Kookje Shinmun Cup

Winner Clear Wins Kookje Shinmun As Roshe Falls Short

Winner Clear made his Group level breakthrough at Busan on Friday afternoon as Roshe came unstuck and saw his unbeaten record end in the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M G3).

Winner Clear sees off Silver Rain (Pic: KRA)

Having won his first six races by a combined margin of forty-six-lengths and racing for the first time since his ten-length romp in June’s G3 Owners’ Cup, Roshe was sent off as the 1.1 favourite for what was forecast by most observers to be a simple Friday afternoon stroll.

It turned into anything but, as drawn wide, Roshe was uncharacteristically hustled up early by jockey Jang Chu-yeol to sit four-wide of the early leaders. The three-year-old US-import briefly saw the front at the top of the straight, but instead of pulling away, he did quite the opposite and ended a flat-footed 4th, a length and a half behind the winner.

That left 140/1 chance Silver Rain and 50/1 shot Maengnyong out in front and seemingly about to contest an unlikely quinella, only for Seo Seung-un to thread Winner Clear through the middle of them to take victory by a neck on the line.

A three-time winner at Listed level, twice as a Juvenile and once in the KRA Yeongnam Sprint as a three-year-old, Winner Clear (by Klimt) was scoring for the first time at Group level. Earlier this year he ran 2nd in both the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint and G2 SROA Chairman’s Sprint, both over 1200M.

“(Winner Clear) can get a long way back and when that happens you need a bit of luck not to be stuck behind horses” winning jockey Seo Seung-un told KRBC. “Today he started very well, and I checked right away where 15 (Roshe) was and watched him all the way. Today everything lined up perfectly.”

Trainer Baik Kwang-yeol was quizzed on Winner Clear’s future plans after his charge won the only age and sex open Group race on the calendar over 1400M: “I see him as being capable at middle distance, even up to a mile so we will try and find some big races for him next year. First tough, we’ve entered him in the KRA Cup Sprint and will probably race there – he’s finished 2nd to Vincero Cavallo a couple of times so it would be nice to beat him.”

A new race on the Group calendar, the KRA Cup Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) will be run at Busan on Friday November 27th. There are currently thirty-four entries including Winner Clear and the aforementioned Vincero Cavallo. Roshe does not hold an entry but one at a later stage would perhaps make sense.

As for Roshe, jockey Jang Chu-youl put the defeat down as one of those things:

“I had high expectations because he is such a good horse” Jang Chu-youl told KRBC. “I had intended to settle back a bit but there were so few openings I had no choice but to go up the outside, then at the end, maybe as it had been a while since (he last ran), he was just a bit dull in the straight” Jang added. “The beaten margin wasn’t big, and I know he can do better in future.”

ROSHE RETURNS: KOOKJE SHINMUN PREVIEW AND FORM COMMENTS

Friday sees the Korea Premier Series return and with it the more eagerly awaited reappearance of the unbeaten Roshe, who heads a full field of sixteen in the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Busan. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 9 FRIDAY RACES AT BUSAN.

Roshe (Pic: KRA)

ROSHE is a perfect six from six and the three-year-old American import is yet to be troubled in any of his outings to date, including when he stepped up to Group company for the first time in the Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) in June when he recorded a facile ten-length win.

He hasn’t raced since, and while the Seong Sang-hyun trained Roshe did miss a scheduled trial a week ago, he had already come through one earlier in October and under regular jockey Jang Chu-youl, he should have too much for this field.

Several come out of creditable efforts in the international Korea Sprint over 1200M last month. They include MUNHAK BOY, who won this race last year before losing form completely. That slide may well have been arrested by a big 4th place in the international race, and he has Seoul Premiership leader Kozzi Asano aboard.

WINNER CLEAR, SILVER RAIN and HAKSAN SPEED also come out of the Korea Sprint while SUPER FINISH was 3rd in the international race last year and was a strong class 1 winner over this trip at the end of August. All will be backed on a place line.

GANGSEO GIANT and BIWOL are set to be the next bests. Here is a full run down of the field:

1. SUPER FINISH – Four-time winner over the distance most recently at the end of August at class 1 level. Beaten late on a very wet track when seemingly about to win but somehow finishing 4th two weeks ago. Good draw to lead and to be in this a long way. Place chance.

