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.
A year ago, Eoma Eoma struck the line at just the right time to claim a last gasp victory in the Kookje Shinmun, and on Sunday afternoon he did exactly the same to take out the 1400M, and this year Group 3 affair, at Busan Racecourse.
Eoma Eoma duels with Calm Strong (Pic: KRA)
Eight of the sixteen who faced the starter on Sunday came out of the international G3 Korea Sprint at Seoul in September and following his superb runner-up finish in that race, Beolmaui Star was sent off as the favourite, ahead of the defending champion. Beolmaui Star though would see his race falter at the beginning when slightly fly jumping as the gates opened and then failing to get on terms at any time.
Calm Strong, the exciting four-year-old filly, would lead in the early stages with Black Musk and Raon Tap Man on pace with her and Eoma Eoma setting up camp under Antonio Da Silva, riding him for the first time, just behind. Into the straight and Black Musk and Raon Tap Man both fell away, leaving Calm Strong and Eoma Eoma on top with last year’s runner-up Daehan Jilju and SROA Chairman’s Trophy winner Ssonsal in hot pursuit.
Calm Strong held out for a long time but ultimately a relentless Eoma Eoma ground her down, just like he had done Daehan Jilju last year, pulling away by three-quarters of a length as they hit the line. The filly was an excellent 2nd with Daehan Jilju 3rd and Daemangui Gil – who had started almost as badly as Beolmaui Star – pipping Ssonsal for 4th.
Eoma Eoma and Antonio Da Silva in the Kookje Shinmun winner’s circle (Pic: KRA)
Winning trainer Song Moon-gil said that fans didn’t get to see the best of Eoma Eoma when he was 5th in the Korea Sprint. “At the Korea Sprint he didn’t perform like he can, and he didn’t come out of it 100% so it was important to get some rest and recovery into him and he was in a much better place going into today” Song told in-house broadcaster KRBC.
Song said that made him confident this time. “I thought that so long as he made no mistakes then the others would have to be at their absolute best to have a chance of beating him. There were a few nervous moments in the race but none where I thought Eoma Eoma wouldn’t win.”
“He is really racing against himself. Eoma Eoma is (almost) seven years old, and it is about managing his workload and making sure he stays injury free. His rating is so high that normal (class 1 handicaps) races are not suitable for him because of the weight he has to give away, and the pattern races are quite few so it is about picking his schedule and making sure he can be at his peak. Then it is up to him. He has loads of experience and he knows what to do.”
Eoma Eoma [Algorithms – Lignite (by Run Away And Hide)] is a horse who has been sensibly campaigned with six starts in 2022 and six in 2023. It therefore seems unlikely, despite the hope of many, that he will be on a plane next month to the Dubai World Cup Carnival (although those in charge still have 48 hours left for persuasion until nominations slam shut on Wednesday). Unless they dip into handicap waters – and most will – the sprinters are done for 2023, with the next chance for the elite to reassemble for a big prize not being until the 2024 Sprint Series gets underway with the Busan Ilbo Sprint in early April.
Beolmaui Star will get a full vet check but at first glance it looked just a bad start and a bad day in the kickback. He had issues at the start in some previous outings, but the bad habits looked to have been banished with the Korea Sprint. Jockey Seo Seung-un reported to Stewards afterwards that his mount had become increasingly fractious prior to the start and attributed the bad performance to that. At just four-years-old, he will have plenty more chances.
Next week, Winner’s Man aims to write himself into the history books as he bids to be the first horse to complete a set of four different Korean Group 1’s. He has already won the Korean Derby, the Korea Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes and he will head the field for the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse next Sunday. With the field restricted to Korean-bred horses, at anything like his best, it is hard to see him not prevailing in the Billion Won race.
Wonderful Slew upset the odds and Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong to win the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter, in emphatic fashion for Italian trainer Luigi Riccardi at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Wonderful Slew and Antonio Da Silva win the Gyengnam Governor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Having won all three legs of the Triple Tiara with increasing authority and subsequently adding a class 1 victory over males and then the first leg of the current series in style, Jeulgeounyeojeong was sent off as a prohibitive 1.2 favourite. Wonderful Slew, who placed behind Jeulgeounyeojeong in both the Korean Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, was the only other one sent off in single digits.
