Global Hit sealed his status as the nation’s top three-year-old as the Korean Derby winner produced another late surge up the inside to win the Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday evening.
Global Hit beats stablemate Speed Young in the Minister’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Sent off as third favourite in a full field of sixteen, Global Hit was unable to get to a forward position coming out of the gate when Uptown Whiz drifted in front of him. Instead, jockey Kim Hye-sun had to be patient and settle the Derby winner in midfield as Dokki Bulpae and betting favourite Naol Sniper set the pace.
Global Hit steadily improved as the field made their way down the backstraight and joined the leaders as they turned for home. Once in the straight, Global Hit quickly accounted for Naol Sniper and Dokki Bulpae and was left with only stablemate Speed Young to see off. This he did with a final furlong burst of speed that saw him cross the line two-lengths to the good. As ever late on the scene, Nut Play came home 3rd a full seven-lengths further in arrears.
“I am really happy. Global Hit is a very good horse and he proved that the Derby wasn’t just luck” winning jockey Kim Hye-sun told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “I don’t really think I gave him due credit in my interview after the Derby, but I expected him to win this time. He has so much talent, and while his legs are not the strongest, the stable staff did such a good job in managing him and allowing him to show his ability.”
Asked about the start when Uptown Whiz crossed, impeding Global Hit from getting their desired position and whether it forced her to change tactics, Kim said she noted it. “As we came out the gap narrowed, I hesitated a little but decided not chase it, so we settled back a little bit further than planned, but ultimately it didn’t matter.”
Pic: KRA
For trainer Bang Dong-suk, it was a remarkable one-two with last year’s champion juvenile Speed Young running a redemptive race following lacklustre showings in both the Cup Mile and the Derby.
“I have to praise my jockeys.” Bang told KRBC. “They were great, but this is a whole team effort by everyone back at the stable. They worked hard to prepare this.” As for the future, the trainer was non-committal: “Global Hit has been through a lot with his legs, but they are both young and I am looking forward to what’s next.”
Jockey You Hyun-myung rode Speed Young to win the Breeders’ Cup and following a lengthy spell out after a bad injury in a race fall, was reunited with him in the Minister’s Cup. “The staff had told me he was back in form, and they were right. Global Hit was just too strong in the last 200M.”
Global Hit is by To Honor And Serve and is out of Tammy’s Victress (by Yankee Victor). With the win he moved on to five wins from seven starts.
Success Macho finally delivered on his early promise and got a Stakes win on the board as he came through late to beat Yes Perfect by a head to win the Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Success Macho (left) beats Yes Perfect in the Busan Owners’ Cup (Pic: KRA)
In a race devoid of big-name headliners, Daehan Jilju was sent off as favourite, somewhat surprisingly at odds-on among the sixteen-strong field. He would attempt to lead from gate to wire but favourite, who has shown his best at shorter distances, was quickly beaten once they reached the home straight. Success Macho meanwhile was ridden patiently and wide by jockey You Hyun-myun, who was returning to action after a four-month injury absence and the pair stormed through late to beat fellow fast-finisher Yes Perfect, with Heunghaeng Jilju in 3rd.
“(Success Macho) doesn’t like kickback and over the 1600M there are two very long straights” winning jockey You Hyun-myung told KRBC. “During the race, I wanted to go nearer to the fence, but I followed the trainer’s instructions to stay out of the kickback.”
Success Macho, a five-year-old gelding by Macho Uno, who was imported in-utero, made an electrifying start to his career, winning nine of his first ten starts with his only defeat in that period coming in this race in 2021. But while he ran 6th in last year’s Korea Cup, he suffered an injury that kept him off the track from last October to this June when he returned underwhelmingly, only beating two home over the same mile distance at class 1 level.
“His last race was his first back after a long break and while I didn’t have high expectations that day, he was even worse than I expected but he needed that” trainer Min Jang-gi told KRBC. “He is small, but he is robust, and he doesn’t want to give in. The jockey knows him very well and he knew what to do, and it all came off.”
That You Hyun-myung was returning to action following a shattered collarbone in a fall earlier this year. He had already been on the scoresheet on Friday winning race 1 on his first ride back. He had ridden Success Macho in eight of his nine previous wins.
