40/1 chance Captain Yankee swooped late to cut down the favourites and claim the first leg of the 2022 Korean Triple Crown, the KRA Cup Mile (Korean 2000 Guineas) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Yankee wins the Cup Mile (Pic: KRA)
With the fancied Aspen Taeyang a late scratching due to a hind leg injury, last year’s Champion Juvenile Complete Value was sent off as hot favourite for the 1600M first jewel, ahead of Winner Star, with Man Of The Year and Seungbusa the only other two in single digits in the markets.
When the race began, Beolmaui Star got the best of the start from gate number one and was joined on the early pace by Man Of The Year and Complete Value with Seungbusa looping across from gate ten to join them. Captain Yankee meanwhile sat in midfield as the front-runners set a fair pace.
The lightly raced Beolmaui Star would quickly weaken while Man Of The Year was always wide and never convincing and as the leaders entered the home straight, his challenge faded, leaving Seungbusa and Complete Value up front alone.
At that point it seemed it would be a duel of stamina between Seungbusa and Complete Value; a battle that only Complete Value could win. He did, seeing off Seungbusa with just over a furlong remaining. Victory seemed a formality but that was to reckon without the long-shot Captain Yankee, who began to rally and then close in on the leading two.
Captain Yankee would ultimately come through the gap between Complete Value and Seungbusa and go on to win by a full two-lengths on the line. Complete Value was 2nd with Seungbusa a further length and a quarter back in 3rd. It was a full eight-lengths back to the fourth placegetter, Unju Hero.
Winning jockey Jo In-kwon told in-house broadcaster KRBC that while he was confident in his horse, it wasn’t plain sailing: “I knew the pace would be very fast, but those leaders were so far ahead at one point that I thought that we would end up too far back and he might give up.”
“He hates kickback so I kept him wide and out of the sand and that gave us more to do, but just when I thought it might be too much, he responded so well and gave me his very best.”
Jo In-kwon is widely considered one of Korea’s most accomplished riders, but this was only his second Group winner since being licensed in 2008. It was his first big race win of any kind since 2012, when he was a fresh-faced rookie, about to go away to do his compulsory national service.
Now a grizzled thirty-five-year-old family man, Jo In-kwon admitted that he was nervous as Captain Yankee closed to victory: “I was very excited in the final furlong, but I tried to keep calm and make sure that we made no mistakes.” They did not, although it must be noted the jockey was deservedly – and perhaps leniently – fined half a million Won for his excessive and unnecessary whip use in the closing stages.
On pulling up, Jo sent a personal message to his young children, which was picked up by the on-board microphone he was carrying. “Yes, that was lucky, wasn’t it?” he laughed, referencing how the onboard “jockey cam” in the race was supposed to be carried by Moon Se-young, before Aspen Taeyang was found lame. Jo In-kwon offered to carry the camera, despite being on a 40/1 chance.
Captain Yankee is by Old Fashioned, who stands privately in Korea at Challenger Farm. He is out of Can’t Rezist (by Action This Day) and was bred by Lee Kwang-lim. The Cup Mile was his sixth race start and his fourth career win.
The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Korean Derby over 1800M at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday May 15th.
Kim Hye-sun is no stranger to setting records, yet at Busan on Sunday afternoon, the jockey they call “Super Peanut” turned heads again, riding the winner in all three of the International Trophy Exchange races at the southern track.
Kim Hye Sun and Burning Party (Pic: KRA)
None were favourite. Things kicked off in race 4, the Selangor Turf Club Trophy. Seungni Magicqueen was sent off as the favourite, but it became apparent she wasn’t traveling smoothly on the turn for home and it was Kim Hye-sun on 4/1 chance Unju Eutteum (by Distorted Humor) who capitalized, going on to score by five-lengths with Seungni Magicqueen finishing in 3rd behind stablemate Alpha Star.
Next up was the China Horse Industry Association over 1400M. Copy That and Franco Da Silva were sent off as odds-on favourites but after showing near the front early, they didn’t threaten, and Ilnyeom Tongcheon (by Old Fashioned) came through under Kim Hye-sun to win by a full four-lengths.
The final race on the program was the Tokyo City Keiba Trophy, which being over 1800M and restricted to fillies and mares, only attracted a field of eight. Among them though, was established class 2 winner Queen Of The World, who was accordingly sent off a slight odds-on favourite.
Queen Of The World dipped when coming out of the gates and while she quickly made her way to the front, she was never convincing. Kim Hye-sun and Burning Party (by Bodemeister) took the lead on the final turn and never relinquished it, coming home three-lengths on front of runner-up Adele Pupil, with Queen Of The World in 3rd.
Having long since ridden the most winners of any female jockey in Korea, as well as being the first woman to ride a Korean Classic winner in the 2017 Oaks, Kim Hye-sun returned to race riding last year, ten months after giving birth to her son, and now lies 3rd in the Busan Jockey’s Premiership. She is a serious contender for the title.
