Speed Young

Not Nearly Anymore! Speed Young Races To Group 1 Glory in President’s Cup

Speed Young, Korean racing’s nearly horse, finally tasted Group 1 glory with victory in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old held out Gangpungma by just under a length with Success Baekpa and the defending champion Global Hit 3rd and 4th. The top four in the market dominated and beat home the rest of the field by a full nine-lengths.

Speed Young is Group 1 (Pic: KRA)

Despite having missed the Korea Cup through lameness discovered after being beaten by Success Baekpa in August’s KRA Cup Classic, Global Hit was sent off as the slight odds-on favourite for the richest open age race in the country that is restricted to local bred horses.

While settling fairly under Kim Hye-sun and taking up a good position coming into the home straight, Global Hit never threatened to win and was beaten a long way from home.

Instead, it was Speed Young who, having raced handy throughout with Jung Do-yun on board, took things up with just over a furlong to go and ran on to hold off the fast-finishing Gangpungma with plenty to spare.

“I think we won because we rode a confident race plan today. I wanted to get forward and not to have to worry about what any other horse was doing” winning jockey Jung Do-yun told in-house broadcaster KRBC.

It was the jockey’s first Group 1 win. “When you choose to be a jockey as your profession, winning Group 1 races is your ultimate goal and now I have done that I am so happy I can’t express it in words…I really want to thank the owner for trusting me with the ride, the trainer for his guidance and the fans in Seoul for their support whenever I come here.”

Speed Young won three of his first five races and was champion juvenile in 2022 but won only another three in his next twenty-one starts with the biggest coming in last year’s G3 Owners’ Cup at Busan.

Always running in Graded Stakes company though he had amassed a slew of top four finishes at distances between 1200M and 2300M. Demonstrating his versatility and reliability – “Swiss army knife” is one of his many nicknames – Speed Young was the best locally trained finisher in the 2024 Korea Sprint and the 2025 Korea Cup.

“I am very happy.” Park Nam-sung, who owns Speed Young through his D R M City group and also, under his own name, Gangpungma and therefore had a very good day, smiled to KRBC. “Of course, the victory had absolutely nothing to do with me but all the staff who made it happen.”

“Finally, it’s a victory. I bought Speed Young for 100 Million Won and since then he has lots of top two and three and four finishes, the occasional win, but always in the best races. He was 4th in the Korea Cup and now he makes a statement by winning the President’s Cup.”

As for what is next, Park didn’t mention the  Dubai Carnival but instead said “Let’s try and win the Korea Cup next year.”

Trainer Bang Dong-suk saddled both the winner and the beaten defending champion and he admitted to KRBC that it was an unfamiliar sensation. “Global Hit was below my expectation, which was disappointing, but Speed Young winning is a new feeling.”

“I was so disappointed with the last race (KRA Cup Classic), not to take anything away from Success Baekpa who beat us, but today Speed Young looked much more loosened up and Jung Do-yun said he wanted to go for it.”

“With Global Hit, I will review the race again, talk to (jockey) Kim Hye-sun, and obviously have the horse checked for his condition and hopefully we can go again.”

Later in the evening, the stewards reported that the post-race vet examination noted the same conditions Global Hit was diagnosed with in August – desmitis of the suspensory ligament and synovitis of the fetlock joint, both chronic if manageable ailments. He will need to be cleared by the vets before being permitted to race again.

The President’s Cup is part of the Korea Premier Series and while it was restricted to Korean bred horses, the final leg, the Grand Prix Stakes (2000M KOR-G1) on November 30th is open not only to foreign bred, but also foreign trained horses and Japan’s Yumeno Honoo, 3rd behind Global Hit and Speed Young in May’s YTN Cup, is expected to return to Korea for another go.

Speed Young and Gangpungma may now have the best chance of preserving honour for the home side.

BUSAN OWNERS’ CUP 2025 – PREVIEW & FORM COMMENTS

SPEED YOUNG has spent most of his career playing second-fiddle to stablemate Global Hit but that wasn’t the case in last year’s Busan Owners’ Cup, and it won’t be this time either as the defending champion will be favourite when he takes on fifteen rivals on Sunday afternoon (1600M KOR-G3). SEE HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON SUNDAY.

