KOrea Racing Report

KOREA RACING REPORT – October 2-5

ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL A LISTED RACE TOOK PLACE IN THE RUNNING OF THE ILGAN SPORTS TROPHY OVER 1800M FOR DOMESTIC BRED HORSES WITH NO HIGHER THAN A KOREAN HANDICAP MARK OF 85 AND THE INCREDIBLY PROGRESSIVE CLUTCH MAGIC produced his best performance yet with a gutsy victory for jockey Johan Victoire and trainer Luigi Riccardi (writes Luke Humphreys).

Clutch Magic takes the Ilgan Sports (Pic: KRA)

Clutch Magic (Uncaptured) raced on the outside of the longtime leader No Problem throughout the contest before putting him to the sword at the top of the straight. However, this was when the 3.0 favourite Musket Day, who had easily won the spring equivalent of this race earlier in the year, was launched by Jang Chu-youl to challenge and looked to have the measure of the three-year-old colt. But the 3.6 second favourite was not to be denied and determinedly fought back to win the prize by a head from Musket Day whilst Yongam Sesang, who was a further neck back in third, may have beaten them both in another fifty metres.

“I knew that No Problem was going to go in front and that he was going to want to stay there” said Victoire “so even though my horse has natural speed, I did not want to go too fast so that it would help the horses behind to get into the race. So, I settled in the second spot and Clutch Magic was a little upset at first to not be in front but then he quickly relaxed. In the home straight, I saw Musket Day coming on my outside and he may have even overtaken me, but my horse was able to give another effort, he has a big heart. Right after crossing the finish line, I was not sure if I had won but I was happy after finding out that I had won. He was a little bit lost when he ran in the Minister’s Cup, but he is gaining more experience, and I too am getting to know him better. Clutch Magic is a horse I have been riding since the beginning, so it is even more meaningful, and I have lofty expectations for the rest of this year and even next year with this horse.

Of the rest Eclipse The King, 13.3, came home in fourth, with Taepyeong Hero, 9.6, in sixth ahead of No Problem, 11.5, who folded for seventh whilst Sling Star, 5.2, was eleventh of the thirteen runners.

The day was a big one for both Victoire and Riccardi as they followed up in Race 9 (1800M Class 1) with another impressive three-year-old in the shape of American-bred gelding G B VAULT (Rock Your World) who enhanced his reputation as a stayer of the future even further with a six-length win as the 4.0 second favourite. Just like Clutch Magic did seventy-five minutes earlier G B Vault raced on the outside of the leader but in his case, he could not have won any easier with 2.6 favourite Pepper X, who was having his first run since finishing down the field when fancied in the KRA Cup Classic, finishing second ahead of Black Belt in third. The other favourites included Vics Go, 5.0, Hero Fighter, 8.6, and Zetta Master 8.6, and they came home in fifth, sixth and seventh. Riccardi was actually completing a treble of wins on the day as juvenile filly G B QUEEN (Hansen), who just like G B Vault is raced by Son Byung-seok, followed up her impressive five-length trial score with success from the front in Race 1 (1000M Class 6) as the 1.4 favourite under Kim Hyo-jung.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: SEPTEMBER 18-20

ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL FANTASTIC VALUE TURNED WHAT LOOKED A COMPETITIVE JEJU GOVERNOR’S CUP INTO ONE OF THE MORE UNCOMPETITIVE BLACK TYPE RACES WITH A FULL FIELD YOU WOULD EVER SEE BUT THE MAIN HANDICAP WAS DEFINITELY COMPETITIVE AND TRAUM KING OBLIGED BY A NARROW MARGIN (writes Luke Humphreys).

TRAUM KING (by To Honor And Serve) was one of four in the market for the nine-runner race 10 (2000M Class 2) and they duly filled out the top four-places with Traum King, who had opened up a sizeable lead in the home straight under Jang Chu-youl, and enough left to hold off Mustang Power by a substantial nose. The other single-digit chances, Super Bluemoon and Storm Breaker, came home in 3rd and 4th.

Jang would complete a late race-to-race double as he partnered PHANTOM PRINCE (Cairo Prince) to an eye-catching success in the eleventh and final race on the card (1200M Class 4), the US-bred three-year-old breaking through at start number four. Coming from midfield and lengthening away to score by four-lengths as the 2.5 favourite. Ikkeulim and Mucho Macho Rapido filled out the placings.