Cosmo and Chamjeoun Chingu set the early pace with Jeulgeounyeojeong setting up camp just behind them. Wonderful Slew meanwhile sat in the middle of the thirteen-strong field before being ridden up in the back straight to sit behind the favourite.
At the top of the stretch, it seemed inevitable that Jeulgeounyeojeong would go past Cosmo and Chamjoeun Chingu. She did, but not with the dismissive ease that might have been expected. And then looming up on her shoulder was Wonderful Slew. Under Antonio Da Silva, Wonderful Slew flew by before they even reached the furlong pole, immediately opening up daylight between herself and the rest. Jeulgeounyeojeong couldn’t respond and Success Time also came past. The gap between 1st and 2nd was a full five-lengths on the line with the clock stopped just seven tenths of a second outside the track record.
For trainer Luigi Riccardi it was a second Korean Group success with the first also having come with a three-year-old filly at Busan when Choegang Black won the 2021 Korean Oaks. For jockey Da Silva, it was a fourth Group winner in Korea and completed the set of G1, G2 and G3 wins. He is also running away with the Seoul Jockey Premiership with 79 wins in the capital this year, more than thirty more than his nearest rival.
Wonderful Slew (Purge – Worldly Dude (by Volponi) was bred by her owner Chi Dae-sub’s Nokwon Farm. Her dam Worldly Dude is a half-sister to American champion Game On Dude, being out of Worldly Pleasure, who was sold to Nokwon Farm in 2009, just before Game On Dude started to win back home. In her brief time at Nokwon, she had Worldly Dude. She was re-exported in 2011 but returned to Korea in 2019 and died in 2022.
The final leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter is a new race on the calendar, the Breeders’ Cup Queen, at Busan on December 10th. With only Listed status and a prize fund only just over half that of the Governor’s Cup, it is uncertain if both Wonderful Slew and Jeulgeounyeojeong will line up again. One thing is for certain though; the filly and mare division is a lot more exciting than it was twenty-four hours ago.
Next weekend attention turns to the two-year-old ranks and the Seoul and Busan’s respective Juvenile Series 2nd legs on Sunday afternoon. Lala K will go hunting for redemption in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy at Seoul and may well get it with Nice Time, the impressive winner of the Munha Ilbo Trophy, not set to run. At Busan Baekduui Kkum heads the lineup in a likely small field for the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy. Both are over 1200M.
Winner’s Man may not have been able to retain the Korea Cup he won in 2022 when faced with the might of Japan’s Crown Pride and Gloria Mundi a month ago, but this year’s international race 3rd placegetter franked the form as he defeated his principle local rivals to win the KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Seo Seung-un and Winner’s Man draw clear of Success Macho and Franco Da Silva (Pic: KRA)
Six of the local contenders who lined up for the Korea Cup on September 10th returned for the KRA Cup Classic, a key pointer towards December’s season-ending Grand Prix Stakes. They included Tuhunui Banseok, who had defeated Winner’s Man to win both the YTN Cup and Busan’s Mayor’s Cups in the summer. Success Macho and Haengbok Wangja, 4th and 5th respectively in the Cup, also lined-up again.
In the end, none could get near Winner’s Man. With Seo Seung-un on board, he sat alongside Tuhonui Banseok throughout the early half of the race as outsiders The Gumpu and Vics Go set the pace ahead of Success Macho who stalked in 3rd under Franco Da Silva.
As the field turned into the straight, the outsiders would fall away leaving Success Macho briefly in front, but he was no match for Winner’s Man, who cruised past to take an unassailable lead with a furlong to run. Ultimately, he would lead home Success Macho by three-lengths with Haengbok Wangja emerging from the back to claim 3rd ahead of Simjangui Godong. Tuhonui Banseok was 5th.
Pic: KRA
Winner’s Man [Musket Man – Winner’s Marine (by Volponi)] moved on to sixteen wins from twenty-six starts and in the process claimed his seventh victory at Group level. Likewise, it was a seventh Group win for trainer Choi Ki-hong – all with Winner’s Man.
For jockey Seo Seung-un, the victory also brought up a personal milestone as it marked his 700th career winner. “I am really happy I could share this moment with Winner’s Man” Seo told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “Every winner is important but this one does mean more than most. He (Winner’s Man) is a different horse to what he was when he was four years old, he doesn’t necessarily want to dictate pace, so we did what we did in the Korea Cup. We’ll go back to Busan and see how he comes out of this and then all being well prepare ultimately for the Grand Prix.”
