Jeulgeounyeojeong held off a determined late challenge from Raon Forest to win the Luna Stakes, the opening leg of the Triple Tiara (filly Triple Crown) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday.
Raon Forest finished the quicker but Jeulgeounyeojeong had already won (Pic: KRA)
Sent off as joint-favourite for the mile long first jewel, Jeulgeounyeojeong sat handy through the early stages as fellow favourite Raon Giant set the pace under Moon Se-young.
Raon Giant’s challenge would end early in the straight and it was Jeulgeounyeojeong who would take things up building a seemingly unbeatable lead in the final furlong, only for the striking grey Raon Forest, a stablemate of Raon Giant under the care of trainer Park Jong-kon to launch a blistering late run. It went to the judges but Jeulgeounyeojeong was the winner by a nose.
19/1 chance Magic Class was five-lengths adrift in 3rd while Raon Giant came home 4th.
Winning jockey Franco Da Silva was quick to acknowledge that he was fortunate to get the call up following a minor injury to declared jockey Seo Seung-un in trackwork.
“He (Seo Seung-un) got some back issue, and I was free for the race, so I was lucky. It’s a lucky winner for me.” Da Silva told in-house broadcaster KRBC.
Despite only picking up the ride at the last minute, Da Silva had a clear game plan: “I knew that number 5 (Raon Forest) and number 10 (Raon Giant) would be the best two horses and I was worried about the number 4 (Wonderful Week), I thought that she was quite nice. But I knew that they were going to be very fast, so my plan was to jump and just track the leaders and wait.”
“And everything was perfect. She jumped quite good, and I just had to control the pace and wait and take her out and she did her best until the line. I’m happy that she was 100% today.”
Such was the strong finish of Raon Forest that jockey Lim Gi-won raised his crop in seeming celebration and even the TV Producer zoomed in on the Seoul filly after the line instead of the actual winner. Da Silva was having none of it though:
“Right after the line I told that jockey that I had won.”
Jeulgeounyeojeong is by Colors Flying and is out of Says Ms Elizabeth (by Giacomo) and was bred by owners Nasca, of Eoma Eoma fame, at their farm. She is trained by Korea’s all-time leading trainer in terms of both wins and Group races, Kim Young-kwan. She moves onto four wins from ten starts.
The second leg of the Triple Tiara is the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2), also at Busan on June 4th and while Jeulgeounyeojeong will rightly be among the leading contenders, the way Raon Forest finished off the race may make her the favourite to turn the tables with an extra furlong to play with. The final leg of the Tiara is the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul on July 15th.
Next weekend it is the turn of the colts to kick off their Triple Crown with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) at Busan on Sunday.
Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. The cherry blossom festival may have come to a premature end, but there will still be plenty going on at the racecourse, including some very good foodtrucks on what is set to be a fine and dry weekend. Here are the previews:
New guest at the races this weekend (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens in the opener. (6) DONGHAENG FIRST is the one to beat having made steady progress from 4th to 2nd across three starts to date, most recently when coming from off the pace at this distance on February 18th. She was well beaten by a good winner but she won’t need to improve much on that to win today. (5) AMAN BAROWS is the logical danger. Her best is a 3rd over 1000M last November but she ran pleasingly enough for 4th on her latest outing at this distance on February 12th when drawn wide and slowly away. In a better gate here, she surely gets closer. (2) M J DAERO was an improved 3rd at start number two on February 25th. She draws well for the first time and should be in the mix. The two first-timers trialled up together on March 10th and both (4) DAONDI and (7) HAYAN TAEYANG put in pleasing performances and can go well first up.
Selections
(6) Donghaeng First (5) Aman Barows (2) M J Daero (4) Daondi
Next Best
7, 8
Fast Start
1, 2, 6, 9
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens and (9) K N GOLDEN KING will be a short-priced favourite. Having run 3rd on debut, he was then 2nd at start number two over this distance on March 11th when settling handy and finishing off well. Third-up he should be peaking and a similar run should be good enough to win this. (2) DAMJAENGI ARGO has shown improvement across three starts so far with a 4th place over this distance on March 19th her best. She gets in here very nicely with an apprentice claim and a good draw and she should be looking to go closer again. (4) ZEROBAEKFOUR managed a 2nd place two starts back when sent off as the longest shot on the board over this distance. She settled midfield before running on and almost got to the winner. She was slowly away on her latest appearance on February 18th but ran on fairly enough and she looks a place chance here. The form falls off after those three although (6) HAENGUN BARAM has been back to trial since her last run and looked a little better. By virtue of having the inside gate instead of the outside one he had on debut, (1) K VICTORY may also improve.