There were also two Trophy races at Seoul. The Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy was won by favourite Spot Flatter (by Cowbow Cal), who sat handy to the lead under jockey Ham Wan-sik before running on for a commanding three-length win.
The final big race of the day was the Gold Circle (South Africa) Trophy, a filly and mare test over 1800M. While Saryeoni Queen, an established class 2 campaigner, was sent off as favourite, she failed to fire, and it was left to the four-year-olds from last year’s Filly Triple Crown trail to contest the top honours.
Queens Tour, a 6/1 chance, ran out the winner beating Rubicon by just under a length with Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup winner Eodigana a further five back in 3rd. Queens Tour was a first big race winner for jockey Jo Sang-beom.
The sisters came together at the top of the home straight but Raon First promptly asserted her authority over younger sibling Raon Pink and the rest of the filly and mare division, as she romped away for an easy victory in the Listed Donga Ilbo Trophy, the first leg of the Queens’ Tour, at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Raon First (Pic: KRA)
Having displaced the retired Silver Wolf and Dia Road atop the filly and mares ranks, Raon First has dominated the division, and came into this race having closed out 2021 with victory in the G3 Jeju Governor’s Cup before opening her account for 2022 with a facile score in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy at the end of January. Having beaten the males at class 1 too, she entered a hot favourite for the 1800M Donga Ilbo, despite having done her best work at one-turn.
Raon First was sent off at odds-on but from the wide gate, jockey Choi Bum-hyun was content to let her sit just off the lead in the early stages as Raon Pink made the early running while longest shot on the board, Singsing Mary along with placing hope Florida Power were in close attendance too.
Things would stay that way until they turned towards the home straight when Singsing Mary would find her race run, leaving the sisters briefly alone together. When the question was asked, Raon Pink was no match for Raon First and the race became a formality as Raon First streaked away to win by four-lengths.
Clear Geom, runner-up to Raon First in the Jeju Governor’s Cup, would come home second-best again, while Florida Power held off a late Cheonji Yeogeol challenge to claim 3rd. Raon Pink faded and ended up in 7th place, one spot behind the filly she finished runner-up to in last season’s Korean Oaks, Choegang Black.
For Raon First, who is by Musket Man and out of Pink Candy (by Southern Image), it was a tenth win from seventeen starts. Connections will need to decide whether she remains in the comfortable environs of the Queens’ Tour, with its remaining legs being the Ttukseom Cup at 1400M in June and then the KNN Cup down at Busan over a mile in July. Given the abundance of talent at the disposal of the burgeoning Raon empire – with the phenom Raon The Fighter at its forefront – this seems her likely course.
Jockey Choi Bum Hyun and trainer Park Jong Kon (Pic: KRA)
In other races, a class 1 handicap over 1400M at Busan loaded with talent went the way of Yeongung Louis. The US-bred four-year-old (by Violence) had announced his arrival with an outstanding 3rd place in the SBS Sports Sprint at Seoul and on Sunday made his class 1 debut among a field containing KRA Cup Classic winner Mr. Afleet as well as Doctor Carson and the in-form Barbarian. Ultimately Yeongung Louis would be on pace throughout, and cruised away to score by five-lengths, taking his record to six wins from eleven starts.
Back at Seoul, Haengbok Wangja made his first appearance since winning the 2021 Grand Prix Stakes in December. It was not to be a winning one though, as Simjangui Godong, the 2021 President’s Cup winner, beat him in a straight two-horse shoot-out in the home straight.
Simjangui Godong, is by Korean-bred champion Jigeum I Sungan,and just like his father is a rare horse in Korea who wears no headgear. He moved on to ten wins from twenty-five starts and set another marker down as racing in Korea moves its sights upon the international Korea Cup in September.
The Stakes race season got underway at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday, and it was a mare who claimed the spoils as Raon First scored a comprehensive victory in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy.
Raon First and Choi Bum-hyun have time to soak in the acclaim in the Segye Ilbo Cup (Pic: KRA)
The Segye Ilbo was missing from the abbreviated Stakes Calendar in 2021 but returned to its usual spot as the first big race of the year in Korea and the 1200M sprint was, for the first time, open to all Korean-bred runners, regardless of whether they are trained in Seoul or Busan.
Busan supplied a genuine contender in the shape of Classic winner Touch Star Man, and punters sent him off fourth in the market with Owners’ Cup winner Meni Hero favourite, ahead of the solitary filly or mare in the race, Raon First, and the Group-winning sprinter East Jet. Punters would prove correct with their top four, although not quite in that order.