For Success Macho, it was confirmation, as if further was needed, that he belongs in the elite level and jockey Franco Da Silva was pleased. “The race wasn’t as I expected because the number 6 (Vics Go) went forward and the horse who I expected to lead (Tuhonui Banseok) jumped out slow, so it was a little bit confusing early, and I just had to wait a little bit more to challenge coming into the straight. I expected to run a good race because the last time he got very close to Winner’s Man but today Winners’ Man looks like he is back to his normal self, his condition was very good. Success Macho has improved a lot but still not 100% (at Winner’s Man level) yet so I’m very pleased with the results today.”
As Korean-breds, both Winner’s Man and Success Macho are eligible to run in the next race in the Korea Premier Series, the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1). Winner’s Man did precisely that last year and was beaten, running 3rd behind Raon First and Simjangui Godong (who won the race in 2021). It remains the only Group 1 in the country (Korea Sprint aside) that eludes him. This year’s edition is at Seoul on Sunday November 19th and the 1 Billion Korean Won purse may prove very tempting. Trainer Choi Ki-hong confirmed as much: “We’re aiming for Winner’s Man to get a career Gland Slam of Korean Group 1’, so we will think about the President’s Cup.”
The season-ending Grand Prix Stakes (2300M KOR-G1) is a month later on Sunday December 17th.
The top-four local placegetters from September’s International Korea Cup will meet again at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday as the race towards the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes picks up full steam with the KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2).
Tuhonui Banseok holds two wins over Winner’s Man this year (Pic: KRA)
While Japan’s Crown Pride may have emphatically ended the chances of WINNER’S MAN retaining the Korea Cup that he won in 2022, the five-year-old led home the Korean challenge with a smart and fast finishing 3rd place, banishing any pre-race question marks over his fitness. Winner’s Man won the Herald Business Trophy over the same 2000M at Seoul in April and while he then suffered two setbacks, his Cup performance showed he is still to be taken seriously. He will probably start as favourite on Sunday.
The setbacks that Winner’s Man endured came in May and July in the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) and Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) both times at the hands of TUHUNUI BANSEOK. The Verrazano five-year-old entire made all for an emphatic win in the YTN before being passed late on by Winner’s Man in the Busan Mayor’s only to rouse himself again and fight back and win. He led the Korea Cup until the Japanese pair of Crown Pride and Gloria Mundi went past and ultimately finished in 6th place. The Bart Rice-trainee is not to be ruled out of overhauling Winner’s Man again.
SUCCESS MACHO won nine out of his first ten races but appeared to have been found out at the elite level. A ten-month layoff between last October and this June appeared to do him the world of good though as just second-up on his return, he won the Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) to claim his first Group success and then ran a strong 4th in the Korea Cup, just half a length behind Winner’s Man. With Franco Da Silva aboard, he will drop back and run on late.
The Korea Cup also marked a return to form for HAENGBOK WANGJA. The 2021 Grand Prix Stakes winner never really kicked on from that success and endured a challenging and fruitless trip to the Dubai World Cup Carnival earlier this year. He shrugged that off though with a strong 5th place in the Korea Cup, just a length off 3rd and almost two-lengths in front of Tuhonui Banseok, marking a welcome return to form.
SIMJANGUI GODONG and THE GUMPU were further back in the Korea Cup but back in just local company, both are entitled to have a say on Sunday.
The KRA Cup Classic is race 8 on an 11-race card at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.
A precocious, slightly uncontrollable, and still unbeaten grey two-year-old made his way into the winner’s circle as expected following the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, the first leg of the Juvenile Series at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. But it wasn’t Lala K, whose exploits in August’s Rookie Stakes went around the world. Instead, Nice Time was the grey who emerged with his reputation enhanced and unbeaten record intact.
Lala K can only manage 3rd as Nice Time defeats Eclipse Berry in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (Pic: KRA)
Last to first Rookie Stakes winner Lala K was sent off as favourite in the Munhwa Ilbo (1200M KOR-L). There was never any likelihood of the same kind of fireworks as in the Rookie Stakes, a situation that came about because of an unfortunate start leaving him a long way behind. This time, Lala K began well but from gate nine was quickly caught in no-man’s land four-wide. It was not a promising platform from which to launch any kind of challenge.
