seeking Group race success.
SUCCESS BAEKPA is the up and comer having won two legs of this year’s Triple Crown, while in SIMJANGUI GODONG, there is a former winner in the race with the veteran having prevailed in the 2021 edition.
Adding intrigue among the fifteen-strong field is the presence of BEOLMAUI STAR. The runner-up in the 2023 Korea Sprint has had an erratic summer at the shorter distances and he gets tried around two turns for the first time in his career.
The President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) is race 7 at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon with a local post time of 15:40.
1. SUCCESS BAEKPA – Winner of the 1st and 3rd legs of this year’s Triple Crown and 3rd in the Derby, he hasn’t raced since winning the Minister’s Cup here over 2000M in June. He has been back in work since late August and looked well when winning a trial within himself in mid-September. Very tough ask first-up but he is a big talent and if match fit, could be involved.
2. GLOBAL HIT – Saved Korea’s honour when 3rd behind Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro in the Korea Cup, he is acknowledged as the best horse in the country. Three wins from five this year with the ineligible Tuhonui Banseok the only one to beat him. Sensibly campaigned, if at his best, he is too good. From a great draw, Kim Hye-sun can pick her spot and probably settles handy or midfield
3. TIZ BAROWS – Class 1 winner in June but beaten by Naol Sniper and Gangpungma in July, he has just been found a little wanting when tried against the elite and was 10th in his previous Group attempt, the YTN Cup. May well try to go to the lead here.
Baekgwang has passed. The “White Light”, Korea’s first “Idol Horse” died at the Anseong Retired Racehorse Park on September 30th, aged 21.
When it comes to Baekgwang, I am going to quote verbatim from an article I wrote almost exactly 13 years ago, after Baekgwang’s last race. It is one of the very few things that I wrote then back in those naive days that still largely holds true and most of that article is now reproduced in full (with some edits):
“When lists of the greatest racehorses are compiled, Baekgwang [The Groom Is Red-Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] likely won’t be on them. Not even in Korea. But there is something about a closer – a horse who can run from the back of the field to the front in the closing stages of a race to score a last gasp victory – that makes the heart beat faster. And when that horse is small in stature, a striking grey colour, and when he has overcome injury to be around for the best part of six years, it is something that shines a light on the drama of a sport whose beauty is so often masked behind a game of numbers. Ask a Korean racing fan to name their favourite horse and it is likely to be Baekgwang.
“Of course, while not being the greatest, Baekgwang was still a very fine racehorse. After failing to win any of his three starts as a two-year old, he finished third in the 2006 Korean Derby but went on to win the final three-year old Classic of the year, The Minister’s Cup, after picking up back-to-back Stakes wins in the Munhwa and Donga-Ilbo Cups earlier in the summer.
“He continued this form into his four-year old season, winning three consecutive races before the end of April. However, it was then that injury struck for the first time in the shape of a ligament injury and he ran only once more that year. In the meantime, his younger half-sister Baekpa (Revere) has become a star in her own right, winning the 2007 Korean Oaks. A grey herself, although less striking than Baekgwang, her big brother was brought out of his recovery to pose for pictures with her after her Oaks triumph. Eventually, after treatment and a lengthy spell of recuperation in the Korean countryside, Baekgwang himself returned to Seoul Racecourse and made his comeback in the Ttukseom Cup in April 2008.
“He was sent off as second favourite and, putting in his customary late run, looked to have a chance in the final furlong. However, in the final strides he was just headed by the even faster finishing Namchonuijijon (Concept Win) who, were it not for being unfortunate to have been born in the same year as the great J.S. Hold, may have become a Classic winner himself. After the race though came the news he had suffered severe ligament damage.
Baekgwang underwent stem-cell treatment to repair his damaged knee with cells from his back. It would be a long lay-off. During his time out, little sister Baekpa would go on to defeat the seemingly invincible Myeongmungamun in the SBS Cup of 2008. It would be in this race a year later in July 2009 that, remarkably, Baekgwang would return once again. (*2024 note: In retrospect, this may not have been a good thing, but luckily there was a happy ending).
“He ran fourth but it was a display full of promise. A month later he finished second in a handicap. Then in September, he finally made it back where he belonged; in the winner’s circle having run down a class 1 field in the home stretch to record a narrow victory. Next up was the President’s Cup and, true to form, he pushed eventual winner Nice Choice all the way, despite giving him four kilos, to finish in a brave second. He closed out 2009 on a high, skipping his way through a blizzard two days after Christmas, once more mowing down the field in the home straight.
“However, 2010 would see just one appearance, a second place in February before injury took hold again. Although he race-trialed sporadically it wasn’t until August this year (2011) that he finally made it to a race, finishing fifth behind Ace Galloper. Of course, it would be behind that horse, Seoul’s highest rated Korean bred, that he would make his final appearance., in the KRA Cup Classic on October 9th. For the first and only time in his 25 races, he would not take home any prize money yet, even while going lame once again, he was only just beaten out of the fifth and final moneying place by Dongbanui Gangja, the double Grand Prix winner. He never, ever gave up.