From gate six, East Jet got the best of the start, racing into an early lead alongside outsider World Day, with Raon First sitting handy under jockey Choi Bum-hyun on the rail in 5th place. On the rail and in box seat is where she would stay as the leaders peeled off at the top of the straight and as soon as Raon First struck the front, there was only every going to be one winner.
East Jet came home in 2nd place, three-lengths in arrears, while Meni Hero came third. Touch Star Man, racing at a sprint distance for the very first time since his debut seventeen starts back, emerged from the pack for fourth with Roller Blade rounding out the prize-getters in 5th.
It was the Park Jong-kon trained Raon First’s ninth career win on her fifteenth start and followed her first Group race score in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) in December. That race was restricted to her fellow fillies and mares, although she had already proved herself in open company when winning at class 1 last October.
Today’s opposition was a cut above those she beat in either of those races and having won at distances up to 1800M, there are plenty of options open for the five-year-old, be it in the Queens’ Tour or even the Sprint Series races.
Raon First is by Musket Man and out of the Southern Image mare, Pink Candy. She was bred by her owners, Raon Company, at their farm where they stand the American stallion Musket Man. Raon First has a four-year-old “full” sister, Raon Pink, who won the Luna Stakes in 2021 before running 2nd in the Korean Oaks. Raon have a currently unrivalled array of talent at their disposal, spearheaded by their unbeaten star, Raon The Fighter.
Earlier at Seoul, the KRA Cup Mile and Minister’s Cup placegetter Chief Indy (by Take Charge Indy) defeated Korean Oaks winner Choegang Black (by Purge), the pair coming home 1st and 3rd over 1800M at class 3 level. Chief Indy was one of four winners on the day for reigning champion jockey Moon Se-young, one of which was a dead-heat as the judges failed to split his Saryeoni Queen with Thunder Wind, ridden by Antonio Da Silva, in race 7.
At Busan, Barbarian added to his burgeoning reputation, dropping back in trip after recent successes to easily win the feature class 1 event over 1400M under You Hyun-myung. A five-year-old entire, Barbarian, who is by Competitive Edge and out of the Unbridled’s Song mare White Haven, registered his eighth win at start number sixteen and his first at class 1 level.
There is no racing in Korea this coming weekend, due to the Lunar New Year break. Racing returns to Busan on Friday February 11th and Seoul on Saturday February 12th.
It’s the last weekend of racing before the a week off is taken following the Lunar New Year holiday. The action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 12:00 to 18:00. All betting locations within Korea will be open, however, attendance must be pre-booked through the MyCard app and proof of up to date vaccination against Covid-19 is required. Here are the previews:
It’s Friday. It’s Busan
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies kick things off with all but one of the twelve racing for the very first time. We’ll side with that one experienced runner, (12) EUNSEONG WINNER. She ran fairly for 3rd place on debut back in December and has since been back to trial performing fairly. The experience can see her in good stead here. The main concern is that while her times in trials and her race have been consistent, they have not been quick. (9) GOLD SWEET looks the best of the first timers. She won her trial having been handy throughout and can go well first-up today. (2) CHEONGHO LEGEND and (7) ALPHA SONGDANG posted decent times in their respective heats and may also be considered while (8) WONDERFUL FILE improved in the second of her trials and can be in the hunt too.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Small field but potentially quite a hot favourite in the shape of (8) UNJU BULPAE. He’s improved across his four starts so far, culminating in a runner-up finish at this distance on January 7th having led for much of the way. The draw shouldn’t matter much in this small field, and he can win. (7) JATNAMUGIL has shown similar progress across his four appearances so far, running 3rd in both his latest two. He should be given another chance here. The solitary debut-maker is interesting. Top trainer Kim Young-kwan puts an apprentice aboard (6) RADAR, who finally makes it to the track aged four. His dam won six times at Busan and while his only half-brother to make the track so far is a notorious non-winner (Indian Party), he trialed well and should be kept safe. (1) GAWONUI BIT and (9) BAEK GU among others in the hunt.
Selections
(8) Unju Bulpae (7) Jatnamugil (6) Radar (1) Gawonui Bit
Next Best
9, 4
Fast Start
1, 6, 7, 8
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Tricky race with a number of potential winners. We’ll go with (1) HAEUNDAE BLUE who comes in off a career-best 2nd when stepped up to this distance on January 7th. True, the pace that day was painfully slow, and she hasn’t shown much in the way of speed, but she beat three of today’s rivals and almost led the whole way around. (2) CARIBBEAN DAY has been consistent and comes in off a solid 4th at this distance on Boxing Day. He doesn’t have the benefit of an apprentice claim today but that’s softened by a much better draw, and he looks the main danger. (10) MAJOR FORCE didn’t run that badly when 6th at the distance last time out. He is yet to finish in the top two but has consistently found the minor money and could be worth a chance at an each-way price here. (11) ORANGE GARAGE and (3) PICTURE JASPER others in the frame.