Outsider Gana Power led from the gate with Eclipse Berry joining him. Gana Power gave way at the top of the straight leaving the Rookie Stakes 3rd placegetter along with Vincero Cavallo out in front. The latter was quickly beaten and with Lala K struggling to go through the gears, it seemed Eclipse Berry was set to win.
Nice Time is another…eccentric…grey (Pic: KRA)
That was to reckon without Nice Time. Like Lala K, he came into the race two for two and was sent off as second favourite. Under Kim Dong-soo, he tracked Lala K in the early stages, also racing wide, before coming past on the turn and launching a late charge, catching, and passing Eclipse Berry in the shadow of the post.
Nice Time is by Overanalayze and is out of the Tenpins mare Country Club Sue. He was a KRW 105 Million purchase by his owner, Park Nam-sung, at last year’s KTBA October Sale. He is trained by Moon Byeong-ki, who only gained his license last year and was winning his first Listed race. For jockey Kim Dong-soo, it was a second big race win having won the Busan Ilbo Sprint on Silver Wolf in 2018.
As for Lala K, while he won’t be going viral this time, he may benefit from the experience of having been in the kickback for the first time. He still finished strongly for 3rd place and there is plenty more racing to come.
Busan also hosted its first leg of the Juvenile Series, the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes (1200M KOR-L). On the south coast the Rookie Stakes winner did oblige as filly Baekduui Kkum, sauntered to an easy victory.
Sent off as the odds-on favourite following her four-length score in August’s Rookie, this time it was even more straightforward for Baekduui Kkum. Franco Da Silva, who is enjoying a golden year in the saddle, stalked the early leader before briefly giving Badauui Kkum her head in the home straight and she didn’t need long to establish her superiority, cruising across the line five-lengths to the good of Doctor Kingdom, who also chased her home in the Rookie.
Baekduui Kkum and Franco Da Silva win the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes (Pic: KRA)
Baekduui Kkum is by Uncaptured and is out of the Discreet Cat mare Baekdu Cat. She was a KRW 30 Million purchase from the KTBA November 2022 sale by owner Hong Kyung-pyo, who is best known for top sprinter Ssonsal. She is trained by Lee Sang-young, also the current trainer of Ssonsal.
Seoul and Busan will also hold separate races for the second leg of the Juvenile Series on November 5th, the NACF Chairman’s Trophy at Seoul and the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy at Busan, both over 1200M. The best of the two track’s two-year-olds will then come together at Busan on December 10th for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) and a huge KRW 700 Million purse. Nice Time and Baekduui Kkum will surely be there, but will Lala K?
Next week the there is Stakes race action at Seoul on Sunday afternoon with the KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) with rivals Winner’s Man and Tuhonui Banseok set to clash once more.
Lala K, the striking grey two-year-old who shocked the world with his scarcely believable last to first run to win the Seoul Rookie Stakes in August, returns to action at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday as he seeks to maintain his 100% start to his career in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed), the capital track’s first leg of the Juvenile Series.
Lala K (Pic: KRA)
Although the overall race time was not especially quick, Lala K’s figures as he went from out of sight at the back to out of sight at the front in the Rookie Stakes certainly held up to scrutiny. He may have been running at tiring and inexperienced young horses, but his final furlong time was one-tenth of a second quicker than that clocked by Remake when the Japanese star set a new track record in the International Group 3 Korea Sprint two weeks later.
Don’t necessarily expect a repeat of those come from behind antics on Sunday though as Lala K’s extraordinary finish was only rendered necessary after he received a big bump coming out of the gate which put him a long way back. On his debut appearance over 1000M in July, he broke cleanly and sat in 2nd place before pulling away from the field to win comfortably and jockey Yoo Seung-wan will probably have little appetite to do things the hard way again as Lala K seeks to go three for three.
LALA K will be sent off as hot favourite in the Munhwa Ilbo with Rookie Stakes 3rd ECLIPSE BERRY perhaps the main danger. She overcame the same wide gate as today to get on pace and ran on well. Aside from Lala K the only other unbeaten horse in the race is NICE TIME. The Overanalyze colt won on debut over 1000M in August before following up with a victory at class 5 level at today’s distance when settling midfield and running on. He has shown a decent final furlong turn of speed – not Lala K speed – but he looks to have scope to get better.