Selections
(9) K N Golden King (2) Damjaengi Argo (4) Zerobaekfour (6) Haengun Baram
Next Best
1, 5
Fast Start
2, 3, 4, 9
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden and there are a number of possibles. (6) MIGHTY ANN returns to action for the first time since last October. Her best to date is a 3rd place at this distance but she looked very well when winning a trial on March 17th, leading all the way around. That suggests that Jo In-kwon will be aiming to get the lead here and she should be in this a long way. (7) MUJANG shapes as the main danger. She comes in after back-to-back 4th place finishes at 1200M and 1300M and while her times have only been fair, she looks to have scope for more development and can get closer again here. (1) ARCH RUNNER led last time out over 1400M only to weaken late on. She should appreciate the drop back in trip and can be given another chance here. (11) HAMPYEONG FIGHTER and (10) BLUE KAISER others with at least minor money claims.
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Another maiden. (7) UDDUG probably warrants favourite status based on his last start 4th over 1700M. That was just his second start back following almost a year out and third-up this preparation he can be peaking fitness-wise and should also appreciate the drop back in trip. (9) SAEROUN BITKKAL comes in off a 4th place over 1400M on March 18th when settling back and running on. It wasn’t a quick race but I similar company here, he can settle back and pass plenty again. (6) MORNING FIVE has a 2nd place on his record, which she achieved last August. We need to draw a line through her latest but she’s had four months off since and comes in fresh here. (3) BEST PLAN and (10) TOGETHER WAY among others in the placing frame.
Selections
(7) Uddug (9) Saeroun Bitkkal (6) Morning Five (3) Best Plan
Next Best
10, 2
Fast Start
3, 5, 6, 10
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(9) BURUI KKOT remains a maiden following eleven attempts but she’s finished in the top five on no fewer than ten occasions, including twice as runner-up at this class and distance. She likes to be on pace or handy so may need a touch of luck at the start but there isn’t much speed on her inside here and so long as she can find a decent position, today can be her day. (1) COMPLETE LEADER is also a maiden but comes up in class here. He has only raced twice, finishing 2nd both times, both over 1200M. He comes down in the weights and comes into a good gate and he should measure up at this level. (2) SEONGSILGONGJUPINK ran only fairly when 7th of twelve last time out but going on her 2nd place two starts back at this class over 1200M, she has to be given a chance here. (5) GEUMSEONG SPEED was a big-priced 2nd at class and distance last time and can be had on a place line here. (4) WONPYEONG KILLAR is better than his latest two finishes suggest and back in trip can be given another chance.
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Small field but a tricky puzzle to solve. (2) RAON THE POINT was a useful all the way winner on debut over this distance on February 25th. He comes up in class but slightly down in weights and draws similarly well and we can take a chance on him maintaining his unbeaten record here. (5) SAENAE KHAN has finished no worse than 4th in five outings to date with his win coming over this distance two starts back at class 6 level. He ran 4th on his first try at this level on March 4th over 1300M when he overcame a poor start to run on. If he can get away better and be on pace here then he has strong claims. Like Raon The Point, (6) BULPAE BLADE is one for one and he did it in very similar fashion, leading every step of the wat over this distance on March 11th. He too comes down slightly in weight and he will surely be competitive in this company. (4) CHEONGGYE GISANG and (8) YONGCHEON JISANG, the former up in class after getting his maiden win last time and the latter up in weight after a narrow win at class and distance on March 12th, others to keep safe.
Selections
(2) Raon The Point (5) Saenae Khan (6) Bulpae Blade (4) Cheonggye Gisang
Next Best
8, 9
Fast Start
2, 4, 5, 6
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Another small but competitive field (7) DUSON FANTASTIC is probably the one to beat. He has plenty of experience at this level and ran well for a close 3rd at this class over 1200M on March 18th when settling midfield and running on. He has a strong finish on him and can settle just behind the early speed and prove too strong late on. (2) COWBOY TANGO comes up in class after a good win over this distance on March 11th when he came from well off the pace. He comes slightly down in weight and draws well, and while it is questionable how much scope for improvement he has, he should be able to hold his own in this company. (8) TIZ SUCCESS took a shy at the class 3 stumps last time out, albeit it in restricted filly and mare company, and gave a good account of herself. She stretches out to this distance for the first time and should go close from on the speed. (3) COLJOY is another who should be on the pace and can be in this a long way. (5) JEJUUI YOJEONG another to keep safe.
