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.
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.
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 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Horse Racing in Korea 