HANGANG CROWN was sent off as favourite for the Rookie Stakes but after showing prominently early endured a dismal final furlong to ultimately finish last. She had previously shown good speed and will be given another chance by plenty. VINCERO CAVALLO ran out a seven-length winner at this distance to get his maiden win on September 16th and is another who has potential.
While only two come back to face Lala K from that Rookie Stakes, some pointers to how that form is holding up will come on Saturday. Runner-up Dalbitjogaksa, who led all the way under Lala K cleaned her up, goes in Saturday’s class 4 race 7 over 1400M. while 4th place Flying Star runs in race 6 also at 1300M at class 5. One race earlier on Saturday, 5th place Geosen Bangyeok goes in race 5, also at class 5 over 1300M. All three are likely to be sent off as favourite.
For all the attention lavished on Lala K, Busan’s equivalent Rookie Stakes was probably the better race although only three who come out of it are among the eight who will contest Sunday’s Areumdaun Jilju Stakes (1200M KOR-Listed), Busan’s equivalent race to the Munhwa Ilbo (the two tracks’ juveniles only come together for the final race of the series, the Breeders’ Cup at Busan in December). They are headed by the impressive winner, BAEKDUUI KKUM, who having been handy throughout, eased away from his rivals to score by four-lengths.
Baekduui Kkum will be a strong favourite to score again. That day’s runner-up DOCTOR KINGDOM returns for another crack while the Bart Rice trainee CONTROLLER, with a win and two placings from three outings so far, is given his chance. The potential main danger though is Thomas Gillespie’s YEONGGWANGUI GLORY, a winner of both his starts so far at 1000M and 1200M and who draws very nicely on the inside to get to the lead again.
The Munhwa Ilbo Trophy is race 8 on the 10-race Sunday card at Seoul and will be broadcast live on the KRA’s KRBC International YouTube channel.
The Areumdaun Jilju Stakes is race 6 on the 7-race Sunday card at Busan.
Munhwa Ilbo Trophy Selections: (9) Lala K (11) Eclipse Berry (10) Nice Time (2) Vincero Cavallo
Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong took on her elder filly and mare compatriots at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon and proceeded to dismantle them to win the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3), the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter series.
Jeulgeounyeojeong has plenty in hand in the Jeju Govenor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Having not only won all three jewels in the Tiara series with increasing ease, Jeulgeounyeojeong came into the race having dismissively swept aside a competent set of older male class 1 horses at Busan over the Jeju Governor’s distance of 1400M at the end of August. Accordingly, she was sent off as a prohibitive favourite ahead of the Park Jong-kon trained pair of Raon First and Raon The Spurt.
The odds were correct. While Raon The Spurt set the pace under Lim Gi-won, Franco Da Silva guided Jeulgeounyeojeong smoothly out of gate twelve to sit just outside the leaders and from then on it was a formality. Both “Raons” gave way early and Jeulgeounyeojeong ended up being chased home by outsiders Yeonhui Ilchul and Wonderful Kitty, crossing the line three-lengths to the good and with seemingly plenty in hand.
“After the first three-hundred metres, I was in a very good position, and I knew she was going to win” winning jockey Franco Da Silva told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “She’s very strong at the end so I wasn’t afraid of the draw. She’s proved that she’s a champion, coming back from the longer distance.”
Jeulgeounyeojeong and Franco Da Silva (Pic: KRA)
Quizzed on just how good Jeulgeounyeojeong is, with many comparing her favourably with leading three-year-old colt Global Hit (they haven’t raced), as well as on what is in her immediate future, Da Silva was non-committal: “She’s a horse that I just don’t know how good she is because she keeps improving. I don’t know what is next for the horse, I will talk with the trainer, and he will decide. If there is a longer distance race for the fillies only, it would be nice to take them on again.”
She still needs to figure out her best trip, although Da Silva was clear that needn’t be an issue for Jeulgeounyeojeong. “From 1000M to 2400M, she can win at any of them.”
If Jeulgeounyeojeong does indeed stick to racing against fillies and mares for the rest of this season, the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter Series is the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Busan on October 29th. The concluding race in the series is the newly established “Breeders’ Cup Queen” also at Busan on December 10th although with only Listed status and prize money to match, there may be other targets.
