Busan Owners’ Cup

SUCCESS MACHO TAKES OWNERS’ CUP GLORY

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.

Owners’ Cup Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (July 9)

The Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) takes centre stage this Sunday when a full field of sixteen face off on the south coast. The big race is race 6 of seven on the card which runs from 11:25 to 17:00. At Seoul there is a 10-race card from 10:35 to 18:00.

Daehan Jilju is the probable favourite for the Busan Owners’ Cup (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Maiden juvenile fillies only with six of the eleven racing for the first time. The only one of the remaining five to have raced twice is the favourite and that’s (6) GEOLJAK ONE. She debuted in 4th place in a quick race on a wet track on May 28th and then followed it up with a 2nd place, going down very narrowly, on June 10th having raced close to the pace both times. It should be third-time lucky here. (1) PERFECT TIARA debuted in that June 10th race having shown little in trials but ran a good 3rd, coming from the middle of the pace. She has three-lengths to make up on Geoljak One but should have come on for the experience. (5) ECLIPSE BERRY debuted in the May 28th race and overcame the widest gate to run 6th. She too should be going closer this time. As for the first timers, (7) HAMPYEONG JANGMI and (10) SEIRENE were perhaps the best in trials.

Selections(6) Geoljak One (1) Perfect Tiara (5) Eclipse Berry (7) Hampyeong Jangmi
Next Best10, 2
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 6

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(11) KING GO TAEYANG has shown steady improvement across three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over 1200M on June 11th, albeit well beaten by the winner. He has the challenge of the wide gate here but the step up to 1300M can suit and he is the one to beat. (1) MENI SHARK showed signs of figuring things out when stepped up to this distance on June 11th and running a best to fate 4th. Her time that day was quicker than any of the others who have tackled this distance have managed and from a good gate, she can go closer today. (6) GOLDEN SNIPER also comes in off a best to date finish when 2nd on June 4th at this trip. He can sit behind the early speed here and can be in the finish. (4) BRAVO HANSEN and (5) SAEROUN BITKKAL among others who can dispute the minors.

Selections(11) King Go Taeyang (1) Meni Shark (6) Golden Sniper (4) Bravo Hansen
Next Best5, 8
Fast Start1, 4, 8, 11

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(1) RAON THE AGAIN will be one of the banker favourites of the day. After a quick trial, she ran 2nd on debut over 1200M on June 2nd having settled back and run on strongly to only go down narrowly. She draws well, the slight step up in trip can suit, and she won’t need to improve very much to win this. (6) KALJABI is the obvious second pick. After running 4th on debut, he led for much of the way around second-up on May 28th, again over 1200M, ultimately coming home in 2nd. He should lead again here and can hold off the favourite for a long time. It would be a big surprise if those two don’t fill out the quinella, but the final place is up for grabs. (8) CHEONGMAUI JILJU ran an improved 4th last time out at 1200M and can maintain her positive momentum again here. (3) ILCHUL GOLD and (2) UNMATCHED are others who can compete.

Selections(1) Raon The Again (6) Kaljabi (8) Cheongmaui Jilju (3) Ilchul Gold
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 6

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) LONDON MYEONGGA had seemingly lost his way a little but came back into form with a strong 3rd over this class and distance on June 4th when on pace throughout. He draws well here to be on or close to the pace again and has every chance. (5) GLORY K remains winless but enters with recent form reading well with two 3rd place finishes from her latest three, most recently when leading most of the way around over 1400M on June 10th. She is under a very light weight, she draws well to lead again, and it would be no surprise if she made the breakthrough here. (4) CHALLANHAN POKPUNG comes up in class after three consecutive 3rd place finishes, the most recent two over this distance. His times have been competitive enough and he comes down significantly in the weights. (7) LEGEND K and (9) KKANGDORI others to consider.

Selections(3) London Myeongga (5) Glory K (4) Challanhan Pokpung (7) Legend K
Next Best9, 1
Fast Start3, 5, 8, 9

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Competitive maiden. (11) ACE A MOCA has improved across three starts so far, most recently an on-pace 3rd over this distance on June 16th. She may need a touch of luck at the start from the widest gate here but she as good a chance as any. (9) YONGSAN KEUNBYEUL comes in off a much-improved 3rd on May 19th when settling handy and running on. In this company she can be on the pace and while in the absence of an apprentice claim she comes up in weight, Choi Si-dae climbs aboard and she shouldn’t be far away. (4) HERO J has only raced twice and was an improved 3rd in the second of them when she came from well off the pace. She draws better today and comes into contention. (5) YONG GUN and (8) WONDERFUL ONE are others in the hunt.

Selections(11) Ace A Moca (9) Yongsan Keunbyeul (4) Hero J (5) Yong Gun
Next Best8, 2
Fast Start1, 7, 8, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(8) SUNGAN TOUCH had a slightly disappointing day at the office when well supported over 1300M on June 3rd but finishing 6th of ten. He was going very well at this distance prior to that though with a 2nd and a 3rd at this class, and he will be a warm favourite to score here. (2) FIRST USER remains a maiden but comes up in class after two runner-up finishes at class 6. She likes to run on pace so she is drawn very nicely and the 2kg drop in carried weight can help her be competitive here. (3) JAEWOO SIDAE comes in having run 3rd at a big price at class and distance on June 16th when slowly away but running on really well. She will warrant more respect this time around. (7) LONDON QUEEN and the up in class (5) SEOUL SPURT among others to consider.

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