“Baekgwang had suffered a fracture in that final race, but happily, it was not fatal. He will return to Jeju Island, this time permanently, as perhaps it should have been last time. He will be registered as a stallion and will live out his retirement in peace. His career outlasted that of almost all his rivals such as Nice Choice and Namchonuijijon and sister Baekpa who was retired last year – Baekpa is at the same farm as the pair’s mother, Grey Crest (died 2016 aged 25).
“Some have lamented that Baekgwang – “Korea’s Seabiscuit” as he was described by the Korean Racing Journal last weekend – will not be given a retirement ceremony. It’s not necessary. Racing fans have enough memories of Baekgwang doing what he did best – be it in that Ttukseom Cup or dancing through the snow at Christmas or on all the other occasions he produced that thrilling stretch run. Baekgwang means “White Light” and he was a horse who with a turn of his head in the paddock was acknowledged by even the most hard-bitten punter as something special. We were lucky to have him.” (End of the 2011 article).
We were indeed lucky to have him. And while his lack of Group 1 wins meant he didn’t fulfil the criteria for a retirement ceremony of the likes that Winner’s Man was afforded last week, his fans, with connections and the KRA’s blessing, actually gave him one anyway, on a Friday afternoon when Seoul Racecourse didn’t have any live racing, but was open for simulcasting from Busan and Jeju. Pictures and video from that still unrepeated afternoon – are preserved here: https://blog.naver.com/uijeongbu4u/110123253086
Baekgwang’s return to Jeju Island wasn’t permanent, and after a short but not unsuccessful stallion career, he lived out his days as one of the first intake at the newly founded Korean equivalent of “Living Legends” back on the mainland in Anseong, not that far from the Seoul Racecourse.
HIs sister Baekpa, one year his junior, is still alive and she produced the 2024 KRA Cup Mile and Minister’s Cup winner Success Baekpa, as part of a successful broodmare career. Success Baekpa has suffered injury setbacks himself but is entered for this coming weekend’s President’s Cup.
While earlier horses such as Ka Shock Do and Pogyeongseon are definitely remembered, and near contemporaries Subsidy and Bally Brae are too, Baekgwang was a gamechanger in terms of the horse as superstar. Unfortunately his popularity wasn’t built upon in terms of building a narrative for Korean racing beyond betting. Baekgwang’s passing reminds us that it is urgent we get one. Rest well, Baekgwang.
Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red-Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] Foaled: March 19, 2003 Debut: September 24, 2005 Retired: October 9, 2011 25 races, 11 wins, 8 seconds, 2 thirds Career Earnings: 817,614,000 Korean Won
American Sprinter Anarchist is the first of the international runners to arrive for the OBS Korea Sprint (1200M G3) and OBS Korea Cup (1800M G3) which will be run at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday September 8th. The Doug F. O Neill trained speedster checked into the quarantine stables on Thursday morning. Six Japanese runners, including defending champions Remake and Crowd Pride are scheduled to touch down over the next few days ahead of the races which for the first-time carry “Win And You’re In” status for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar in November.
ANARCHIST was runner up in the 2023 G1 Bing Crosby Stakes and won the G2 Pat O’Brien Stakes, both at Del Mar. Having run 5th in this year’s Bing Crosby, Anarchist has skipped a defence of his Pat O’Brien to take his chance in Seoul and his front-running style may be very well suited. Aiding his chances will be rider Edwin Maldonado, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best on pace jockeys as they bid to win the Korea Sprint and gain automatic entry into the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Anarchist at Seoul Racecourse
Koichi Shintani’s REMAKE is the headliner and the now five-year-old has maintained his form in three starts since triumphing in last year’s race, most notably winning the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard in February before finishing 4th in the G1 Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night. The Seoul Racecourse track record holder for the 1200M will take some stopping. Yuga Kawada will be up.
JASPER KRONE is perhaps best known this year for unsuccessfully ploughing his own furrow on the opposite side of the Meydan straight course to the rest in the Al Quoz Sprint. He is a two-time Group 3 winner in Japan and has plenty of speed. Regular rider Taisei Danno travels to Seoul to ride for trainer Hideyuki Mori.
KEIAI DORIE took in Riyadh and Meydan earlier this year, finishing in midfield in both the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the Golden Shaheen. An eight-time winner, including at Listed level in Japan, he comes in having run 3rd in the Listed Cluster Cup at Morioka in August. Takeshi Yokayama will be in the saddle for trainer Akira Murayama.
Remake (Pic: KRA)
Among the local sprinting contingent, 2023 runner-up BEOLMAUI STAR will be a danger. He had an unsuccessful trip to Dubai earlier this year, but on his return to Korea won the local Group 3 SROA Chairman’s Sprint. He mixes his form but as he proved a year ago, at his best he can be right up there. 2022 Korea Sprint winner EOMA EOMA is also set to return. Now seven-years-old, he was a close 2nd to Beolmaui Star in the SROA and showed his versatility with 3rd place in the local G3 Busan Owners’ Cup over a mile in June. GANGSEO GIANT, who broke the track record at Busan for the 1200M earlier this month, also holds an entry.