Can Wonpyeong Storm step up? (Pic: KRA)

A successful defence for Speed Young will require him to overcome some very promising younger horses. WONPYEONG STORM won his first five races before being well beaten when sent in against the elite in the first leg of the Stayer Series over 2000M in March. That proved to be too much too soon but after a couple of months rest, he returned to win at this distance in May, and he should be a different prospect here.

Fellow three-year-old FINAL K has won five from six and is also an exciting prospect while DESPITE WIN, a year older, has won five from nine and bog things are expected.

Among the more established rivals, SUCCESS BAEKPA and BLACK MAMBA are done no favours by the draw but their quality can see them in the mix, while BLACK MUSK is the wildcard. He can blow hot or cold but on his day is as good as any.  

The Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) is the concluding race 6 on Sunday’s card at Busan with a local post time of 16:30. There are also 11 Sunday races at Seoul.

1. DESPITE WIN – Winner of five from nine in total including twice at this distance. Comes off a class 1 (rating capped at 95) win at 2000M on May 30th and while this is a big step up in quality, can be competitive. Seo Seung-un rides.

2. FINAL K – Only defeat came behind Wonpyeong Storm over 1200M last November. Most recently won a Trophy race for three-year-olds in April over 1800M, settling handy and running on. Big step up in grade but loads of potential.

3. WONPYEONG STORM – The Herald Business proved too much too soon in March but after a couple of months off, he returned to winning ways at a mile at Class 1. High ceiling and a big chance.

4. BYEOLNARA JILJU – Lowest rated in the race, he only beat one home in last month’s Busan Mayor’s Cup, and he will be one of the longest shots on the board again.

5. BOLT MAN – A multiple winner at class 1 including over this distance. He was well back in the first two legs of the Stayer Series though and this isn’t much easier.

6. NAOL SNIPER – Always runs in top class company and was 6th of fourteen here in last month’s Busan Mayor’s Cup. Form to overturn here but at his best can be a place chance.

7. BLACK MUSK – Graded race winner who mixes his form. He was huge 2nd in SBS Sports Sprint in April before struggling in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint last month. First go at a mile since running midfield in this race three years ago. Third-up so may be peaking.

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Global Hit Grinds To Busan Homecoming Victory

Global Hit found himself in trouble but managed to dig himself out and ultimately grind down stablemate Speed Young to take a narrow win in the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) at Busan on Sunday afternoon.

Global Hit edges out Speed Young in the Busan Mayor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)

Making a rare appearance at his home track, GLOBAL HIT was sent off as the prohibitive 1.1 favourite for the race but found himself pocketed and unable to find a run until late on. By that time SPEED YOUNG had launched his bid for home and it took until the very final strides for Global Hit to get on terms and ultimately pass him to win by a neck.

The one-two was the same as in last month’s YTN Cup at Seoul, when Global Hit finished five-lengths to the good. That day’s fourth placegetter and Herald Business winner SUCCESS BAEKPA was six-lengths back in 3rd.

“The start was quicker than in the 2000M races so it was hard to find position, especially when (Daeam Janggun) came across and I couldn’t get out” winning jockey Kim Hye-sun explained to KBS N Sports. “It was then very close in the straight. I think we will take this experience of 1800M and try to avoid making the same mistake in the Korea Cup.”

The win was Global Hit’s twelfth in twenty-one lifetime starts. It was his ninth Group race success but his first at Busan, where his and Speed Young’s trainer Bang Dong-suk is based.

It’s probable that Global Hit will follow the same route as he did last year and not race again until defending the KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul on August 3rd in the lead up to the Korea Cup (1800M IG3) on September 7.  Speed Young will probably be sent to defend the Busan Owner’s Cup (1600M KOR-G3) that he won last year on June 29.

