Vincero Cavallo

VINCERO CAVALLO REASSERTS AUTHORITY IN SPRINT SERIES OPENER

VINCERO CAVALLO pulled off a successful and emotional defense of the first leg of the 2026 Sprint Series, winning the Busan Ilbo (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old was racing for the first time in the colours of Kim Hyun-kang, son of late owner Kim In-gyu, who passed away last month.

Two in a row for Vincero Cavallo (Pic: KRA)

Despite sweeping all three legs of the series a year ago, Vincero Cavallo didn’t get a huge amount of support form the assorted racing media prior to the race. After missing a summer prep race, he ran 6th in September’s Korea Sprint and was down the field in his only subsequent start of 2025. Punters kept faith though, sending off the defending champion a 4.8 second favourite to return to form

Return to form he did and in some style. Settling just behind the early speed, which was set by the fancied trio of Born Dia, Fantastic Kingdom and Yeonggwangui World, Vincero Cavallo was never too far away. In the straight, under Jo Jae-ro, he produced that familiar burst of speed that had been missing in the latter half of last year, to burst through the middle and go on to score by two-lengths.

Pre-race favourite Winner Clear was 2nd with Fantastic Kingdom in 3rd.

“When he won the Sprint Series last year, (Vincero Cavallo) was running once a month, and it was difficult to maintain that. I had really been looking forward to the Korea Sprint, but he wasn’t able to show his ability – he was basically telling us he needed a holiday” winning trainer Seo In-seok told KRBC.

“Today he was back to himself, and I think he has a good chance of matching his achievement (of sweeping the Sprint Series) from last year.”

“Born Dia bolted from the gate. If the race had been at Seoul, I might have hurried up to go with her but the Busan track is a little different and I knew I could be patient and just trust Vincero Cavallo” jockey Jo Jae-ro explained.

“I’ve been a jockey for about ten years now and I always dreamed of riding a horse like Vincero Cavallo. I think I need to work to improve my own ability to be worthy of riding horses like him.”

“Last year I came onto that podium for the first time and (owner) Kim In-gyu was there. This time when I went up there, I felt sad. I am sure that somehow he knows that we won again.”

Vincero Cavallo [Cowboy Cal – City Lass (by City Zip)] was purchased by Kim In-gyu for 30 Million Won at the December Yearling Sale on Jeju in 2022. With his latest victory, he moves on to eleven wins from twenty-four starts and prize money in excess of 1.7 Billion Won.

The Sprint Series moves on to Seoul on Sunday April 12th with the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). Next weekend, attention shifts to the first leg of the Stayer Series and the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul. Emphatic Grand Prix winner Clean One makes his first appearance as a four-year-old and is set to face off with Horse of the Year Speed Young.

Vincero Cavallo Adds Second Leg of Sprint Series in Dominant SBS Sports Showing

Vincero Cavallo cemented his status as the nation’s top sprinter as he pulled away from the field late to win the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, adding to his win in the Busan Ilbo Sprint, the opening leg of the Sprint Series a month ago.

Sent off as one of three almost co-favourites, Jo Jae-ro settled Vincero Cavallo into his preferred midfield position as the one of the other two at the top of the market, Choegoui Kkum vied for the lead with expected front-runner Super Finish.

As the field fanned across the track entering the home straight, Vincero Cavallo quickly cut the gap to the leaders and then pulled away in the closing stages, crossing the line two-lengths to the good. Tony Castanheira’s 60/1 chance Black Musk was a fast-finishing 2nd under Kozzi Asano, while Black Mamba and Alan Munro came home 3rd.

“He actually started a little too well” winning jockey Jo Jae-ro told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “But then the others went through, and we were able to settle. On the 4th corner I was confident he would win although I was surprised how easily he did it.”

“Everything went to plan” trainer Seo In-seok confirmed to KRBC. “Yesterday’s rain was a bit of a concern as you never know what effect it will have but it was fine. The intention was to settle back like last time and after the start, Jo Jae-ro made a good decision to be patient and I think that won us the race.”

Black Musk was a winner at Group level over 1200M all the way back in May of 2022 and while he did win a class 1 handicap over the same distance last October, it was still a remarkable return to form on the big stage especially having taken a big bump from either side coming out of the gate. Disappointment of the race was Choegoui Kkum who, after a bright start finished back in 11th. No lameness was found although jockey Masa Tanaka commented that “his stride felt heavier than last time.”

Vincero Cavallo [Cowboy Cal – City Lass (by City Zip)] is a four-year-old colt who was a revelation when an excellent 6th of fifteen behind Remake in the Korea Sprint last September. Since then, he has run seven times for five wins and while that has been a hectic schedule – Jockey Jo mentioned the horse was “mentally and physically tired after Busan”, he keeps on lifting.

Now Korea’s leading contender for this year’s Korea Sprint, Vincero Cavallo may need to lift again much sooner if he is to sweep all three legs of the Sprint Series, which concludes with the SROA Chairman’s Trophy (1200M KOR-G2) on Sunday May 18th. An international blue book race, there are strong rumours of Japanese interest.

There is confirmed Japanese interest in next Sunday’s YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Stayer Series. Also an international blue book race, Yumeno Honoo has travelled over from Kochi to become the first overseas trained runner in a Korean non-invitational race since Esmeraldina won the Ttukseom Cup in 2015. Global Hit and Success Baekpa await him in the most eagerly anticipated showdown of the season so far.