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) KINGS EYE will be hot favourite. He is yet to score in three attempts at class 4 and has been beaten favourite in two of those runs. However, he comes back slightly in trip here which should be in his favour and while he is up in weight, he can be on pace and lead all the way. (5) RALLY QUEEN comes up in class after a good win over 1200M in February when settling midfield and running on. She’s nicely weighted and drawn here and can go close again. (1) K N SKETCH has mixed his form at this class but we’ll forgive him his latest when he had to contend with the widest gate. Two starts back he ran a very close 2nd over 1400M and on that form he is right in this. (4) B.J. STORM and (3) ROYAL TAERI others to keep safe.
Selections
(7) Kings Eye (5) Rally Queen (1) K N Sketch (4) B.J. Storm
Next Best
3, 8
Fast Start
4, 7, 8, 9
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Back to the tricky ones here. (4) RAON CHAMPSELY ground out a class and distance win on March 5th in a race that was restricted to fillies and mares. She comes up in the weights here and takes on the boys, but that win was her first race for four months and she may well strip fitter here. A repeat isn’t impossible. (5) WONDERFUL KITTY may well be the betting favourite. She ran a super 3rd in the Jeju Governor’s Cup in the Queens’ Tour series last October and has consistently run fast times. She comes back to this trip for the first time since winning over it last July and under a light weight, she has very solid claims. (1) GRAY THOR was on pace but weakened over 1400M on his first try at this class on March 12th. He should be more comfortable back in trip and gets a good draw here. (10) SOBERANIA and (6) WHITE QUEEN came home 2nd and 4th behind Raon Champsely on March 5th, and both can be considered for places today.
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 90 Million
This is a very good race to conclude with. Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi combined for a pair of winners last week, and they could get another one here with (5) NAMSAN SIDAE. He overcame the widest gate to run on strongly for 2nd over a mile on March 19th and while he comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights, he is fourth up this preparation and today could be his day. (6) MIGHTY POP beat three of these when running on to snatch a narrow win at this class over 1800M on March 12th. He comes up 2kg as a result but a repeat is possible. Staying at the same weight is that day’s 3rd placegetter (1) HWANGGEUM LUCKY. He draws nicely, Moon Se-young stays aboard, and he could well start as favourite. (9) SEUNGBUSA and (3) JANGSAN MONSTER are among others firmly in this.
The winners of last year’s international Korea Sprint and Korea Cup both made their 2023 debuts on Sunday but while Eoma Eoma ran out a comfortable winner at Seoul, Winner’s Man could manage no better than 4th in the feature event of the afternoon at Busan.
Winner’s Man, who also won the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes to take his Group 1 tally to three, was sent off as the odds-on favourite for the class 1 1800M south coast feature. Always prominent, the five-year-old briefly struck the front under Seo Seung-un in the home straight but unlike in his big race wins, he failed to kick on and with half a furlong to go it was clear it wasn’t going to be his day.
Victory ultimately went to the Franco Da Silva ridden Flat Babe, runner-up in last November’s Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, with veteran King Of Glory rolling back the years with a fast finishing 2nd and Tuhonui Banseok, 3rd in the Grand Prix edging out Winner’s Man in a photo for 4th.
A five-year-old mare by Flat Out, Flat Babe has been something of a revelation in the last few months, rapidly moving from a solid but unspectacular class 3 campaigner to class 1 winner in the space of four races since being upped to racing around two turns. She looks set to be a serious contender in this year’s Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares.
As for Winner’s Man, connections pointed afterwards to it being the first time he had carried 60kg in a race – he was giving 8kg to the winner – in addition to him racing at his heaviest ever bodyweight of 550kg – up 18kg since the Grand Prix. Winner’s Man’s anticipated next run will be in the Herald Business Trophy (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on April 16th. There he will renew his rivalry with Raon The Fighter, so impressive last week in his own seasonal opener.