JD GANGJA (Power Blade) was the easiest of winners in Race 9 (1800M Class 3) by twelve-lengths justifying punters confidence in making him the 3.0 favourite. It was a fast run race and whilst JD Gangja was not directly involved in the speed battle it was still a strong performance by the three-year-old colt, and much improved compared to his last couple. He was good enough to go around in some of the main juveniles races last year running 4th and 5th so the ability is clearly there. Daehan Power, 7.0, who is a renowned come from behind horse naturally performed well with so much speed in the race and he came home 2nd. Maeum Hana, 4.4, who was coming into the race following a last stride 1200M success at this grade in August suffered the third defeat of his career at start eight and under top weight of 57.5kg come home 5th whilst last start impressive victor Yongbigyo, 4.9, was 9th of the ten runners after paying the price to try and get her favourite position as the pacesetter.

Luis Quiroz and QUERENCIA (Concord Point) followed up their narrow August 23 victory with another in Race 7 (1300M Class 5) by a comfortable two-lengths over the 2.9 favourite Clover One. Querencia was the topweight with 57kg and will now be up to Class 4 grade.

Ruan Maia rode two impressive juveniles to success. The first was ECLIPSE GOLDEN (Gemologist) who was the 2.5 favourite in Race 2 (1400M Class 6) and after finishing third in each of his two previous starts got up right on the line to deny the Johan Victoire ridden Luigi Riccardi trained longtime leader Unicorn Ace who as the 3.8 third favourite looked to have an unassailable lead but stopped to a walk over the concluding stages and was caught very late.

Maia followed up on TAEPYEONG SG (South Beach) in Race 6 (1200M Class 5) who made it two wins from as many starts with a four-length front-running score in smart style. The 1.5 favourite was Gwanaksan Bigstep, following an impressive thirteen-length trial victory and five-length debut success, but he fell asleep in the gates, subsequently missed the start and had to use too much petrol to find a position and weakened for 5th.

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KOREA RACING REPORT (Aug 28-30): SUPER FINISH MAKES WINNING RETURN / CLEARLY WINNER, GB VAULT / DA SILVA FOUR-TIMER

ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL A 1400M CLASS 1 WAS THE MAIN RACE OF THE WEEKEND AND SUPER FINISH produced his best effort since finishing 3rd in the Korea Sprint last year with a dashing front-running display in his first race for almost six months (writes Luke Humphreys).

Super Finish (Federalist), which was being ridden for the first time by Ruan Maia, proved too good at odds of 4.9 over the topweight Vics Go which ran a very admirable race in 2nd beaten a half-length. The very consistent Ziggurat, 1.8 favourite, was a never nearer 3rd.

Johan Victoire and Lee Joon-chel combined for a race-to-race double on the card and that began when the very consistent FLYING HONOR (To Honor And Serve) bounced back to winning ways in Race 7 (1700M Class 4) scoring by one-and-three-quarter lengths as the 3.0 favourite. The locally bred three-year-old gelding has never missed the top four in seven starts and has now recorded three career wins. He was reversing form on the 3rd placed Hyeukmusang, 5.9, from their encounter on July 25 whilst another decent three-year-old JD Gangja, 3.4, split them in 2nd. The consistent but non-winning Geuma Foremost, 7.5, was 4th whilst the leader in the race Saenae Hunter, 8.6, who was up in trip was 5th.

Victoire and Lee followed up with 1.8 favourite GWANAKSAN SKY (Concord Point) in Race 8 (1800M Class 4) which bounced back to winning ways after winning his first three starts before finishing 9th in The Derby and 7th at his latest appearance. Gwanaksan Sky received a lot of pressure in front when beaten nine-lengths at his last start and was expected to lead once again and did so through the first quarter-mile however Kozzi Asano on Shining Road, which eventually finished 3rd, was keen to make the odds-on chance earn it and they eventually found the lead as Victoire was very keen to surrender the front-running on the popular pick once pressure came. Gwanaksan Sky then raced in 2nd, out of kickback, before leading in the home straight and proving too strong by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: AUGUST 21-23

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY A 1200M CLASS 2 WAS THE LAST OF THIRTY-FIVE THOROUGHBRED RACES ACROSS KOREA FOR THE WEEKEND AND RAON SILENCE recorded a comfortable win from an on-pace role giving jockey Jo Jae-ro a second winner of the day and a fifth winner for the weekend (writes Luke Humphreys).