Selections
(1) Haeundae Blue (2) Caribbean Day (10) Major Force (11) Orange Garage
Next Best
3, 7
Fast Start
1, 9, 11, 13
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Another competitive race. (8) CENTUM THOR might be a non-winner, but he has nine top five finishes from twelve attempts so far. He has been consistent at this distance and an apprentice climbing aboard brings him down 3kg from his last appearance. At that last appearance on December 10th, Centum Thor was beaten by (9) LUKAS SUN. That was the latter’s first go around 1800M and he handled it very well coming from well off the pace to fly home. He will be coming on strong again and should go close. (6) GEUMA GOOD POINT had a disappointing day at the office at his latest start on Boxing Day when he used up plenty to get to a forward position from a wide draw. Draw a line through that and instead go on the start before when he ran 3rd, ahead of Centum Thor, and he should be in this. (1) MENI GLORY comes up in trip and into the calculations while (3) ROCKET GO Is another in the hunt.
Selections
(8) Centum Thor (9) Lukas Sun (6) Geuma Good Point (1) Meni Glory
Next Best
3, 2
Fast Start
1, 3, 6, 8
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(3) WIND HIGH broke through at start number four on December 10th, making all at this distance and beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He has been back to trial since then and won that too. He does come up in class but remains under a light weight and from a good draw has claims to win again. (8) BARAM GONGJU ran 2nd to Wind High in the December race and has since finished 4th on her first try at this class on January 7th. She has run consistent times at the distance, likes to come from off the pace, and should be working home well here. (4) DOCTOR TEXAS lead but weakened over a mile last time out and should be better for the drop back in trip today. (6) SUSO ENGINE can be given another chance too while (10) USEUNG GANGJA is another in the hunt.
Selections
(3) Wind High (8) Baram Gongju (4) Doctor Texas (6) Suso Engine
Next Best
10, 7
Fast Start
3, 4, 6, 9
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) DONGTEUJA BOY is set to be hot favourite here and deservedly so. He won back-to-back races in September and October to get rapidly promoted to this class and while he was beaten on his first try at this level two weeks ago, he ran a fast time and should have too much for this lot. It’s hard to see any of these running him down but (10) MILLION BANK has finished no worse than 2nd in four starts so far and can keep that run going here. (5) KING BROTHER won at this distance at class 5 level two starts back and enters here well weighted and well-drawn. (1) WINNER’S TIME can mix his form but is another who looks nicely in here on the inside and he can challenge for a place. (3) HANBIT YEONGGWANG another in the minor money hunt.
Selections
(8) Dongteuja Boy (10) Million Bank (5) King Brother (1) Winner’s Time
Next Best
3, 12
Fast Start
1, 7, 8, 11
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Good race this and (3) MISS INDIE may be ready to bounce back to winning ways. She won her first two starts and then went on a filly Triple Crown campaign. That didn’t go to plan, but she ran a decent 4th at 1400M on Boxing Day and dropped back to 1200M for the first time, with a good draw and a light weight, she can win. (2) DOCTOR GIANTS took his chance in the KRA Cup Mile last October and while he finished in mid-division he posted a fast time, something he has consistently done at a variety of distances. He has won twice at this distance and will be a danger here. (1) KKOTGWA GUREUM won at big odds on Boxing Day and while up in class can challenge for some minor money from the inside gate. (13) SAGARMATHA and (9) DONGBANUI SIJAK others in the frame.
Selections
(3) Miss Indie (2) Doctor Giants (1) Kkkotgwa Gureum (13) Sagarmatha
Next Best
9, 8
Fast Start
3, 6, 8, 11
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
It’s hard to go too far past (7) SPEED MATCH here. He’s won three of his last four including a super score over a mile at class 4 level on December 3rd. He comes up in class here but down in weight and will take some beating. He’ll sit handy early and then run on. (4) SEUNGNI MAGICQUEEN also comes up in class, in her case following an excellent win at this distance on Boxing Day when making all the running. She seems to have plenty of potential and can challenge the favourite here. (6) WONDERFUL KING has won his latest two, most recently at class and distance on December 26th. He comes up significantly in the weights this time but can go close. (10) ILNYEOM TONGCHEON and (2) ECOPIA are the other leading contenders.
Selections
(7) Speed Match (4) Seungni Magicqueen (6) Wonderful King (10) Ilnyeom Tongcheon
There were super features at both Busan and Seoul this past weekend as both tracks hosted their respective Owners’ Association Cups. At Busan there was a shock with Meni Hero leading home the field, while at Seoul a new star was born as Raon The Fighter dominated an elite set of sprinters.
The Busan Owners’ Cup on Sunday saw a quality field meet the starter over a mile, headed by Blue Chipper, along with Tiz Plan and Doctor Carson then a mix of young talented horse stepping into the higher levels Including Yeongung Louis a close 3rd in the SBS Sports Sprint to Eoma Eoma at level weights, as well and the unbeaten Success Macho.