2. SINUI EREUM – Four-time winner whose recent form has been cold and whose rating as just dropped back to class 2. Big outsider here.

3. SILVER RAIN – More a 1200M horse, he was a fair 8th of sixteen in the Korea Sprint in September, prior to which he was 2nd in very quick race at class 2 level. Well-drawn to sit handy and while not favoured, he can beat plenty.

4. MAENGNYONG – A bit of a wildcard. He jumped up from class 3 to class 1 in May and won at this distance before finishing a decent 6th behind Roshe in the Owners’ Cup. Hasn’t raced since but won a trial in fine fashion on October 15th and 1400M is his go. Each-way chance.

5. SUNNY ROAD – Has been racing in Listed or equivalent company recently and has been well down the field. As won over this distance but on current form it is hard to see him making an impact in this company.

6. WINNER CLEAR – Second in two legs of the Sprint Series before running 6th in the Korea Sprint itself, each time settling well back and running on. He hasn’t ad much joy at 1400M but the way he has finished off recently suggests he is ready for another go. Second favourite.

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RUAN MAIA GUIDES MUNHAK BOY TO G3 SUCCESS AS SEOUL HORSES COMPLETE RARE GROUP RACE DOUBLE AT BUSAN

Jockey Ruan Maia has been dominating Seoul in recent months and on Sunday secured his first Group race success in Korea when making a flying visit to Busan and partnering American import Munhak Boy to an all the way success in the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3).

Coming off the back of five consecutive wins, Munhak Boy was sent off as the slight odds-on favourite as he tackled Group company for the first time but under Maia, he made the race largely a formality, taking full advantage of the inside draw, (his fourth in his last five starts) to get to the front of the sixteen-strong field and never looked like being headed.

Japanese import Smart Boss was 2nd while last year’s winner Gangseo Giant, who entered as a 90/1 chance with dismal recent form, seemed to know this is her race, and closed well for an excellent 3rd.

“It’s my first Group race (win) in Korea and I’d like to thank the trainer, the owner and the staff in the stable for giving me the opportunity to ride this nice horse” Ruan Maia told KRBC.

“I’m very proud of the horse, he showed his performance today and winning a Group race is very important for everybody.”

Munhak Boy is a three-year-old colt by Lord and Nelson and out of the Speightstown mare Miss Guided. He was imported in-utero. He is owned by Kwon Kyung-ja (of Moonhak Chief fame) and trained at Seoul by Jung Ho-ik.

Disappointments in the race were aplenty including Sprint Series winner Vincero Cavallo who was even more lackluster than his Korea Sprint effort, being the slowest away and finishing well down the field. He took a bump at the start and afterwards was found lame in his right foreleg.

Super Finish, 3rd in the Korea Sprint, as well as Champion mare Jeulgeounyeojeong, both also finished down the field. Initial vet checks came back clear for both.

Earlier, in the first Group race of the day, Boryeonglightqueen was sent off as the odds-on favourite for the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter.

It was not to be though for the three-year-old, who won the final leg of the Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies and also took out the first leg of the current series at Seoul a month ago. She settled well back as expected but this time did not run on under jockey Jung Do-yun, ultimately only making it up into 5th.

Instead, it was Flying Star, the 12/1 fifth favourite, who took the honours comfortably, settling handy before taking things up on the turn for home and going on to win by a full seven-lengths with Jang Chu-youl in the saddle.

68/1 outsider Ace High was 2nd with the ever-reliable Raon Forest in 3rd.

Flying Star is a four-year-old by Colors Flying and out of Gaya Gongju (by War Zone). Owned by Song Chang-oh she is trained at Seoul by Seo In-seok. A winner of five races, she was successful in the final race of the same series last year, the Breeders’ Cup Queen.