Raon Silence (Musket Man) had been caught on the line at her previous start and chased home Roshe the time prior but proved too good by four-lengths as the 2.2 favourite with Drone Killer, 7.3, and Spalta, 6.8, doing the chasing for the minors with Excellent Tan, 8.1, and Star Trek, 7.5, in 6th and 8th places respectively.

Jo Jae-ro had earlier rode a winner that was just as impressive in the shape of SINGSING NASHE (Nashville) who produced one of the more impressive two-year-old performances of the season so far with an excellent seven-length front-running victory in Race 2 (1000M Class 4) which followed up his thirteen-length trial win on July 23. Whilst the track was fast the time of 58.8 seconds was outstanding and was just a half-second slower than both the class and course record.

Race 9 (1800M Class 3) saw GENERAL WIND (Yeonseung Daero) bounce back to form with a four-length success from the front under Furkan Yuksel justifying an odds-on quote of 1.6. General Wind has proven to be a smart type when controlling the race from the top however had bombed out at his previous start when unable to take the lead away from The Derby winner Hwang Geum Eo Jang and subsequently working hard but he had almost no competition this time not just in the run but also at the finish.

A Spanish named colt with a Spanish speaking jockey were the winners of Race 4 (1300M Class 5) with QUERENCIA (Concord Point) and Luis Quiroz eventually getting on top in a three-way photo finish. The winning trainer was Jung Ho-ik who completed a double when GLOBAL SERVE (To Honor And Serve) landed Race 7 (1200M Class 4) and that completed a double for Kozzi Asano as the Tony Castanheira trained FLYING SMART (Old Fashioned) earlier had won Race 5 (1300M Class 5) by a nose as the 3.0 favourite despite coming from midfield and receiving kickback.

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KOREA RACING REPORT – AUGUST 14-17 (ROOKIE STAKES)

IT WAS ROOKIE STAKES DAY IN KOREA LAST SUNDAY AND THE SEOUL VERSION SAW HOPE K record a second success in the race for owner Kang Gyeong-un after his colours were famously carried to success by Lala K three years ago (writes Luke Humphreys).

Dubai Heart claimed the Busan Rookie Stakes (Pic: KRA)

Hope K (Mitole) landed the prize in much distinct style to Lala K’s viral victory however as he led throughout to land the money by five-lengths for jockey Lee Dong-ha and trainer Moon Byeong-ki. Hope K was recording his second win at start three and beat the 4.4 second favourite, and previously unbeaten, Major Fury into 2nd. The other favourites were South Carnival, 5.0, who had beaten Hope K at the end of May, who finished 6th and the Luigi Riccardi prepared Johan Victoire ridden Kkumui Yeonsok, 2.3, who was the popular pick with punters after his sensational win on debut, but he was slow at the start and was never closer than second last.

Trainer Moon Byeong-ki completed a double when winning the concluding Race 10 (1200M Class 4) with PANGPANG DAERO (Frosted) who as the 4.2 second favourite led throughout from the inside gate to land the spoils by two-lengths at his first attempt at Class 4. Cheongsan Dolpung was 2nd whilst 3.9 favourite Sahara Khan did well to run 3rd after a poor start ahead of Ikkeulim, Ever Glory and Forever Gil in 4th, 5th, and 6th.

Whilst naturally the Rookie Stakes was the feature of the meeting Race 9 would have been the main race on the day on any normal card. It was an 1800M Class 1 and five-year-old mare GLADIUS (Boys At Tosconova) on her first run against the boys since February of last year, when she beat them by eight-lengths, proved way too good by a margin of nine-lengths despite being very wide throughout the contest. The grey mare is one of the most consistent horses in the country and no doubt her win would have been a huge confidence booster leading into the Queen’s Tour races this coming Autumn. Zetta Master, at this stage the only Seoul based horse entered in the Korea Cup, came from last as he always does to be 2nd whilst Musket Day, a Listed winner in May, was 3rd ahead of longtime leader No Problem in 4th. The disappointment of the race was the 2.9 favourite Best Race who had been best of the rest behind Roshe in the Owner’s Cup at his previous start. He had run over 1800M or further just twice in his career when 12th in both last year’s Derby and Minister’s Cup and the trip proved too far for him especially considering he was on pace in the run.