They would all be beaten. The start was even other than Yeongung Louis veering out slightly and it would be Black Musk who led from Blue Chipper and the ever-reliable King of Glory.
Black Musk’s challenge would falter in the home straight while Blue Chipper would maintain his charge but drifted wide. Tiz Plan made his way forward but closing the best was 20/1 chance Meni Hero, who struck the front just over a furlong from home under jockey Ham Wan-sik, and ran on to win by just under two-lengths from a resurgent Tiz Plan. Wang Beotkkot closed strongly for an unlikely 3rd while Blue Chipper was an always game 4th.
It was a quantum rise in results for Meni Hero, whose only previous class 1 success had come two starts back over 1400M. By the great stallion Menifee, he is out of Pocketful Of Money (by Running Stag), who was a long time holder of the 1800M track record at Seoul Racecourse. Only four-years-old, there could be plenty to come. Tiz Plan showed he is still a force to be reckoned with in 2nd while Wang Beotkkot was a revelation in 3rd. As for Blue Chipper, he briefly hit the front with 300M remaining and while he couldn’t hold on, showed he still can’t be dismissed in any company.
A day earlier at Seoul Racecourse, an elite field lined up for the SROA Trophy at 1200M, headed by Eoma Eoma, winner of the SBS Sports Sprint and of ten races from twelve starts in total and East Jet, winner of nine races including last year’s edition of this race. The 2020 SBS Sports Sprint winner Morfhis was present, as was the unbeaten three-year-old Raon The Fighter, a winner of seven from seven up to Class 2 level in very fast times.
Eoma Eoma was sent off as the odds-on favourite but after an even start, Raon The Fighter quickly headed the field ahead of East Jet and with the favourite caught wide. It stayed that way until the home straight which Raon The Fighter entered a length clear. And then he just kept going.
Eoma Eoma put in a huge effort to find the fence and to grind out 2nd place from the fast-finishing Morfhis with East Jet in 4th. But they were running a different race to Raon The Fighter, whose jockey Park Tae-jong was afforded the luxury of being able to ease his mount in the closing stages having taken a long leisurely look back over his shoulder. The margin of victory was six-lengths on the line in a time barely outside the track record.
It was a statement performance that has turned the existing order on its head. Eoma Eoma didn’t get the greatest of trips but even so, there are few similar races in history in Korea that his performance would not have won. While Raon The Fighter entered unbeaten, there is always the question in such circumstances of whether they will match up in truly elite company. The answer was an emphatic “yes”. Where Raon The Fighter goes next, or even what distance he tackles, as he has won up to 1800M already, is the hottest topic in Seoul right now.
Raon The Fighter is a three-year-old colt by Bayern and out of Clarinda (by Empire Maker). He was imported in-utero which meant that although he is officially classed as Korean-bred, he was ineligible for the three-year-old Classics this year. There is no limit on what races he can take part in from now on though, and it would seem there is no limit in his potential.
In the end it didn’t disappoint as what was billed in advance as potentially the greatest Korean Derby so far, went down to the very last stride at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon when Winner’s Man denied Heat Yegam a shot at completing the Triple Crown, by the narrowest of possible margins.
On a weekend when racing fans were allowed into Seoul Racecourse for the first time in over a year Heat Yegam, the runaway winner of the KRA Cup Mile at Busan a month ago, was sent off as a slightly better than even-money favourite for the second jewel in the Crown, the Korean Derby (KOR G1).
Winner’s Man began as second-favourite but was slowly out of the gate for the 1800M Classic as Heat Yegam bounded into an early lead with a perennially keen – and badly drawn – Heungbaragi bounding across to join him. So began a topsy-turvy race which saw Heat Yegam and jockey You Hyun-myung a constant on the front but there was a constant shifting of fortunes behind.
Winner’s Man was ridden up towards the pace before fading and then finding a second wind, while Heungbaragi similarly fell away on the turn for home only to reappear in contention once more. With a furlong to run there were still six in it with Heat Yegam finally collared by Heungbaragi, with Mr. Indie not far behind on the rail and Winner’s Man, Chief Indy and outsider Choegang Game in the centre.
Just as it looked like Heat Yegam was beaten, he rallied and even retook the lead with just 50M to go as Heungbaragi faltered. But all the time Winner’s Man was closing and in the very final strides, Choi Si Dae got one last burst out of his charge to sweep past. It went to a photo-finish but there was no doubt; Winner’s Man had got it on the line.
Heungbaragi, just as in the KRA Cup Mile, was the big loser from the barrier draw but put in a big run to finish 3rd. Choegang Game was a revelation in 4th while Mr. Indie did nothing wrong in 5th.