Perhaps it was because of Winner’s Man’s performance earlier in the afternoon, as well as the disconcerting sight of regular jockey Moon Se-young’s name next to another horse, that led to Eoma Eoma being sent off at better than even money for his first outing as a six-year-old at class 1 over 1200M at Seoul.
With the race under handicap conditions, Eoma Eoma would, like Winner’s Man, have been assigned 60kg but trainer Song Moon-gil opted to use apprentice O Su-cheol and take advantage of his 2kg claim. Moon Se-young accordingly climbed aboard Jangsan Laser who was strongly backed into a close second-favourite.
Those who kept faith with Eoma Eoma were rewarded as Algorithms entire was quick out of the gate to be on the early speed with East Jet, racing very keenly and pulling hard. Apprentice O Su-cheol kept his cool though and once he let Eoma Eoma stride out in the home straight, the US-bred sped away for a three-length win with his rivals always at arm’s length.
The next five home were separated by just a length with Moon and Jangsan Laser in 2nd while the venerable Morfhis ran 3rd with a typical Morfhis late run. The victory, Eoma Eoma’s fourteenth in total, completed a treble on the day for apprentice O Su-cheol, who may not get the call once the star horse returns to Group racing, but enjoyed surely the best day of his career so far.
That next run for Eoma Eoma is likely to be the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on the south coast on April 2nd.
Raon The Fighter opened his five-year-old campaign with a statement performance, crushing a hopelessly outclassed Class 1 field over 1800M at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Sent off as a prohibitive favourite under the lights in what was the final race of the day as dusk fell across the capital, Raon The Fighter was quickly in command of the twelve-strong field and had opened up a big lead even before the home straight, with the rest unable to match his tempo. Asked for a brief effort by Lim Gi-won, who was partnering him for the first time, the Bayern entire was then eased in the final stages, crossing hte line ten-lengths to the good of The Gumpu in 2nd place.
The Gumpu just about gets in shot after Raon The Fighter crossed the line
Runner-up in both the Korea Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes, the goal for Raon The Fighter in 2023 is to win a Group 1 race, and to achieve that, he is going to have to overcome the horse who beat him on both those occasions, Winner’s Man. The 2022 Horse of the Year is slated to make his first start of the year at Busan next Sunday.
Assuming that Raon The Fighter remains targeted at staying races as opposed to dropping back to the sprinting distances (at which he is still probably the best horse in the country, even including Eoma Eoma), the first race in which he and Winner’s Man could conceivably meet is the Herald Business Trophy (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on Sunday April 16.
Wow Wow came from off the pace to score a 46/1 upset in the Segye Ilbo Trophy at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, leaving the green colours of the hotly fancied “Raon” pair, Raon First and Raon The Spurt, back down the track behind him.
Wow Wow came from off the pace to win the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy under Song Jae-chul (Pic: KRA)
After a year where owner Son Chun-soo’s Raon stable had dominated, his progressive four-year-old filly Raon The Spurt, was sent off as favourite for the Segye Ilbo (1200M KOR-Listed), the first Stakes race on the 2023 calendar, with stablemate and President’s Cup winner Raon First second in the market, ahead of Jeju Governor’s Trophy winning mare Wish Me.
While Raon First was slow out of the gate, Raon The Spurt cruised into the lead alongside fellow Group winner East Jet. But on a rare day at Seoul where the track was not kind to front-runners – nine of the eleven winners on the card emerged from the rear – the leaders were in trouble entering the straight and by the furlong pole, both had wilted.
Raon First launched a home straight challenge through traffic but the longshot pair of Wow Wow and Jangsan Laser were quicker, flashing down the outside with Wow Wow, who had settled right back in the pack in the early exchanges, coming home a length-and-a-quarter to the good. Raon First was 3rd.
With the race being restricted to Korean-bred runners, the Nasca organization’s Korea Sprint winning star Eoma Eoma was ineligible but they also own Wow Wow, a four-year-old colt by Cowboy Cal and out of the Forest Camp mare Jjak Kkung, who did her racing in Korea, winning six of twenty-six starts.
Wow Wow was on last year’s Classic trail and overcame gate fifteen to run 5th in the Korean Derby before an indifferent run in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup. Before Sunday, the highest level he had won at was class 4. He is trained by Song Moon-gil and was ridden by Song Jae-chul, who was winning just his third Stakes race after successes in the YTN Cup (then not a group race) in 2015 on Areumdaun Donghaeng and then guiding Saenae Town to victory in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy last November.