There were multiple trainers and jockeys that had winning doubles on the day, and they included Tony Castanheira who had a race-to-race double at that with HOT FEVER (Old Fashioned) in Race 3 (1300M Class 5) and BEONGAE LEWIS (Uncaptured) in Race 4 (1400M Class 5). Hot Fever was recording her first win at start ten and pinched the prize from the front under Kozzi Asano whilst Beongae Lewis followed up his twelve-length trial win and six-length debut win with a four-length score as the 1.6 favourite sixty-five minutes later and is a three-year-old colt to keep following.

Lee Hyeok was the winning jockey on Beongae Lewis, and he completed a double when YONGBIGYO (Nitrous) was a smart nine-length winner from the front in Race 7 (1600M Class 4) on her Class 4 debut. She comfortably accounted for the 1.8 favourite Raon Finalle who was finishing 2nd for the third consecutive start.

Kang Hwan-min trained a double with SAMJEONG YEOJE (Cowboy Cal) winning by four-lengths in Race 2 (1300M Class 6) before ONE DIA (Independence) won Race 5 (1400M Class 5) as the 2.8 favourite with Furkan Yuksel. The winning rider on Samjeong Yeoje was Kim Yong-geun and he completed a pair of wins on the day when NAMSAN ROCK (Known Agenda) scored by nine-lengths as the 1.9 favourite in Race 6 (1400M Class 4).

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KOREA RACING REPORT: AUGUST 7-9

THE MAIN RACE THIS WEEKEND IN KOREA WAS THE CONCLUDING CONTEST AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY IN THE SHAPE OF A 1200M CLASS 1 HANDICAP AND WITH LESS THAN THREE-LENGTHS COVERING THE FIRST EIGHT HOME IN THE ELEVEN-RUNNER FIELD IT WAS KING HONOR who landed the prize completing a treble on the day for rider Kim Yong-geun (writes Luke Humphreys).

The consistent King Honor (To Honor And Serve) came from midfield to score at his very first attempt at the grade over 2.6 favourite Hansen Bracing with the ever-consistent Ziggurat in 3rd. One of the roughies in the field in Geosen Bangyeok looked the winner for most of the way down the straight before peaking on the run in the final 100M with Daehan Jilju, Mighty Look, Yongam Sesang, and J S Road, 4.0 second favourite, filling the next four places in an outstanding finale to the weekend.

The Oaks winner CATCH RACE (Afleet Express) bounced back to winning ways in Race 9 (1600M Class 3) with an effortless five-length victory as the 1.3 favourite. She had put the writing on the wall in the Luna Stakes (Korean 1000 Guineas) prior to her last gasp Oaks victory before being beaten in similar fashion to the way she defeated Clearly Winner in The Oaks when 2nd to Sunrise in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. She never looked like losing and defeated co-favourites Namsan Belt, 7.7, and longtime leader Baro Danaeun, 9.2.

MUJEOK HAMDAE (Mischieviously) scored for Furkan Yuksel as the 3.1 favourite in Race 7 (1800M Class 4), one of multiple wins across the weekend for trainer Lee Shin-woo. Mujeok Hamdae was first up since the beginning of April when chasing home Gwanaksan Sky and came from midfield to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

TIGER BULPAE (Power Blade) broke through at the ninth time of asking in Race 6 (1400M Class 5) and justified punters confidence winning by two-and-a-half lengths as the 1.7 favourite. The three-year-old filly had finished either 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th in each of her eight previous runs but finally was able to better all those results and did it well. Kim Yong-geun was the winning jockey and that was the first of his three wins on the day.

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KOREA RACING REPORT – JULY 24-26: KOZZI TREBLES, DERBY WINNER BEATEN, SUPER AERO MAKES WINNING RETURN

ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL GANGPUNGMA FINALLY BROKE HIS BLACK TYPE DUCK WITH A BRILLIANT VICTORY IN THE PRINCIPAL LOCAL PREPARATION RACE FOR THE KOREA CUP.  ON THE UNDERCARD JAPANESE JOCKEY KOZZI ASANO rode A TREBLE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE HERO CHEETAH his main winner in the concluding 1200M Class 3 (writes Luke Humphreys).

Gangpungma beat Global Hit in the KRA Cup Classic (Pic: KRA)

The Tony Castanheira trained Hero Cheetah (Yaupon) MADE it three wins from five starts and that one loss aside. he has looked very smart. He was the 4.6 second favourite and scored by one-and-a-quarter lengths over the 2.8 favourite Korean Dream who attempted to lead throughout and lost no admirers in 2nd.