For Winner’s Man [Musket Man – Winner’s Marine (Volponi)] it was an eighth win on his twelfth career start. Jockey Choi Si-dae, who picked up a substantial fine for his use of the whip in the closing stages, won his second Derby having partnered Yeongcheon Ace to victory in 2015. Trainer Choi Ki-hong, who has been licensed since 2004, won his first Group race of any description.
The brave Heat Yegam lost little in defeat on a dry and heavy track and will surely be back to fight another day. Whether that is in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup over 2000M back at Seoul on December 12th, remains to be seen. One thing is for sure though is that this year’s Classic crop certainly measures up. Winner’s Man won today, but the quest for ultimate supremacy in the three-year-old ranks goes on.
Eoma Eoma finally got the Graded race win his talent has always promised in the SBS Sports Sprint while Australian trainer Peter Wolsley saddled his fifth Korean Graded winner as Mr. Afleet took out the KRA Cup Classic on a big Sunday afternoon of action at Seoul Racecourse.
The SBS Sports Sprint (1200M-KOR G3) was one of the few Graded races that managed to get run in 2020 and on Sunday, Morfhis returned to defend his title while East Jet and Blue Chipper took their place in a star-studded lineup. Eoma Eoma was only 3rd in last year’s race but had progressed to such an extent in the meantime, including smashing the 1400M Seoul track record, that he was sent off as hot favourite, despite drawing the widest gate.
In the event, that draw meant that Eoma Eoma would be wide all the way around and would be tested every step of the way by East Jet as Alan Munro kept his Strike Again gelding, winner of last year’s SROA Trophy on the rail and in the lead throughout. Moon Se Young meanwhile on Eoma Eoma simply couldn’t find his way inside with not only East Jet but also Blue Chipper and Yeongung Louis keeping him outside.
Class told, as in the home straight and still wide, Eoma Eoma was relentless and despite a very game run by East Jet, Eoma Eoma eventually swept by just meters from the finishing line to win by half a length. It was a tenth career win on his twelfth start for the American bred four-year-old colt, who is by Algorithms and out of the Run Away And Hide mare Lignite.
East Jet was a strong 2nd while there was a potential breakout performance by lightly-raced three-year-old Yeongung Louis [Violence – Don’t Stop To Shop (Unbridled’s Song)] in 3rd. It proved a hard day at the office though for defending champion Morfhis, who ran 5th, and even harder for Blue Chipper, who faded to 9th. It’s a first Graded win for Eoma Eoma, but few would back it being the last.
An hour later, once more the widest gate prevailed as Mr. Afleet won the 36th running of the KRA Cup Classic (2000M-KOR G2).
The 2019 Korea Cup winner Moonhak Chief led from the gate, but Mr. Afleet [Afleet Alex – In Escrow (Vindication)] took command in the home straight and saw off the attentions of the up and comer Haengbok Wangja to claim victory by a nose in a photo-finish.
Moonhak Chief would fade to 7th while Cheongdam Dokki, seeking a third win in the race after victories in 2017 and 2018 briefly showed just behind the leaders but ultimately weakened to last (an initial post-race check showed no obvious issues). With Tiz Plan also misfiring, there was a sense of a possible changing of the guard although the six-year-old Jjang Kong running 3rd and the evergreen eight-year-old Shamrocker, a remarkable 4th quickly belied that idea.
Speaking after the race, winning jockey Seo Seung-un told in-house broadcaster KRBC that everything went to plan “The draw wasn’t good, but I was surprised how easy it was to get to the position that I wanted to be in. I followed Moonhak Chief across and from then on it was simple.” When quizzed on whether he thought he and Mr. Afleet would be back in the winner’s circle at Seoul in December’s Grand Prix Stakes, Seo had something else in mind. “Of course, the Grand Prix is the target but he is eligible for the (Busan) Owners’ Cup (1600M on November 21st) so they might go there, but I just hope for the Grand Prix” before adding: “it isn’t up to me, anyway.”
Seo Seung-un will be traveling back to Busan minus a substantial percentage of his winnings after stewards penalized him to the tune of $1,000 for unacceptable whip use in the home straight. Haengbok Wangja’s jockey Kim Yong-geun was also found guilty and punished for the same offence. In their ungainly windmilling, both were lucky they didn’t unbalance their mounts to the extent of taking them out of contention and both thoroughly deserve their (lenient) punishment.
It was another training triumph for Peter Wolsley, who back in 2007 became the first foreign trainer to be granted a license in Korea. It took him several years of sheer hard graft to establish himself, but in January last year Mr. Afleet chalked up Wolsley’s 500th Korean winner. On Sunday, the same horse gave him his fifth Korean Graded Stakes winner and his first since Bold Kings came to Seoul and won the Grand Prix Stakes in 2015. This coming Boxing Day, Mr. Afleet may just make the unassuming man from Bendigo a two-time Grand Prix winner.