“The horse wasn’t doing terrific during trackwork, but the owner had so much faith in him, so we are happy to win” You continued. And on his own situation: “To my fans, I am back now, and I pledge to do my best.”
Trainer Min was non-committal about Success Macho’s next assignment. “I am not really keen to run him in handicaps because after this his rating will go up so I will see if I can find some more suitable feature races.”
With defending champion. Winner’s Man seemingly joining Raon The Fighter on the absentee list for the Korea Cup, another trip to Seoul on international weekend could therefore be on the cards for Success Macho as while he is unlikely to trouble the Japanese visitors, he would have a real shot at some lucrative minor prize money.
Next weekend the Triple Tiara (filly Triple Crown) concludes with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) which, unusually for Korean Stakes races, will be run at Seoul on Saturday as part of the first weekend of twilight racing when the card will run from 2pm to 9pm.
For the second year in a row, Calm Strong was sent off in excess of 20/1 in the KNN Cup, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring and Summer Series for fillies and mares. And for the second year in a row, she made a mockery of those odds, racing home in front to complete a year on year double while hot favourite Raon The Spurt was back down the track in a disappointing 7th.
Calm Strong wins the KNN Cup for the second year in a row (Pic: KRA)
Last year Calm Strong made all, holding off the fast finishing Wish Me by a neck while the odds-on Raon First started slowly and then briefly threatened before wilting. This time around, the favourite – another Raon – Raon The Spurt got a beautiful start and looked to have the race fully under control as the field headed into the straight.
Once in sight of home, Choi Bum-hyun pulled the trigger on the favourite. And nothing happened. It quickly became apparent that today was not to be Raon The Spurt’s day and Calm Strong, who had settled stalking her, took up a lead she wouldn’t relinquish. The fast-finishing Mahameru came home 2nd, three-quarters of a length in arrears while Gangseo Giant, the only three-year-old in the race, was 3rd. Longshot Yellow Cat, under a first Busan ride for Kim Tae-hui, was an excellent 4th.
Since last year’s triumph, Calm Strong had only won one more race and that was her first one back, last August (the KNN was run in July last year) at class 2 level. Those consecutive wins saw her rating rise rapidly from the low sixties into the mid-eighties and accordingly into class 1 level where life has been hard for her, a good 3rd place over 1200M two starts back notwithstanding. She led the 1st leg of this series, the Donga Ilbo Trophy at Seoul in April, before weakening for 9th, and entered the KNN hard to back despite the drop in trip.
“It was difficult around the turn of year because she had a cracked hoof that was hard to get right” trainer Kang Hyoung-gon explained to in-house broadcaster KRBC. “But that has now cleared up completely and she’s also a more mature filly now. To be honest, I thought we were going to be caught (in the closing stages) but she showed good spirit.”
Jockey Lee Hyo-sik added: “Calm Strong needs early speed and a forward position. We had planned three possible scenarios for the race and the best of them worked out. We knew Raon The Spurt was the danger but she had a bad day today and Calm Strong just ran better.”
Calm Strong is an American-bred four-year-old by Bayern (who now stands in Korea) and is out of Diva’s Seastar (by Broken Vow). She was imported to Korea as a yearling in December 2020 and is owned by Lee Hae-lan. It was her fifth win on her seventeenth start.
For winning trainer Kang Hyoung-gon, it was a fourth Group race win. In additional to Calm Strong’s success in this race last year, he has also won two legs of the Triple Crown: Soseuldaemun in the 2011 KRA Cup Mile, and Rock Choice in the Minister’s Cup in 2019.
Winning jockey Lee Hyo-sik only returned from his mandatory national service earlier this year. It was his second Group win having partnered King Socks to victory in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup. “I’m just three months back from the military,” he said afterwards, “Every jockey wants to win Group races and I am happy to repay the fans who believe in me. I will always do my best for the fans.”
Calm Strong and Lee Hyo-sik (Pic: KRA)
The Queens’ Tour now moves into its “Fall & Winter” phase. That series begins with the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Seoul on September 24th, followed by the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) and then a new race, the Breeders’ Cup Queen (1800M Listed), both at Busan, on October 29th and December 10th respectively.