Racing now takes a one-week break in Korea for the Chuseok Thanksgiving holiday. It will return on Friday October 6th at Busan with Sunday October 8th seeing the first legs of the Juvenile Series at both Seoul and Busan – and the probable return of viral sensation, Lala K in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy. There is also a rare Monday card scheduled for Seoul on October 9th.
The Queens’ Tour returns for it’s Fall and Winter series and while the top-two from the Spring and Summer, Raon The Spurt and Raon First return, the Park Jong-kon trained pair will have to contend with a newcomer as Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong will join them in the starting gate in the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Jeulgeounyeojeong easily won the Triple Tiara (Pic: KRA)
JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG won the Luna Stakes (1600M) by just a nose, but she dominated both the Korean Oaks (1800M) and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M) to sweep all three jewels of the Tiara. Even more impressive perhaps was her return to Busan on August 27th when she crushed a field of solid older male class 1 horses over the same 1400M that she will face on Sunday. Back in restricted filly and mare company and with a three-year-old weight allowance, she may prove hard to beat.
Franco Da Silva will partner Jeulgeounyeojeong, just as he did in all three-legs of the Triple Tiara after stepping in as a late replacement for Seo Seung-un in the Luna Stakes and subsequently keeping the ride. It’s been a golden year for Da Silva, who is in second place in the Busan Jockey Premiership (behind Seo Seung-un) and he is closing in on Djordje Perovic’s all time record of winners for foreign jockeys in Korea.
Although she will start a strong favourite, Jeulgeounyeojeong may not have everything all her own way. RAON FIRST is the highest rated filly or mare in the country courtesy of her superb win in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) last November. She hasn’t won a race since, but she finished 2nd in the opening two legs of the Queens’ Tour Spring and Summer before beating Eoma Eoma on her way to 2nd behind Ssonsal in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint. It is this consistency that has her favoured over stablemate RAON THE SPURT, despite the latter beating her by six-lengths in May’s Ttukseom Cup over the same course and distance. That win was enough to see Raon The Spurt to enough points the claim the overall Spring and Summer series title, but she can mix her form.
The Raon pair are likely to be second and third in the betting market. They will be followed by a duo that have gone somewhat under the radar. YELLOW CAT is a lightly raced five-year-old, who defied big odds to run a solid 4th in the KNN Cup, the final leg of the Spring and Summer Series in June over a mile at Busan. She rarely runs a bad race and can be close. ILBEONJI steps into this company for the first time. She has won six of thirteen, most recently over 1400M at class 2 level in August, making all. She could step up.
EODIGANA, who won the first race of the Spring and Summer Series, the Donga Ilbo Trophy, returns but is racing for the first time since her 5th place in the Ttukseom Cup and faces a big ask first-up. Aside from Jeulgeounyeojeong, there is just one other three-year-old in the race. That’s RANUT, a winner of five from ten, runs in Graded Stakes company for the first time and has Moon Se-young aboard. She has been done no favours by the draw.
The Jeju Governor’s Cup is race 8 on an 11-race program at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.
Selections: (12) Jeulgeounyeojeong (6) Raon First (9) Raon The Spurt (15) Yellow Cat
It’s Korea Cup and Korea Sprint Day. The big features are races 7 and 8 on a 10-race card at Seoul which runs from 10:35 to 18:00. There are also 6 races at Busan from 11:50 to 17:00. Here are the previews:
Eoma Eoma will attempt to defend the Korea Sprint (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener with six of the ten racing for the first time. The exposed form isn’t great, so we’ll side with first timers. (4) SPALTA was much improved in the second of two trials, crossing the line in front having led all the way. The time wasn’t quick, but he did what he needed to and if he brings that form to the races, he has an excellent chance first-up. It’s a similar story with (7) DANCING GANGJA, who failed to qualify first time around but led all the way at his second attempt. He too didn’t post a fast time but won’t need to improve much to be competitive here. (10) HAMPYEONG JANGMI has raced twice, finishing 7th on both occasions. They were both at 1000M and he can improve third-up here. (8) GEUMAK STAR and (1) LADY CODI others with potential to get better.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maiden fillies. (8) SPECIAL FORCE will be a hot favourite, having only gone down narrowly on debut in a quick race over 1000M on August 12th when she was handy throughout. She previously made all in a trial and the step up in trip can suit. She is favoured to lead all the way this time. (6) ANYANG CHEONDUNG only really started to run on when the race was gone on debut over 1000M on August 13th. She should have come on for the run and may appreciate and extra furlong to get stuck into. (4) LOVE MUNMAK trialled up behind Special Force and then debuted behind Special Force, running 7th of eleven on August 12th. She began slowly but did find some late speed and with some more maturity and an additional furlong, she may go better. (5) HAPPY ICTUS and (3) WONDERFUL PAGO others who may improve.