Juvenile honours were handed out at both Busan and Seoul on Sunday afternoon before one of the grand old gallopers of the track took to Seoul Racecourse to produce a timely reminder that he may not be done just yet.
Cheongdam Dokki (KRA)
The inaugural Areumdaun Jilju Stakes at Busan resulted in a procession for Yeonggwanguilegend [Concord Point – Perfect Scip (Scipion)], the only runner in the race who had participated in the track’s Rookie Stakes a month earlier. Exciting from the widest gate. Djordje Perovic guided the Concord Point colt to an early lead and from then on it was a one-act affair with much of the field behind him racing greenly and immaturely, including pre-race favourite Clifton King.
On the line the winning margin was five-lengths, jockey Perovic – notching his third winner on the card – able to spend the last 20 metres posing for the still Covid-enforced sparse crowd. Besides Yeonggwanguilegend, the only two to emerge with much credit were Hwarang Best and Daeji Choice, who both closed strongly to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively.
That’s to take nothing away from Yeonggwanguilegend, as he booked his place in the Korea Breeders’ Cup on December 5th with a fine performance in a fast time. Moreover, he ran as thugh he will be able to take on far more lengthier assignments than today’s 1200M and even beyond the 1400M of the Breeders’ Cup.
At Seoul thirty minutes later, Complete Value [Girolamo – Ft. Sduction (Ft. Stockton)] made it a perfect four from four to start his career as added to his success last month in the capital’s division of the Rookie Stakes by taking out the Munhwa Ilbo Cup. While he had begun the Rookie Stakes awkwardly and then almost got caught up in traffic in the Rookie, this time jockey Lim Gi-won made sure luck – or lack of it – would not be an issue as he took Complete Value straight to the shoulder of early leader Wonpyeong Gasok.
While Wonpyeong Gasok battled on gamely, Complete Value got his nose in front at the furlong pole and ran away to a three-length win on the line. Bencal Princess, 2nd in the Rookie Stakes, came home in 3rd place. The time for the 1200M was slower than that of Yeonggwanguilegend at Busan, but faster than that of the preceding 1200M race in the capital.
If all goes to plan, they will meet at 1400M in Busan on December 5, a distance that looks like it will suit both and they will be joined most likely by plenty who skipped today’s races. For now, Yeonggwanguilegend and Complete Value lead the race to become Korea’s overall Champion Juvenile.
It wasn’t just horses at the beginning of their careers who starred on Sunday. Now seven-years-old, Cheongdam Dokki began the latest chapter of his storied career as he made his first start for his new trainer, Tony Castenheira, in Seoul’s class 1 finale over 1800M.
Cheongdam Dokki has never been straightforward. A brilliant talent but with an equally brilliant temper, even back in his juvenile days dueling with the likes of Dolkong, he was not the easiest to handle or to ride. Lining up today for the first time since June, when he finished 4th behind Jjang Kong, much of the local racing media didn’t fancy his chances, while local win-pool punters stayed loyal.
The chestnut sweated profusely on his way to the gate but once the race was underway and jockey Antonio Da Silva had taken him straight to the front, Cheongdam Dokki was strictly business as the pair controlled the race down the back and into the home straight. Looming up though was Jjang Kong and while he was only getting 5kg from Cheongdam Dokki this time compared with the 8kg when he beat him four months ago, it was clear he posed a serious threat.
Under Alan Munro, Jjang Kong chipped away at Cheongdam Dokki’s advantage through out the final two furlongs. At one point it looked inevitable that he would go past but Cheongdam Dokki and Da Silva dug deep and found enough to repel him, crossing the line a neck to the good. It was his by no means the finest of his eighteen wins, but the time was good and the manner of it encouraging.
The Grand Prix Stakes still eludes Cheongdam Dokki with him having recorded a 4th, a 2nd and a 3rd in his three attempts so far. It still remains unlikely given the amount of talent he will have to contend with, but for Castenheira and Cheongdam Dokki, a Boxing Day miracle no longer looks completely impossible.
All fingers and toes are crossed that Sunday sees the final behind closed doors meetings before the track and other locations in Seoul can re-open next weekend. There are 10 races in Seoul (10:45 to 18:00) and 6 in Busan (12:05 to 17:00). Here are the previews:
East Jet is back on Sunday after being disqualified last start (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Maidens get us underway. (1) A ONE QUEEN has put in good efforts at her last two starts when on pace. At her latest she stumbled a little at the start before getting close to the lead and running on well. She drops back slightly in trip today and with a better draw looks right in this so we will take a chance on her to beat the likely favourite. That is (11) COMPLETE VALUE, who makes it to the races having won consecutive trials in May. Both times she has been steadily away before cruising away late and 1200M seems ideal first-up. (2) WONDERFUL K placed at this distance at his first start and has performed fairly in three efforts since. He was handy then passed in the run last start and the drop back in trip may suit. It may pay to disregard the latest effort of (7) FINAL ACE when she led but raced ungenerously. Two starts back she ran much better, leading to the 50M and then finishing 2nd and a repeat isn’t impossible. (8) GRAND MASTER is another in the placing frame at least.