Next week the focus stays at Busan and a real three-way heavyweight match-up. Winner’s Man takes on Raon The Fighter and Tuhonui Banseok in the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M) KOR-G2) in what sees Korea’s three main hopes for September’s international Korea Cup (in Raon The Fighter’s case, possibly the Korea Sprint) face off.
Winner’s Man is the defending champion as well as the reigning Korea Cup champion, but Tuhonui Banseok beat him by a full eleven-lengths in a career defining performance in the YTN Cup at Seoul in May. Meanwhile, Raon The Fighter, runner-up in last year’s Korea Cup had been targeted at the Sprint Series this campaign but a bout of colic delayed his return to work by two weeks and he wasn’t ready for the most recent short distance prize. He therefore renews hostilities with Winner’s Man and it makes for a fascinating race.
Jeulgeounyeojeong stamped her absolute authority over the three-year-old filly division as she progressed from her narrow win in the Luna Stakes to a commanding performance in the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2), the second leg of the Triple Tiara, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
(Pic: KRA)
The top two from the Luna, Jeulgeounyeojeong and Raon Forest, were sent off close together at the top of the local betting market at 2.4 and 2.8 respectively with no other filly starting in single digits. From gate seven, Jeulgeounyeojeong broke fairly under Franco Da Silva, who had been a late replacement before the Luna but after a polished steer, kept the ride for the Oaks. Raon Forest, who went right to the rear in April before finishing like an express train, was this time ridden handily by Lim Gi-won, while Luna 3rd Magic Class set the pace under Park Jae-i.
Magic Class would lead all the way into the home straight, but her challenge quickly wilted as Jeulgeounyeojeong and Raon Forest loomed up with just over a furlong to run. It looked for a moment as though battle was to be joined but instead the final stages proved a formality as Jeulgeounyeojeong cruised away for a four-length win with Raon Forest unable to land a single blow. The revelation of the race was Luigi Riccardi’s Wonderful Slew, who ran a big 3rd, just a further half-length back.
“This time around, she was much better than the last time, so I was very confident” winning jockey Franco Da Silva told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “It was just a matter of controlling the pace. Before the race, I was very relaxed as I knew I was on the best horse.”
Jeulgeounyeojeong and Franco Da Silva salute (Pic: KRA)
Da Silva, who completed a double in the marquee three-year-old races having won the Derby in 2018 on Ecton Blade, was also pleased with the instructions he received from trainer Kim Young-kwan (who also trained Ecton Blade). “The trainer told me to just jump and don’t worry about the others. When the trainer gave me that instruction, I was even more relaxed as I knew I could ride 1st or 2nd or even in the middle. It was all quite easy.”
“It’s credit to the whole team, not just me. We also have our track rider, Mitkey from South Africa. He rides her one day and I ride her the next so it’s good teamwork.” Da Silva finished his interview with a grin and a “Seo Seung-un, love you!” He later explained: “They asked me about him because I do feel a little sorry for him in that he was supposed to ride (Jeulgeounyeojeong) in the Luna Stakes, and I got the ride off him (after Seo suffered a minor trackwork injury on the day of the race). So yes, I am sorry but it’s all good because he has also taken winners off me!”
(Pic: KRA)
Jeulgeounyeojeong is by Colors Flying and out of Says Ms Elizabeth (by Giacomo). She was bred by Son Kyeng-rae at her owners’ NASCA Farm. It was her fifth win from eleven starts. She is trained by Kim Young-kwan, who celebrated a record sixth Korean Oaks success. Two of those previous winners, Speedy First in 2013 and Queen’s Blade in 2014, also won the Korean Derby.
That won’t be happening for Jeulgeounyeojeong as the colts’ Classic is next week. She will though be a hot favourite when she finally does head to Seoul for the concluding leg of the Triple Tiara, the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) on July 15th.
The second leg of the Stayer Series was every bit as one-sided as most expected. It just wasn’t the result most expected as Tuhonui Banseok produced a spectacular performance to beat defending Champion and Korea Cup and Grand Prix Stakes hero Winner’s Man by an astonishing eleven-lengths in the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3). It was a first Korean Group race win for both jockey Park Jae-I and trainer Bart Rice.