The other two victories for Asano came with CHAOS (To Honor And Serve) who won Race 2 (1200M Class 6) before MUNHAK CHUKJE (Blame) made it back-to-back course, distance, and grade victories in Race 7 (1600M Class 4). After finishing 3rd at his previous two attempts Chaos broke through at the fourth time of asking, leading throughout to score by three-quarters of a length as the 3.6 second choice over the 1.9 favourite Pieonari whilst Munhak Chukje scored by one-and-a-quarter lengths over the resuming 2.4 favourite JD Gangja.  Other favourites included KRA Cup Mile 3rd placegetter Chocolate, who was a never nearer 7th.

The other jockey with multiple success on the day was apprentice Woo In-cheol who led for most of the way to score by four-lengths on 3.7 favourite ISIMNYEON SEWOL (Mischieviously) in Race 5 (1400M Class 5) before landing Race 8 (1800M Class 4) on GLOBAL COMPUTING (Cloud Computing) who was recording his first win at start nine. That was the upset of the day with Global Computing returning 24.4. He defeated the hat-trick seeking 5.4 second favourite Pasa Spark by a half-length with 7.5 third favourite Shining Road in 3rd. The two pacesetters in the race were the 2.0 favourite Gwanaksan Sky, who was previously unbeaten bar his 9th place in the Derby, and 7.6 fourth market choice Parisui Bulkkot and they burned their petrol too early and were beaten a long way from home ending up in 7th and 10th places in the full field of eleven.

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KOREA RACING REPORT (JULY 17-19) – HERO FIGHTER, BIWOL CLAIM CLASS 1 VICTORIES / SLING STAR MAKES IT FIVE IN A ROW / MOON SE-YOUNG TRAINS FIRST WINNER

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY A HYBRID CLASS 1 WAS THE MAIN EVENT WITH HERO FIGHTER landing the prize for Kozzi Asano and Tony Castanheira (writes Luke Humphreys).

Hero Fighter (American Freedom) scored by a narrow margin over One Punch Dragon who was returning to form after a couple of average runs following five consecutive wins last season. Vet Captain, who was dropping back in trip after racing over further in better races at his previous two starts, was a never nearer 4th whilst the 1.4 favourite G B Vault disappointed at his first Class 1 run only running 5th and never really looking like a winning chance.

SPARK THUNDER (Hansen) was a two-and-a-half length winner for Andre da Silva in Race 7 (1600M Class 3) proving too quick for the Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s 3rd placegetter Tiger Roar who was a two-and-a-half length 2nd as the 1.6 favourite. Tiger Roar after not the cleanest of starts was ridden through to lead from the inside gate by Jo Jae-ro, who was riding for the first time, but was eventually caught for speed over a distance short of her best. To her credit she did kick back in the final 200M after looking unlikely to get anywhere near Spark Thunder.

The victory of Spark Thunder completed a double for trainer Lee Shin-woo after the in form YONGBIGYO (Nitrous) earlier won Race 4 (1300M Class 5) from the front as the 2.0 favourite and that was the first of two wins on the day for owner Jung Sung-jin who later had YONGBI HERO (Goldencents) score in Race 8 (1400M Class 4). Yongbi Hero had gotten close to Sling Star, to be mentioned later, and Comeback Holymoely at his previous two starts and continues to race in good form. Kim Yong-geun was the winning rider on Yongbi Hero and he completed a double when SMILING PRINCE (Smiling Tiger) was a soft three-length winner of Race 10 (1400M Class 3). Lala K could not follow up his previous 1200M victory as he finished 9th of the ten runners.

Owner Lee Kang-woon had a race-to-race double on the card in Race 2 and Race 3 with his charges winning both divisions of the 1300M Class 6 maiden with BROWN JACKPOT (Shackleford) landing the first of them by five-lengths under Kim Hyo-jung, who has bounced back from injury in good form, before WHITE JACKPOT (Hansen) was a four-length winner for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi.

An exciting juvenile prospect was unleashed in Race 1 (1200M Class 6) with this year’s Derby winning jockey Lee Dong-ha riding CLUTCH DERBY (Cairo Prince) to a brilliant nine-length front-running victory in impressive time. Clutch Derby only pulled further clear from his rivals and followed up his trial victory on July 2 where he led and won by seven-lengths. The Choi Yong-geon prepared colt looks one to keep a close eye on. 