The Korea Cup winner will gain automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. CROWN PRIDE scored a comfortable win in the 2023 edition of the Korea Cup, ahead of compatriot Gloria Mundi and 2022 victor, Winner’s Man, but then went on an indifferent run of form, including when well back in the Saudi Cup. Ominously though, he returned to the winner’s circle in the Mercury Cup over 2000M at Morioka in July. Takeshi Yokayama is set to be in the saddle for the Koichi Shintani trained defending champion.
Crown Pride (Pic: KRA)
Last year, Crown Pride was ridden as part of a double success by jockey Yuga Kawada, but this time around, “King” Kawada will be among those aiming to prevent a repeat as he partners WILSON TESORO. The Hitoshi Kotegawa trained five-year-old is a two-time G1 runner-up and ran 4th behind Laurel River in the Dubai World Cup in March, He enters off a runner-up finish under Kawada in the Teio Sho at Oi in June and will present a formidable challenge.
Rounding out the Japanese challenge in the Korea Cup is the experienced LIGHT WARRIOR. The Katsuyoshi Uchida-trained seven-year-old is a nine-time winner, most recently at Listed level in April and travels overseas for the first time in his career. Hiroto Yoshihara is booked to ride.
Local hopes are headed by GLOBAL HIT. The four-year-old won the Korean Derby in 2023 and has gone about establishing himself as the best horse in the country, with three wins from four starts this year, all in Group company and with his only defeat being a photo-finish with TUHONUI BANSEOK, who is also set to go in the Cup. Global Hit avenged that defeat with victory in the KRA Cup Classic, the main domestic warm up race for the Korea Cup, over 2000M in early August.
The wildcard though is WINNER’S MAN. The 2022 Korea Cup winner and 2023 3rd placegetter hasn’t raced since successfully defending the Grand Prix Stakes last December – when he beat Global Hit. An international race first-up is going to be a very big ask, but Winner’s Man trialled up very well earlier in August and if he is in the gate, can never be ruled out.
Final declarations and the barrier draw for both the OBS Korea Cup and OBS Korea Sprint will be on Wednesday September 4.
David Breux’s time in Korea came to an end on the last day of June, the French jockey returning home to Chantilly after a successful six and a half years based in Seoul.
David Breux (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Across that time which included the Covid-ravaged 2020 and 2021 seasons, Breux, now 35-years-old, amassed 167 winners from 2227 rides. He registered a further 378 finishes in the top-three.
“For a European jockey, riding in Korea is good because there is no travelling and you are racing just twice a week. In France you need to travel every day and sometimes you will be riding at two racecourses in the same day!” Breux said after his final Korean ride on June 30th.
Popular on the back stretch and widely regarded as one of the nicest people in racing, Breux had only good things to say about his experience. “In Korea I have been very happy, with some very good moments across my 6 years, meeting many people from many different countries.”An early off track highlight was winning the ANZA Korea Melbourne Cup “Fashions on the Field” event in 2018 (Pic: A beaten competitor who didn’t make the final).
Breux arrived young and carefree but leaves as a husband, having married long-time partner Alexia, and as a father, with a daughter about to reach school age. “I’ll be back home in Chantilly on July 19th and then I am taking a long holiday until August 15th. Then it is back to work as a jockey in France. I don’t yet have a stable confirmed but I have a manager and I will be ready to go.”
(Pic: Ross Holburt/KRA)
When asked what was his favourite horse in Korea to ride, he was unequivocal: “Definitely Choego Money” he said, referring to the Simon Foster trained runner who Breux had early successes on.
When pressed on whether there was something he wouldn’t miss, Breux characteristically demurred before finally conceding: “I won’t miss racing on the dirt.”
Breux’s departure leaves three overseas jockeys at Seoul with his childhood friend Johan Victoire still flying the tricolour for France alongside former Singapore based Jimmy Wong and Harry Kasim and Turkey’s Furkan Yuksel. At Busan Franco Da Silva, Ueda Masashi and Masa Tanaka have now been joined by the returning Alan Munro, who kicked off his latest stint in Korea with a win last Friday.
It was a long time coming but the 2022 Champion Juvenile Speed Young finally made his way back into the Graded Stakes winner’s circle last Sunday, routing a top line field to win the Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) by eight lengths.
Sent off as the slight favourite in the sixteen-strong field, Speed Young was handy throughout before kicking clear in the home straight under jockey Kim Hye-sun and winning with plenty to spare. Veteran Simjangui Godong was 2nd with sprinter Eoma Eoma 3rd.
“He won the Breeders’ Cup as a two-year-old but he hasn’t been a straightforward horse” winning trainer Bang Dong-suk, told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “He had quite an impatient temperament, was difficult to control and had a habit of overdoing things. He seems to now be maturing.”
“I didn’t necessarily expect to win and I was a little concerned about the amount of rain, but I am very happy that the disappointment of (Speed Young) always finishing 2nd or 3rd, is now over.
Horse Racing in Korea 