Kookje Shinmun Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (November 10)

The sprinters get their final shot at Group race glory for 2024 on Sunday with the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Busan. There are 8 races at Busan from 11:00 to 17:30 while there are 9 races in Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Eoma Eoma will bid to defend his Kookje Shinmun Cup at Busan on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with seven of the twelve racing for the first time and it is a debut-maker who will be favourite. (4) FREE TIME qualified at the second attempt and he did it in style, running handy in his trial before crossing the line in front in a quick time. If he brings that form to the races then, from a good draw, he will be hard to hold out. (10) SAINT WINNER also took a couple of goes to qualify and was much improved in the second of them, when 3rd in a fair time. This is a nice race to debut in and the 1200M first up can suit. Among the experienced ones, neither (5) EAST GANGJEOK nor (1) BURUI SEGYE set the world alight on their respective debuts, but both showed enough to suggest they can improve second up. (6) CHEONJI LADY didn’t do much on debut but previously hinted at ability in a trial and in this company can do better.

Selections(4) Free Time (10) Saint Winner (5) East Gangjeok (1) Burui Segye
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only in this juvenile maiden with two of the eight racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on (8) ASSEMBLE, who was slow away on debut before running on pleasingly enough for 6th of eleven over 1200M. She’ll have to be taken on trust that she doesn’t get as far back this time, but the extra half furlong can see her home. (1) FAST MELODY could inpy manage 8th on debut over 1000M on August 2nd, but the time was good and from the inside gate she can be on pace and has every chance. (3) STAR FORCE was the best of the two debut-makers in trials and from a nice draw can race handy and make an impression. (6) ILLUSION has raced twice, both over 1000M and posting the same time in both when finishing midfield. She has finished off well and can appreciate the step up in trip. (7) B.K. MAGIC the best of the rest.

Selections(8) Assemble (1) Fast Melody (3) Star Force (6) Illusion
Next Best7, 4
Fast Start1, 3, 6, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Juvenile maidens with all but three racing for the first time and with the experience offering little appeal, we must head to the trial videos. (7) GOOD CHOEGANG went through three heats, qualifying in the first but then doing two more in which he got progressively better, most recently 2nd place in 62.2 seconds when on pace on October 4th. If he gets on pace here, he may go all the way. (1) PALATINO similarly went through two heats, winning the first in a slow time but was then much quicker in a second on October 4th when overcoming the widest gate and running on well for 3rd. Drawn well, he can put in a bold showing. (11) STORM CROWN won his trial, settling handy and running on well in a quick time. He faces the challenge of a wide gate here can go well. (8) GWANAKSAN BLACK and (3) ART CATCHER trialed up together and both showed potential.

Selections(7) Good Choegang (1) Palatino (11) Storm Crown (8) Gwanaksan Black
Next Best3, 6
Fast Start3, 7, 8, 12

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(10) TAMNA SUPER enters off his best finish to date when 2nd at this distance on October 11th, beating a couple of these in the process. He has the challenge of a wide draw here, but with a little luck at the start, he can find a forward position and he can go one better. (6) SHACKLE LAUD has made good progress across three starts so far, culminating in 3rd place behind Tamna Super in that October 11th race, coming from well off the pace. He shapes as the main danger to overturn that for. (5) BABEL COME ON was 5th on debut over 1000M on October 11th, running on after a slow start. She should have come on for the run, and the additional furlong can suit. (9) MORNING DEW and (4) SPEED BOY, the latter trailing well five months on from an inauspicious debut, are others to consider.  

Selections(10) Tamna Super (6) Shackle Laud (5) Babel Come On (9) Morning Dew
Next Best4, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(9) DRAGON K has two 4th places from three starts so far, including his latest over 1200M on October 19th when close to the pace throughout. His times haven’t been world beating but he should have enough about him to get on or close to the speed here and the slight step up in trip can suit. (4) HANURI has made progress across three outings so far, culminating in a 3rd place on October 27th at 1400M, when ridden at the front for the first time. Expect similar tactics today and he has every chance of going even closer. (3) B.K. BELLE came from well off the pace to run 4th at this distance on October 5th. She doesn’t benefit from an apprentice claim this time, but that’s balanced by Kim Yong-geun being up, and she should be close. (2) MERIT SUNSHINE and (1) BULGUKSIDAE others in at least the placing frame.

Selections(9) Dragon K (4) Hanuri (3) B.K. Belle (2) Merit Sunshine
Next Best1, 7
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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