Lee Dong-ha followed up in Race 6 (1400M Class 4) on RAON NIZHINSKII (Shackleford) which drew clear late to score by five-lengths over 3.3 favourite Flutter who attempted to lead throughout and was looking to bounce back to winning ways after defeats in his previous two starts, including the KRA Cup Mile (Korean 2000 Guineas), with Kim Hyo-jung returning as his rider but was grabbed in the last 200M and finished 2nd.

AT BUSAN ON SUNDAY WHAT WILL EFFECTIVELY BE THE BUSAN TRIAL RACE FOR THE KOREA SPRINT TOOK PLACE AS RACE 7 AND THE PROGRESSIVE BIWOL scored by two-and-a-half lengths as the 5.6 second favourite.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: JULY 10-12

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY TWO 1400M CLASS 3 RACES WERE THE MAIN EVENTS ON THE CARD AND THE CONCLUDING RACE OF THE PAIR WAS WON BY GREAT STORM, who despite being the outsider of the field bar one got the prize by one-and-a-quarter lengths (writes Luke Humphreys).

Great Storm (Overanalyze) was an important winner for both jockey Jo Seong-hwan and trainer Lee Kang-seo with his one-and-a-quarter length victory proving enough to beat the 3.9 favourite Cheongryongui Cal. Great Storm was down in class but will presumably find himself straight back to class 2.

Latin American riders had a race-to-race double on the card with Luis Quiroz riding 23.2 chance THUNDER A ONE (Thunder Moccasin) to victory in Race 8 (1600M Class 4) whilst fifty minutes earlier Andre da Silva recorded his second Korean victory on his eighth ride with BLUE PIORA (Take Charge Indy) who landed Race 7 (1400M Class 3) by an impressive eleven-lengths in a time that was 2.2 seconds faster than standard for the class and grade.

The last victory for jockey Kim Hyo-jung before a trackwork injury in early June wason THE SUN STORY (Shackleford) on May 30. As it turned out her first weekend back of riding saw The Sun Story take his place in Race 5 (1700M Class 5) and they duly scored by three-lengths. The Sun Story had no issues with the extra 300M in distance and will now be up to Class 4 grade after completing this hat-trick of wins.

Kim Hyo-jung completed a double when riding HIGH FOLLY (The King) to an upset victory in Race 9 (1800M Class 4). That race saw 2.1 favourite Musket Cleaver, who had run a great 6th in the Derby in May in what was the final ride for Moon Se-young, run a disappointing 5th.

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Korea Racing Report: July 3-5

SUNDAY AT SEOUL SAW A 1200M CLASS 1 AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND AND THE POSSIBLE LAST RUN FOR SOME OF SEOUL’S BEST SPRINTERS BEFORE SEPTEMBER’S INTERNATIONAL KOREA SPRINT AND IT SAW KOREA’S BEST SPRINTER BOMB OUT WHILST THE ENIGMATIC NICE FORCE showed that on his day, he can really match it with the best of them as he produced a win from the top under Ruan Maia (writes Luke Humphreys).

Nice Force (Mor Spirit), 9.6 fourth favourite, had gone into the inaugural running of the KRA Sprint on Grand Prix Day last year as an odds-on favourite but bombed out and had been inconsistent in five runs since. On Sunday he showed his best form and it was good enough to run the legs off his rivals and score by three-quarters of a length. Haksan Speed, who had run very well in the Busan Ilbo and SBS Sports Sprints, put his poor SROA Chairman’s Sprint run behind him with a 2nd place finish as the 4.3 second choice with Something Lost in 3rd. The 4.9 third favourite Crown Hamseong has been up and down in form this year and was only 6th after receiving every chance in the run.

However, the talking point out of the race is the performance of Korea’s best sprinter Vincero Cavallo who was never closer than midfield and ultimately finished 9th of ten. He got himself out of a tricky rearward position on the rail in the run to finish a never nearer 3rd in the SROA Sprint and was in a similar position in this race, but there appeared to be fewer excuses this time. Vets found no abnormalities.

SU BU TAI (Concord Point) came from off the pace to score in Race 6 (1400M Class 5). The 7.4 chance provided the first Korean winner for former Selangor Turf Club champion jockey Andre Luis Da Silva, the pair overturning the favourite and long-time leader Pasa Queen in the last half-furlong. The Brazilian rider landed 72 winners in Malaysia in 2025, a full twenty-seven clear of his nearest rival. It had been a lengthy visa and insurance process for Da Silva who has now hit the ground running in a license that initially runs to the end of this year.

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