Despite only prevailing narrowly, Global Hit looks a far better horse than he was a year ago. With his early pace and sustained finish – the latter getting him and his jockey out of trouble on Sunday – he very nearly has the full package. He is the best local hope for September’s international races.

In related news, three-year-old import WONPYEONG STORM, who was five for five before finding the Herald Business in March a bit too much too soon returned to action at Seoul on Sunday afternoon. The Tale Of The Cat colt was a dominant winner of the Sports Kyunghyang Trophy (rating 95 or less), cruising home eight lengths to the good over a mile.

Next weekend the feature action is at Busan again with the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3), the final leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer for fillies and mares on Sunday.

GLOBAL HIT AND SPEED YOUNG SEE OFF BRAVE YUMENO HONOO IN YTN

In the end all parties emerged with heads held high. Global Hit ran out a comfortable five-length winner of the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) sparing any possible blushes for the local contingent, while Japan’s Yumeno Honoo ran with enormous credit, finishing 3rd, just a head behind Speed Young in 2nd on his first time racing outside of Kochi and on an anticlockwise track.

Global Hit successfully defends the YTN Cup (Pic: KRA)

Korean punters certainly respected the visitor, Yumeno Honoo being sent off the 2.3 second favourite to Global Hit’s 1.9, those the only two in the market on a win line. And any doubts about the unfamiliar environment affecting Yumeno Honoo’s starting manners were dispelled when he leapt out on pace and tracked Miracle Marine, who as expected sprung out of gate two and into the lead.

Global Hit meanwhile had to navigate from gate twelve racing handy but wide for much of the early part of the race, with jockey Kim Hye-sun evidently determined not to allow Yumeno Honoo and Hiroto Yoshihara to get the jump on them.

By the time they entered the home straight, Global Hit was straining to be let loose and after Miracle Marine gave way, Global Hit cruised past new leader Yumeno Honoo as well as his stablemate Speed Young and dominated the closing stages. Yumeno Honoo was headed by Speed Young but was a full length and a half clear of Herald Business winner Success Baekpa in 4th.

“I always try to enjoy myself, but I felt pressure until yesterday” winning jockey Kim Hye-sun, for who Global Hit has been a career-defining horse, told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “There is always a lot of expectation and support for Global Hit, but I think it was more intense this time with the Japanese horse here.”

“I know there was some doubt about how he would fare after Dubai, but the result speaks for itself. There were so many variables coming into this race, but we wanted to be on pace and once the gate opened, he began well. I thought (Yumeno Honoo) might go a little faster and I was surprised how well we won by.”

Winning trainer Bang Dong-suk, who also saddled Speed Young to 2nd place, said that Global Hit has benefitted from his Dubai trip. “I think he has grown – or upgraded would be a better word – through his time in Dubai. He returned healthy so was ready for this.”

“I discussed (with jockey Kim Hye-sun) and we decided to go forward as much as possible at the start, like he did in Dubai.”

“Japanese horses are renowned the world over and although (Yumeno Honoo) is from a local racecourse, I had a lot of respect for him. So, I am very happy to win.”

Global Hit and Kim Hye-sun in the YTN Winner’s Circle (Pic: KRA)

Quizzed on what was next for Global Hit – the potential for a rare outing at his home track of Busan in the final leg of the Stayer Series, the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) followed by the KRA Cup Classic in August and then the Korea Cup in September the logical path – the trainer played a straight bat.

“The only thing that determines it is (Global Hit’s) health. We will do our best to help him be fit and healthy and then decide where to go.”

Speed Young’s jockey Park Jae-I (who is married to Kim Hye-sun) also spoke after the race. “I was pleased with how it went, better than I expected. I was wide but I didn’t really have a choice from gate fifteen and I just wanted to get as close as possible. I had hoped for more of a kick at the end, but Global Hit was out of sight.”

“Global Hit is really strong” said Yumeno Honoo’s rider Hiroto Yoshihara. “I was worried about the start, but it all went smoothly, and I was able to settle into 2nd place. Yumeno Honoo gave his best and really the race couldn’t have gone any better.”