There are no Listed or Graded races in Korea in February, with the next big events on the calendar the three-year-old Classic trials at Seoul and Busan on March 19.
Sunday racing is at Seoul (11 races from 10:40 to 18:00) and at Busan (6 races from 11:05 to 15:40). A reminder there is no racing next weekend due to the Lunar New Year holiday so it is big fields all around. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies in the opener. (1) TIZ INDY has run twice for 2nd and 4th over 1000M both in good times. She comes up in trip for the first time but draws very nicely and she has every chance. (5) SAENAE VIVA debuted without distinction in August but looked a much better proposition when returning on December 3rd and running 3rd when handy throughout. She can get closer today and that can mean overturning the form on (11) JEONGSANG LUCKY. The latter overcame the same wide draw to run 2nd in that December 3rd race and while she may need a touch of luck again, she shouldn’t be ruled out. Also done no favours by the draw is (12) DASI TAEEONADO. She has a 2nd place to her name over 1000M and ran on pleasingly enough for 5th last time out at 1200M. (2) SEMYEONG LADY is among others with the potential to improve.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old filly maidens. The most experienced in the race is (10) DOCTOR SHARK and she’s the one that gets the pick. She secured back-to-back 3rd place finishes over 1000M and 1200M in October and November before running 5th over 1400M when drawn in the widest gate last time out on December 16th. The draw isn’t kind here either, but she may have too much. (12) WONDERFUL PHONE came from off the pace to run 2nd behind a good winner on debut on December 23rd. The way she finished off that day suggests the additional trip can suit and she will probably start as favourite. (7) SKY MOUNTAIN was an on-pace 4th on debut on December 9th over 1000M. She should have derived benefit from that experience and can be there or thereabouts today. (6) STREET ROCK didn’t do much on debut but comes in here under a very light weight and can improve. It’s a similar story with (1) TOO CUTE GIRL, who draws much better than on debut.
Selections
(10) Doctor Shark (12) Wonderful Phone (7) Sky Mountain (6) Street Rock
Next Best
1, 11
Fast Start
7, 8, 10, 11
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens with six of the twelve racing for the very first time. We’ll side with experience and (2) GEOMIBULU. After winning a November trial, she was installed as favourite for her debut appearance over 1000M on December 11th when she sat midfield in a small field and ran on for 2nd place. She was well beaten by a good winner, but the run was encouraging enough for her to warrant another chance on top here. Among the first timers (11) SAEBYEOK ANGAE could be the best. She improved significantly in her second trial, running on well and can be set for a bold showing first up. (7) DONGHAENG FIRST debuted promisingly enough on December 17th running 4th over 1000M. She should have derived benefit from that and build on it here. Both (3) NAVY CHROME and (6) THUNDER BLUE return to action for the first time since July. Both trialled well and can be considered first-up.
Selections
(2) Geomibulu (11) Saebyeok Angae (7) Donghaeng First (3) Navy Chrome
Next Best
6, 9
Fast Start
2, 3, 7, 9
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(7) PHANTOM ACE is yet to win in eleven attempts but has been getting closer in recent outings with a 2nd and a 3rd in his latest two, both at this distance. With an apprentice claiming 4kg he is very nicely weighted here, and it could be his day. (2) MULTI HIT comes in off a 4th place at start number two at this distance on December 11th when handy throughout. He draws well again and can be dangerous here. (1) YEONGGWANGUITUHON has run fairly in all three appearances to date including a spin around in the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy. From a great draw, he should be right in this. (5) CHEERFUL LIFE can build on his debut5th place over 1000M when breaking fairly before going right back and running on. He draws better today and should be better for the run. (8) GLOBAL SKY among others with the potential to improve.