Tuhonui Banseok in the clear in the YTN Cup (Pic: KRA)
Having won the first leg of the Stayer Series, last month’s Herald Business Cup by three-lengths, Winner’s Man was sent off as a prohibitive 1.4 favourite for the YTN ahead of Tuhonui Banseok, who had been a fast-finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix and then 2nd in the Herald Business. Breaking from gate two, Park Jae-I pushed Tuhonui Banseok to the lead right from the gate. Knowing where the greatest threat was, Seo Seung-un on Winner’s Man immediately moved to track him.
Tuhonui Banseok (Pic: KRA)
Winner’s Man stayed locked to Tuhonui Banseok’s heels as the race passed through the back straight and reached its crucial stages. Passing three-furlongs and beginning to turn towards the home straight, the seeming inevitability of Winner’s Man eventually blowing past the upstart was confounded when Seo Seung-un was the first to get to work, while Park Jae-I remained stationary aboard the leader. When Park did get down to business, the gap was already up to three-lengths and rising. Between the 300M and the 200M, Winner’s Man briefly regained some ground, but Tuhonui Banseok quickly slammed the door and romped away for a devastating victory.
Winner’s Man was 2nd, eleven-lengths in arrears but still well clear of the rest, while Winner Gold, a 78/1 chance, emerged from the rear down the rail to claim an excellent 3rd.
It perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Tuhonui Banseok was running in his fifth Graded race and the trajectory had very much been upwards. Last June he encountered the elite for the first time and ran 8th in the Busan Mayor’s Cup behind Winner’s Man. A 3rd in last October’s KRA Cup Classic behind Raon The Fighter was followed by another 3rd in the Grand Prix Stakes. That day with every stride, he was gaining on Winner’s Man and Raon The Fighter, and may have got closer were it not for his having to navigate around tired horses at the top of the straight. Then there was that 2nd in the Herald Business last month.
Park Jae-i (Pic: KRA)
This time everything went right for Tuhonui Banseok, a five-year-old American-bred entire by Verrazano and out of the Street Sense mare, Sense of Beauty. He was a $13,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
For jockey Park Jae-I, 2022 was a standout year in terms of winners when he leapt from a previous yearly best of twenty-seven, to a tally of sixty-two and 3rd place in the Premiership behind only You Hyun-myung and Sunday’s vanquished rival, Seo Seung-un. Now the twenty-seven-year-old has his first Graded race win.
It was surprising for some observers to realise it was also a first Korean Graded winner for trainer Bart Rice. The South African handler has been a fixture around the top of the Busan Trainer Premiership ever since debuting in late 2013 and sports a healthy 14%-win rate and 34% top-three rate across his time in the country.
Bart Rice finally gets his Group Race Presentation (Pic: KRA)
Previous Rice stable stars such as the fellow Lim Byung-ho owned Buhwarui Banseok were solid class 1 horses but had the misfortune to be around at the same time as the likes of Cheongdam Dokki, for his entire career, as well as Triple Nine and Power Blade at the start of it. That said, Tuhonui Banseok has had the misfortune to be around at the same time as Raon The Fighter and Winner’s Man. Now that gap on the resume has been filled and with Tuhonui Banseok still seemingly getting better, there could be more to come.
Don’t write off Winner’s Man. He has had his setbacks before, most notably when 3rd in last November’s President’s Cup. It didn’t take him long to return to the summit. But there is plenty of intrigue now ahead of the Busan Mayor’s Cup on July 2nd and the biggest of them all, the Korea Cup, looming into view. In Tuhonui Banseok, a new heavyweight is on the scene.
Fan favourite Betelgeuse justified his favourite status as the snared the first jewel of the 2023 Triple Crown with a two-length win in the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Betelgeuse downs Something Lost in the KRA Cup Mile (Pic: KRA)
Boasting a resume more complete than any other in the sixteen-strong field with a higher rating and experience defeating older horses at both a mile and around two turns as well as winning Busan’s Classic trial, Betelgeuse was sent off as the 2.4 market leader. From a kind draw, while not the quickest away, the striking grey was able to set up camp in a handy position while Choice Run and Dokki Bulpae set the pace.