Yumeno Honoo flies back to Japan on Monday afternoon, and he goes back having demonstrated that the Kochi form can stand up. It may not be too long until another Japanese visitor tries their luck here with Strike On among the preliminary nominations for the final leg of the Sprint Series on May 18th.

Global Hit moves on to eleven wins from nineteen starts. The Korea Cup will be harder. Fit and healthy, of course.

Next week the attention turns to the filly and mare division with the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer (1400M KOR-G2).

Speed Young Claims Dominant Owners’ Cup Win

It was a long time coming but the 2022 Champion Juvenile Speed Young finally made his way back into the Graded Stakes winner’s circle last Sunday, routing a top line field to win the Busan Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) by eight lengths.

Sent off as the slight favourite in the sixteen-strong field, Speed Young was handy throughout before kicking clear in the home straight under jockey Kim Hye-sun and winning with plenty to spare. Veteran Simjangui Godong was 2nd with sprinter Eoma Eoma 3rd.

“He won the Breeders’ Cup as a two-year-old but he hasn’t been a straightforward horse” winning trainer Bang Dong-suk, told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “He had quite an impatient temperament, was difficult to control and had a habit of overdoing things. He seems to now be maturing.”

“I didn’t necessarily expect to win and I was a little concerned about the amount of rain, but I am very happy that the disappointment of (Speed Young) always finishing 2nd or 3rd, is now over.

Herald Business Cup – Stayer Series 1st Leg Form Comments

Last weekend the Sprinting division was shaken up by the new generation as Raon The Point and Something Lost came home 1st and 2nd in the Busan Ilbo Sprint with Eoma Eoma trailing home in 5th. This Sunday, the four-year-olds will bid to ascend to the top of the Staying ranks as last year’s Korean Derby winner Global Hit heads the field in the Herald Business Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse, the first leg of the 2024 Stayer Series and first step along the road to September’s international Korea Cup. (SEE HERE FOR PREVIEWS OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL & BUSAN).

Stablemates Global Hit and Speed Young will face off again (Pic: KRA)

The established old guard, for the most part, won’t be there.  Raon The Fighter has been on the long-term injured list since last summer while Winner’s Man joined him after his successful Grand Prix defence, and both are doubtful to appear on a racecourse again. Success Macho underwent arthroscopic surgery for a chip fracture last month while earlier this week, Haengbok Wangja suffered a trackwork injury that has his future career in doubt too.

GLOBAL HIT was the standout three-year-old of last season, skipping the first leg of the Triple Crown, but then running out the dominant winner of both the Korean Derby and the Minister’s Cup, to claim the final two jewels under jockey Kim Hye-sun, who returns to Seoul to ride him again. He then finished an in no way disgraced 8th in the international Korea Cup, before rounding out the year with runner-up finishes to Winner’s Man in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes, in the latter of those, pushing the defending champion all the way to the line, going down by just a nose.

That Grand Prix run was a standout performance by Global Hit and marked out the To Honor And Serve colt, who is slight in stature but full of speed as the heir-apparent to the Raon The Fighter and Winner’s Man generation. While it now transpires that he may not need to actually beat them in order to replace them, the standard of opposition that remains, means he will still need to earn it.

VICS GO comes in off a stand-out performance to win the Listed Segye Ilbro Trophy over 1200M a month ago. He is a class 1 winner over 2000M though and only looks to be getting better with every run. Meanwhile TUHONUI BANSEOK was runner-up in this race last year and went on the win the second leg of the Stayer Series, the YTN Cup, last May.

SPEED YOUNG is a stablemate of Global Hit and was champion Juvenile in 2022. Although an also-ran in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, he ran 2nd to Global Hit in the Minister’s Cup and was then 3rd in the President’s Cup. Although beaten when a short-price favourite at class 1 over 2000M at Busan at the end of January, this race was clearly the target, and he may still have more improvement in him.

NUT PLAY and NAOL SNIPER are other four-year-olds who can still have more upside, while the veteran SIMJANGUI GODONG returns from an unsuccessful trip to the Dubai Carnival and should be much more at home on the Seoul sand.