Selections
(7) Phantom Ace (2) Multi Hit (1) Yeonggwanguituhon (5) Cheerful Life
Next Best
8, 11
Fast Start
5, 6, 8, 12
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Three-year-old filly maidens. It’s fair to say that (12) CHEONJON CHAT has mixed her form across six starts so far but she gets the nod here based on her last start 2nd place over this distance on December 18th when she was on pace and finished in a time quicker than any of the others have managed for the distance. She draws wide but with a touch of luck at the start, she’ll be the one to beat. (6) RAON CITY GIRL comes up in trip for the first time. She too has mixed her form, but she did post a very quick time over 1000M when 3rd in November. She should be on pace here and the additional furlong can suit. (4) TANSAN comes in after a best finish to date of 3rd place in that December 18th race when settling slightly worse than midfield and finishing well. She has five-lengths to make up on Cheonjon Chat but can get closer with a much better draw. (2) BLUE ARCH and (5) SEOULEUL NALDA among others in at least the placing frame.
Selections
(12) Cheonjon Chat (6) Raon City Girl (4) Tansan (2) Blue Arch
Next Best
5, 8
Fast Start
2, 6, 7, 12
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(11) FINAL SEVEN overcame gate ten to get on pace and run 2md behind Young Boss on his first try at this class over 1400M on December 16th. He steps up to a mile for the first time today but looks a progressive type with just four starts behind him and an apprentice jockey aboard brings his weight right down. (8) CHANGCHANG DAERO also steps up to a mile for the first time. He has only raced four times but has a smart win over 1200M as well as a last start 3rd at this class over 1400M to his name. He looks to have scope for more. (9) GREEN PAPAGO has beaten a few of these in her latest appearances, all at a mile. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can be a big factor here. (3) QUEEN OF SPIRIT, who beat Changchang Daero at 1400M last time out, and (7) QUEEN STAR among plenty of others capable of placing.
Selections
(11) Final Seven (8) Changchang Daero (9) Green Papago (3) Queen Of Spirit
Next Best
7, 1
Fast Start
2, 8, 10, 11
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
There isn’t much positive form here. (4) SUBAL DORIANG come sin off a 2nd place over this distance on December 17th when handy throughout. It continued a pattern of him getting closer and is enough to put him on top here. (12) MY GONGJU was touch disappointing when stepped up to 1700M last time and well backed. Drawn wide he was unable to find a position on the short run to the first turn and scarcely figured. Go on his previous start at this trip though and he is firmly in this. (7) DESIRE TO WIN came home in 4th place behind Subal Doriang in that December 17th race. He has steadily improved across four starts so far and if he can maintain that momentum, can be in the mix here. (2) GHOST CHARM and (8) EFFEL TAP among others in the hunt.
After a campaign of mainly coming off second-best when it really counts, Raon The Spurt finally got her reward in the shape of a big Group race win as she dominated the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Busan on Sunday afternoon, securing the final leg of the Queens’ Tour for herself and the overall series title for stablemate Raon First.
Raon The Spurt and Choi Bum-hyun have time to celebrate (Pic: KRA)
Golden Power won all three legs of the Triple Tiara, with Raon The Spurt trailing her home in 3rd in the Luna Stakes and then 2nd in both the Korean Oaks and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. Since the end of that series Raon The Spurt had maintained her form better, winning back-to-back races at 1800M and 1200M before running second to Wish Me in the Jeju Governor’s Cup and punters accordingly sent her off as the favourite as the three-year-old pair faced off with their seniors.
Those favourite backers never had a moment’s cause for concern as Raon The Spurt broke well from the plum draw of gate three and quickly got to the lead. Jockey Choi Bum-hyun was able to set a tempo to suit and it proved too hot for the rest as Raon The Spurt cruised to a six-length win in a very fast time.
As for Golden Power, she began as second favourite, but at no stage did she look a danger, settling back and making it up to fifth in the home straight before ultimately weakening and crossing the line in ninth.
Jeju Governor’s Cup track-record breaker Wish Me was sent off as third-favourite and under Antonio Da Silva, was hurried along from her nightmare draw of gate sixteen to loop the field and take the early lead. That gamble was her only chance of prevailing and the question was how long she would stay on after such an early effort over an unfamiliar distance. She ran gamely but would ultimately run out of steam in the home straight, finishing seventh.
Calm Strong, the KNN Cup winner, also drew a poor barrier for a front-runner, having to navigate to the front from gate fourteen and while she was able to race prominently throughout the back straight, she was one of the first to be beaten.
Stepping up to get closest to the winner on the line were 19/1 chance Flat Babe, who settled back under Franco Da Silva and gradually improved as the race went on. She came home in second-place, two-and-a-half lengths clear of Eodigana, a Smarty Moonhak filly who won over the distance in last year’s Triple Tiara final leg. She set off in excess of 80/1.