Selections
(8) Special Force (6) Anyang Cheondung (4) Love Munmak (5) Happy Ictus
Next Best
3, 1
Fast Start
2, 3, 5, 8
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Wide open maiden. (3) COLITAS has mixed his form across six starts so far. He has a bit of a tendency to get too far back in his races, but he does run on. He draws well here and if Kim Yong-geun can have him in contention at the top of the straight, he has as much chance as any. (1) DINSI CHAMP and (8) EFFEL TAP came home 2nd and 4th respectively when they raced one another at this distance on August 12th. For Dinsi Champ that was a sharp improvement while Effel Tap is generally consistent, and both should be among the main chances here. (10) SHARP SUNSHINE is another who is unspectacular but consistent. She steps up to 1400M for the first time and can run into some money. (4) GRAND SILVER among others in the frame.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Two standouts in this maiden. (6) SKY JILJU will probably be favourite. He has raced twice so far, both at 1000M, improving in the second of them in terms of both time and finishing position. Both times he did his best work late suggesting that the step up in trip can suit. (5) MADE HEEMANG has also raced twice but in his case, over this distance. He too improved in the second of them, running 3rd and why Sky Jilju may have a little more potential for improvement at this stage, he can be a danger again. What form there is, drops off after this two but (4) LIGHT BROWN ran well enough on debut behind Sky Jilju over 1000M. She was slow away but ran on well and there could be some progress in the tank. (7) GREAT INDY and (9) DREAM BIGGER others who have hinted at ability.
Selections
(6) Sky Jilju (5) Made Heemang (4) Light Brown (7) Great Indy
Next Best
9, 2
Fast Start
2, 4, 6, 7
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Competitive race. (8) FLYING LIGHT is a form-mixer but based on his latest, when a strong 2nd at class and distance on July 23rd having overcome gate ten to settle midfield and run on well, he must be given a very good chance here. He can sit behind the speed again and run on. (4) SILVER BOOSTER beat a couple of today’s rivals on his way to 2nd place at this class over 1300M on August 12th. He comes up slightly in the weights, but draws well, and can be considered again. (10) GEUMSEONG SIDAE is yet to win in eleven starts but has finished in the top-four on no fewer than eight occasions including an on-pace 2nd over a mile last time out. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but with a little luck at the start can get to the front and should be in this a very long way. (1) STAR RUSH and (3) ARGO GONGJU among others in the hunt.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(3) COLONEL FLYING shapes as a warm favourite here. That’s based on his latest effort on August 20th when he came from well off the pace to run a very close 2nd at this distance, in the process recording a quicker time than any of the others here have done for the 1400M. He draws well and in this modest company, can win. (6) EONJENA YEONGUNG mixes his form, but he has also posted a quick time for the distance and with an apprentice claiming 3kg, he can go close today. (8) UNMATCHED was slow away last time before running 6th behind Colonel Flying. There is little in the way of early speed here so if she can get a better start, she may be able to get on pace and if she does, she has a chance. (9) BLUE CAVIAR and (4) MIRACULUM the best of a limited rest.
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Tricky one. (7) BIG BLED may not have the most attractive of names for a racehorse (with the greatest respect to Slovenian lakeside resort towns) but she has shown ability. She was a good winner in a quick time at 1200M at class 6 level two starts back before finishing midfield on her first try at this level on July 23rd. She likes to sit on or close to the pace and she can win here. (4) BEST CLONE is yet to score in eight but has a 4th and a 2nd in two tries at this class, both at 1200M. She’ll be on the speed here and she steps up to 1300M looking set to be close again. (11) TANGJA has plenty of experience at this class and has been a model of consistency of late, positing quick times at this distance. While he has the challenge of the widest gate and he may once more find one or two too quick, he will be there or thereabouts again. (1) V QUEEN and the up in class (5) SAEBYEOK ANGAE others in the hunt.
Horse Racing in Korea 