The Herald Business Cup is race 7 on the 11-race program at Seoul with a local post time of 15:40.

1. THE GUMPU – Well back on only start of 2024 in January but trialled nicely alongside Eoma Eoma last month.

2. CHIEF INDY – Strong class 1 winner over 2300M in February. Tends to come unstuck among the elite though.

3. NAOL SNIPER – Runner-up in last year’s Derby, he has won his latest three up to Class 2 level. Moon Se-young aboard and a big run is not impossible.

4. FANTASTIC MAN – Also-ran in the Grand Prix and 4th behind Crazy Conti over 2000M in January. Trialled well since but outsider here.

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Winner’s Man Claims G1 Grand Slam and Record Earnings in President’s Cup Coronation

Winner’s Man eased away from his rivals and casually wrote his name into Korean racing lore at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon as in winning the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) in emphatic fashion, he became the first horse ever to win four different Group 1 races in the country. He also became the highest earning Korean racehorse in history.

Seo Seung-un and Winner’s Man acknowledge the crowd after making history on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

The so-called Grand Slam is an almost impossible task. To begin with a horse must win a Korean Derby – and of course they only get one crack at that. They must also win a Korea Cup (or a Korea Sprint; nobody is requiring both) where they will most likely need to overcome strong overseas opposition, and they must also conquer the stamina-sapping Grand Prix Stakes with the grueling Seoul sand making the 2300M in sub-zero December equivalent to significantly further on less demanding surfaces.

The President’s Cup, restricted to Korean-bred horses (foreign bred horses can’t win a Grand Slam no matter what they do) and, unlike the Derby, with horses able to run in it for as long as they are racing, and in temperate mid-November is arguably the easiest of the four to win. Triple Nine did it four times. But he didn’t win a Derby or Korea Cup. Winner’s Man has won both, as well as a Grand Prix Stakes.

Last year he could only manage 3rd but this time around it was easy for Winner’s Man in the President’s Cup. While Minister’s Cup runner up Speed Young set the early pace along with Jeongmun Sai and Derby-winner Global Hit, jockey Seo Seung-un eased Winner’s Man into a position midfield and one off the fence, keeping out of trouble but always within striking distance. As the field rounded the final turn, Winner’s Man moved ever closer and once they straightened up, Seo pulled the trigger, and the result was a foregone conclusion.

The margin on the line was seven-lengths to Global Hit in 2nd and Speed Young in 3rd. 2022 winner Simjangui Godong was gallant as ever in 4th while the mare Eodigana pulled off a super run to come from well off the pace and finish 5th.

Winner’s Man defeats Global Hit and Speed Young (Pic: KRA)

“I need to thank all the staff of our stable” winning trainer Choi Ki-hong told in house broadcaster KRBC. “They have worked so hard to prepare Winner’s Man for this and it is a great honour for him to win this title. At the start he settled back, which was no problem, as he had experienced a lot of sand in the KRA Cup Classic and then when he improved around the 3rd corner, I was very confident.”

“I was sorry to his fans that we couldn’t win this race last year, so I am relieved and thankful we did it today.” As for what is next for Winner’s Man: “We go back home, and we prepare for the Grand Prix.”

“I am finally able to relax a bit” quipped Seo Seung-un to KRBC after piloting Winner’s Man into history. “I felt pressure going into the race, but it was on behalf of the horse, not myself, because of what he deserves, but fortunately we did him justice.”

“He has won everything now, except for the Korea Sprint, and he has won more prize money than any other horse (in Korea). But he still has a lot of potential for more so I will work hard with him, and we will prepare for next month.”

Winner’s Man was 7 lengths clear on the line (Pic: KRA)

Winner’s Man’s winning time was the quickest of any President’s Cup to date. He is only five years old but has now overtaken Triple Nine as the highest earning Korean racehorse of all time. By Musket Man and out of the Volponi mare Winner’s Marine, he has now won seventeen of twenty-seven starts.