Raon The Spurt is by Raon’s own stallion Musket Man and out of Japanese-bred mare Tomiken Spring (by Suzuka Mambo). Owned by her breeder, Son Chun-soo of Raon, she is trained by Park Jong-kon. Her victory propels Musket Man to the top of the Leading General Sire rankings despite having just 274 starters throughout 2022 compared to 899 for now second-placed Cowboy Cal. It’s not necessarily only Musket Man’s influence, but also Raon’s attention to early pre-training on their uphill track at their Jeju training centre staffed with not only some very good local, but some skilled overseas grooms too, that is coming together to pay huge dividends.
So Raon The Spurt won the race and Raon First the series for Son Chun-soo and his Raon organization. Raon First is expected to head to the Grand Prix Stakes on December 11th, where she will be joined by Raon The Fighter, the Korea Cup runner-up and KRA Cup Classic winner. The latter is then scheduled for a tilt at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. The Raon Empire is building momentum.
Next weekend, the Champion Juvenile will be crowned with the running of the Breeders’ Cup (1400M KOR-G2) at Busan. Then on December 11th it’s the traditional final Group 1 of the season, the Grand Prix Stakes (2300M KOR-G1), with Raon going in with both barrels, at Seoul Racecourse.
The juvenile filly division had their big day at Seoul and Busan on Sunday and Raon Giant and Doctor Oscar both ran out dominant winners of their respective track’s feature races.
Raon Giant spread the field out in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (Pic: KRA)
Raon Giant was only sent off as second favourite for the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (1200M Listed) at Seoul with punters giving the previously unbeaten Fire Girl the nod at the top of the market.
Fire Girl wouldn’t play much of a role though as Raon Giant quickly looped across from gate ten to seize the initiative under Moon Se-young and opened up a lead that she never looked like relinquishing. Fire Girl was close in the early stages, as was the well-supported Global Changa, but they couldn’t keep up with the tempo Raon Giant set and she was ultimately three-lengths to the good at the line.
Furiosa, a 50/1 chance, ran on from the back for a fast-finishing 2nd while Medici Wolf, who had taken a sit behind the early pace, ran on solidly for a creditable 3rd. Raon Giant moved on to three wins from four starts.
Trained by Park Jong-kon and bred by her owners, Raon Giant is by Raon’s own stallion Musket Man and out of Raon Bold (by Big Brown). Raon Bold was a $65,000 purchase from the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2011 and did her racing in Korea, winning three times. Raon Giant is her third foal to make the racecourse with the other two, Raon Beat and Raon The Teukgeup both winners too.
The widest drawn filly at Busan also ended up victorious in the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy (1200M Listed).
Doctor Oscar was overlooked for favourite status in part for having drawn gate fourteen while the highly thought-of Atlas, third in last month’s Areumdaun Jilju Stakes against the colts, had the benefit of gate two.
Doctor Oscar was an easy winner at Busan (Pic: KRA)
Under Choi Si-dae, Doctor Oscar made extremely light of being drawn in the car park and sat handy early before taking things up approaching the first corner. She shrugged off early challengers Hansen Cod Girl and Dream Of Queen and ran on to match Raon Giant with a comfortable three-length score. 25/1 chance Magic Class was 2nd while Atlas was 3rd.
Doctor Oscar is by Old Fashioned and is out of Jangsan Yeoje (by Peace Rules) a Korean-bred who won three races. She is a “full” sister to Doctor Fashion, a winner of seven from nineteen races. She was bred by Lee Yong-dae of Youngmun Farm and was purchased by owner Kwon Hyeok-hui for 45 Million Won at the 2021 KTBA October yearling sale.
Next weekend it’s the turn of the older fillies and mares with the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Busan on Sunday. While the nation’s top mare, Raon First won’t be there following her President’s Cup heroics last week, Raon will be represented by Raon The Spurt. Triple Tiara winner Golden Power will also be in attendance while KNN Cup winner Calm Strong and Wish Me, who won the the Jeju Governor’s Cup in track-record breaking style, are among others scheduled to be in the starting gate.
Juvenile fillies take centre stage on Sunday at both Seoul and Busan with the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy in the capital and the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy on the south coast providing a stiff test as well as a big prize for next year’s Triple Tiara hopefuls.