Selections
(1) A One Queen (11) Complete Value (2) Wonderful K (7) Final Ace
Next Best
8, 4
Fast Start
2, 4, 6, 7
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(14) GWANGYANG EUTTEUM won a trial in April and was then a good 2nd on his racecourse debut on May 23rd at 1000M and while not assisted by the draw here, he is likely to start a justified favourite. On debut he ran handy before getting caught wide but ran on very strong and won’t need to improve too much. (10) HURRICANE SOCKS has run 3rd at both his latest two starts beating a couple of these in the process. Last time he was caught a bit wide but continued to show improvement and he can maintain his momentum here. (7) STELLA ROAD ran 4th last start behind Hurricane Socks. She was well back turning for home but made up a lot of ground in the straight. That followed a good 3rd on debut and she’s worth thought here with Kim Yong-geun remaining aboard. (6) BLACK INDY and (8) HESSIAN are others with at least placing claims.
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(3) AFLEET MARINE has been close at recent starts and perhaps deserves a change of luck. She has a significantly better barrier today compared to last time when she was awkwardly away from gate twelve but proceeded to put in a huge run nonetheless getting to the lead in the straight and only being passed by a couple in the shadow of the post. She has a big chance today. She’ll need to beat the favourite who is likely to be (9) CHOEGANG JANGSAN. No worse than 4th in three outings so far, at his latest start he put in a big run over this distance and just missed out on 2nd. He can come from handy or further back and a win would appear to be in his near future. (5) SINDAERO has raced competitively recently. He raced midfield last time before running on well and a repeat should put him close at the finish. (10) CONDOR YEOWANG ran in a similar fashion at his latest start for 4th and an apprentice taking an additional 2kg off his back brings him into the calculations. (6) WONDERFUL ORANGE another with placing claims.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
After back to back runner-up finishes, (4) ACE GUY looks ready to win at what will be start number five. He has been finishing off his races tremendously well and the additional half furlong could well be what he has been waiting for. (2) TRIPLE STORM has been knocking on the door in his latest couple. He tends to get very far back in his races before running on and while he may once more find one or two too quick, he should be coming strongly at the business end. Like Ace Guy, (3) K K WON benefits from a 3kg apprentice allowance. He drops back in trip having led in the straight over a mile last time only to be passed late on by a good winner and he surely goes close again. (9) GALLANT WARRIOR and (12) BLUE OAK among others in the placing frame at least.
Selections
(4) Ace Guy (2) Triple Storm (3) K K Won (9) Gallant Warrior
Next Best
12, 7
Fast Start
1, 4, 6, 9
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(10) BODYGUARD is a winner at this distance at his last start in a good time when he settled midfield and finished off nicely. Although he has drawn wider this time, it may actually suit his running style and he will be the one to beat here. (9) STAR RUSH has to be considered on sheer consistency having run 3rd at each of his last three starts. Last time out he settled in the back of the field and ran on strongly with a repeat of those efforts likely to put him firmly in the finish today. (11) JILPUNG BAEKGWANG comes into consideration after her much improved run last start when 3rd over 1400M. She settled much handier than usual that day and if she can do the same over 1300M this time, she can get close. (1) EUNHYE GADUEK should provide each-way value as while his paper form isn’t great, he has made improvement at each run and stumbled at the start before being bumped last time. He should get an easier passage from the inside gate and may be worth a shy at the stumps. (5) CUPID KOREA another with strong placing claims.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Two horses who seem to be figuring things out after both making seven starts should head the market here and there seems little to choose between them. We’ll marginally side with (3) DOCTOR TAKE, who has beaten a few of these over his latest two starts, both of them at a mile. In both of those, he has settled in midfield and has run on well for 4th and 3rd. In a race without a huge amount of speed, he may take this on early and it can be third time lucky at the distance today. The big rival is (4) LUCAS SUN who was a touch one-paced on his first try at a mile last time but nevertheless registered a decent time. His style is usually to go back and finish strongly and he is a real chance. (1) SEONGSAN HERO ran 5th behind Doctor Take last start on May 23rd. He was ridden closer earlier than he had been in previous outings and the inside gate could help him today. (7) ACE FOUR TEN and (9) BOUNTY HUNTER among others with claims.
Selections
(3) Doctor Take (4) Lucas Sun (1) Seongsan Hero (7) Ace Four Ten
Horse Racing in Korea 