A Grand Slam isn’t out of the question for Global Hit. No Derby winner has won the President’s Cup in the same year – the three-year-old winners of the race have all tended to be slightly later developers – but Global Hit, if he stays sound, looks to be the type that can have a big four-year-old campaign and beyond. For him the Korea Cup – with top line Japanese horses now targeting the race – will probably prove the toughest ask. Speed Young, a stablemate of Global Hit and another three-year-old, can’t win a Grand Slam, but he has every chance of returning to this race next year as well as targeting the Grand Prix and Korea Cup.

(Pic: KRA)

As suspected, the President’s Cup proved a race too far after a demanding campaign for the Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong. The filly is already a star and can be a multi-year talent with connections surely opting out of putting her through a Grand Prix next month. Defending champion Raon First faded after being close to the early pace but another mare, Eodigana, sent off in excess of 160/1, flew home almost as quick as Winner’s Man did in the final two furlongs, ending in 5th and may be an each-way chance in the Grand Prix.

Winner’s Man will be at the Grand Prix. And having overtaken him in terms of career prize money, he will be targeting Triple Nine’s record of five Group 1 wins (four President’s Cups and one Grand Prix in Triple Nine’s case). While the imports will be there, on today’s form and that of last month’s KRA Cup Classic, who is to stop him? The big race is at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday December 17th.   

Raon The Spurt, Speed Young Return To Winning Ways

Raon The Spurt was a beaten favourite in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy in January, but the four-year-old filly went some way to making amends with an authoritative performance in Sunday’s Class 1 feature at Seoul, downing Segye victor Wow Wow by three-lengths.

Raon The Spurt won the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup last November (Pic: KRA)

After a successful three-year-old campaign that saw her finish runner-up in the Triple Tiara series before winning the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at Group 3 level against older fillies and mares, Raon The Spurt was sent off as favourite in the Segye Ilbo. But on a day when the going was brutal for front-runners, she ran out of petrol in the home straight, finishing back in the pack as Wow Wow took the glory.

There were no such issues this time around in Sunday’s class 1 finale over 1400M. Punters kept faith with Raon The Spurt, sending her off as the even-money favourite. Under Lee Hyeok, who replaced the suspended Choi Bum-hyun in the saddle, Raon The Spurt was quickly into the lead and she proceeded to keep the rest of the field at arm’s length throughout, with Wow Wow ultimately getting the closest. Long-shot Preemax was 3rd.

The win was Raon The Spurt’s seventh from fourteen starts and stands her in good stead ahead of this year’s Queens’ Tour series, which begins in April. Raon The Spurt is by Musket Man and is out of Tomiken Spring (by Japanese sire Suzuka Mambo). Her three-year-old “full” sister and stablemate with trainer Park Jong-kon, Raon The Quality, has three wins from six starts and is penciled-in to race in Seoul’s Classic Trial on April 19th.

On Friday at Busan, Speed Young worked his way back into Classic contention with a fine win at class 3 level over a mile.

A Menifee colt, Speed Young, who won the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race over 1400M in December, had begun his three-year-old campaign in disappointing fashion, weakening badly in the final furlong over a mile in January.

By contrast over the same trip on Friday, Speed Young struck the front on the home turn and stayed on strongly to down a field that included top-rated three-year-old filly Jeulgeounyeojeong.

Trained by Bang Dong-suk, who saddled Hit Yegam to two legs of the Triple Crown in 2021, Speed Young doesn’t hold an entry into the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy, Busan’s official Classic trial on March 19th. However, his rating is already high enough to ensure him a spot in the gate for the first leg of this year’s Triple crown, the KRA Cup Mile, at Busan on Sunday April 30th.  

Meanwhile the saga of Park Tae-jong’s 2,200th career winner will drag on into another weekend. The jockey, who has won more races than any other in Korean racing history, has been on 2,199 since February 5th and drew a blank from seven rides across the weekend, a runner-up finish on Joeun Gwangye  in race 10 on Sunday. His winless streak now stands at thirty-four.

Racing returns to Korea at Busan on Friday.