Seoul’s principal raider, Something Lost, who entered the race with the only intact unbeaten record and who had won the Seoul Classic trial last month, quickly joined them on the speed and took himself to the front as they began the long turn for home. Under Choi Si-dae, Betelgeuse would improve before drawing level with Something lost a furlong out and then pulling away in the closing stages as his rival tired.
Betelgeuse and Choi Si-dae return to scale (Pic: KRA)
It was an eye-catching win in a time identical to that set by Captain Yankee a year ago, although slower than those set in the race in 2020 and 2021, which were both run at a different time of year due to pandemic enforced fixture changes. Betelgeuse moved on to seven wins from nine starts and the Concord Point colt, who is quickly amassing as many fans for his looks as for his ability – and there is plenty of both – heads into the Derby as the favourite.
The winner aside, the form from Seoul’s Classic trial, the Sports Seoul Trophy, held up better than that of Busan’s Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy, with Something Lost staying on for 2nd and chased home by Dragon Star and Nut Play, who reprised their fast-finishing Sports Seoul 3rd and 4th places. Back home in the capital, and up at 1800M in the Derby, with the way they finish off their races they may pose more of a danger to Betelgeuse. The next best Busan-trained horse was World Legend in 5th.
Busan’s “tifo” still needs a bit of work but a game effort nonetheless (Pic: KRA)
Most of the field ran to expectations with the only below par performance of the race came from last year’s champion juvenile Speed Young. The second favourite loomed up at the top of the home straight but then didn’t run on, ultimately finishing in 7th place. Breeders’ Cup winner Speed Young is proving hard to catch, with his strong win over a mile at class 3 last month, preceded by a lacklustre effort the time before.
Fantastic Kingdom was relatively well-backed but ran like a horse returning from the twenty-one layoff that he was. Dokki Bulpae was sent off at a similar relatively short-priced 11/1 and used up all his energy getting on the speed from an unlucky draw.
For winning jockey Choi Si-dae, it was a first KRA Cup Mile albeit a twelfth Group win in total. Similarly, trainer Baik Kwang-yeol sent out his first Cup Mile winner but his fifth Group winner. Trainer and jockey paired up to win the 2015 Korean Derby with Yeongcheon Ace. That was for the same owner as Betelgeuse, Lee Jong-hun.
The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul on June 11th, before the concluding Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2), also in the capital, on July 11th. Put the plushie factory on overtime if Betelgeuse can win both of those.
The 2023 Korean Triple Crown gets underway on Sunday at Busan as a full field of sixteen head to the gate for the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2). Eight have made the trip down from Seoul while eight represent the home track and the stage is set for the next star of local racing to emerge.
Betelgeuse (Pic: KRA)
Betelgeuse was kept off the Juvenile Series last autumn and instead racked up experience – and victories – against older horses at the Derby distance of 1800M as well as a mile. That extra bit of seasoning and toughness stood him in good stead when he did drop back to face his contemporaries in Busan’s Classic Trial, the Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy (1400M Listed) on March 19th. He ran out an easy winner that day and will be favoured to do so again here. Choi Si-dae, who has ridden two Korean Derby winners but is yet to win the Cup Mile, will be aboard for trainer Baik Kwang-yeol.
The only unbeaten record in the race belongs to Something Lost. The Seoul raider win the capital’s Classic Trial, the Sports Seoul Trophy (1400M Listed) on the same afternoon that Betelgeuse was doing his thing in Busan. He has led all his races so far and was hanging on in the Trial, but he has done everything asked of him so far and will be one of the dangers. Lee Hyeok, who has ridden him in all his races so far, will be partnering him again.
Last year’s top juvenile Speed Young returned to form with a win over a mile at class 3 level in March and he’ll be another contender along with two-time distance winner Nut Play and impressive last start class 3 winner Dokki Bulpae.
The KRA Cup Mile is race 6 on Busan’s Sunday program with a local post time of 15:45.
1. CHOICE RUN – Since finishing down the field in the Breeders’ Cup he has won three on the spin up to class 3 level to take his chance here. They have all been at 1200M and on pace, but he draws well and could have a say.
2. SPEED YOUNG – The Breeders’ Cup winner suffered a surprise defeat on his first start of the year but returned to form with an impressive score over a mile at class 3 level on March 3rd. Proven at the distance and having already beaten plenty of these, he has solid claims.
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.
Horse Racing in Korea 