Raon First won the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy in 2019. Can stablemate Raon Giant repeat? (Pic: KRA)
The Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup (1200M Listed) was last run in 2019 when it was won by Raon First. That year, the race was open to all juveniles, irrespective of sex or of where they were bred and Raon First crushed them, scoring by six-lengths. She would go on to dominate the filly and mare ranks for the next two years before returning to take on the boys when 3rd in the Korea Sprint and then last Sunday, winning the President’s Cup.
With just her Korean-bred contemporaries to contend with this time, another Musket Man filly and stablemate of Raon First, RAON GIANT has strong claims to take out this year’s edition of the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy. She has raced three times so far, winning two of them by big margins and her only defeat came at the hands of older horses.
Raon Giant likes to race forward, and despite being drawn the widest of ten, she can carry the green Raon colours home to another big race win. Moon Se-young, who last week had to settle for chasing Raon First home in 2nd place aboard Simjangui Godong in the President’s Cup, will be aboard.
It’s a tough race though. FIRE GIRL is unbeaten in two starts and has equally solid chances. At her second appearance on October 2nd, she overcame an awkward start before settling midfield and running on to win by an impressive five-lengths in a quick time. She seems set for a big show again.
Raon First, the only mare in the race, produced a home stretch burst up the inside to leave defending champion Simjangui Godong and Korea Cup winner Winner’s Man behind and score a sensational win in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old is the first mare to win the race in its eighteenth year.
Raon First and Choi Bum-hyun win the President’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Coming in off his remarkable triumph in the international Korea Cup in September, Winner’s Man was sent off as the restrictive odds-on favourite for what is the most valuable race of the year that is restricted to horses bred in Korea. Last year’s winner Simjangui Godong was second in the market, ahead of Heunghaeng Jilju and the three-year-old Captain Yankee. Raon First was fifth in the betting but that was at 30/1, such was the market skewed towards Winner’s Man.
More renowned as a sprinter, Raon First ran 3rd in the Korea Sprint over 1200M the day Winner’s Man won the Korea Cup. But Raon First had raced at 1800M in the past, winning a Class 2 handicap in May of 2021 in addition to harvesting the Listed Donga Ilbo Trophy in restricted company against hopelessly outclassed fellow fillies and mares who she would probably beat at any distance from the minimum up to two miles earlier this year.
It wasn’t close. (Pic: KRA)
She had never tackled 2000M though and she had never faced anything like Winner’s Man around two-turns. Yet she beat him with ease. Settling handy instead of leading, jockey Choi Bum-hyun kept Raon First on the fence, saving ground the entire way around as outsider Jangsan Laser set a tough pace up front, matched by Winner’s Man and in the early stages, by Captain Yankee.
That shape would remain unaltered until the home straight when Captain Yankee quickly folded while Simjangui Godong loomed up to threaten. Staying on the fence, Raon First stole a couple of lengths on the turn and was quickly to the fore, hitting the front with just over 300M to go. It was then that the challenge from Winner’s Man was expected. It came, as did that from Simjangui Godong but any hope they had as quickly extinguished as the mare built up an unassailable lead a long way from home.
Raon First crossed the line two-lengths ahead of Simjangui Godong, who was himself a length and a quarter ahead of Winner’s Man in 3rd. The very game Jangsan Laser was a revelation in 4th, but Captain Yankee, also on pace early, found it hard to cope with the pace and finished back down the field.
Raon First has always done things a little quirkily. She came to prominence in her juvenile season in 2019 when instead of entering the traditional Juvenile Series races, she was pointed to the race that was open to imported juveniles (she is a product of Musket Man and Pink Candy, who both arrived in Korea in January 2016). She duly won it in fine style. Since then, she has mostly been kept in filly and mare company for her Group race appearances – understandable given her superiority and the value of the purses – but after an out of character but excusable well back finish in the KNN Cup at Busan, she has been let loose in the really big races. She moves on to twelve wins from twenty-one starts and six of her last eight.
It was a first President’s Cup win for veteran jockey Choi Bum-hyun and also for trainer Park Jong-kon.
Simjangui Godong ran his usual strong race in 2nd and as for Winner’s Man, who suffered his first defeat in 2022 after six consecutive wins it was a first defeat of 2022.
Horse Racing in Korea 