Vincero Cavallo

Born Dia Denies Vincero Cavallo Double Sprint Series Sweep

Vincero Cavallo was denied a second consecutive clean sweep of the Korean Sprint Series and ultimately had to settle for 3rd as Born Dia led all the way to win the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Born DIa holds off Winner Clear (Pic: KRA)

After sending him off as the second favourite in both the first two legs of the series, punters this time finally had full faith in Vincero Cavallo, making him the 1.4 marker elect. Born Dia meanwhile was the joint second-longest shot on the board at 82.7.

From gate ten, Seo Gang-ju had a surprisingly easy time taking Born Dia across to the lead where they settled and made steady progress. Vincero Cavallo meanwhile settled midfield among a crowd of jostling horses and was quickly hemmed in on the fence.

With plenty of energy left in the home straight, Born Dia was able to keep lifting and held off the fast finishing Winner Clear by half a length, with Vincero Cavallo, who at no point in the race looked a winning chance, two lengths back in 3rd.  

“I’ve worked hard since debuting, and it is nice to get the chance in a major race and to win” jockey Seo Gang-ju told KRBC after claiming his first Graded winner.

“I couldn’t be sure of the win until the very end, I knew that Vincero Cavallo and Winner Clear would be coming and that we had to stand our ground.  Born Dia did that very well.”

(Pic: KRA)

Winning trainer Kwon Sung-ju told KRBC that the win made amends for a disappointing showing in the SBS Sports. “There is probably no faster starter (than Born Dia) at Seoul or Busan, but when she’s challenged, she has problems as happened in the previous race….Seo Gang-ju had his instructions and he carried them out perfectly and I’m really grateful to him.”

Winner Clear couldn’t quite get there although trainer Baik Kwang-yeol thought for a moment that he might. “I thought we’d won” he conceded to KRBC. “We finished strongly but the finish line came just too early. No regrets, we did our best”  

As for Jo Jae-ro, beaten on Vincero Cavallo, he said his opposition’s game plan worked very well: “They broke away well, secured the lead as planned and then they managed their energy very effectively. There were a few collisions in there, a lot of bumping and I think ultimately (Vincero Cavallo) didn’t have enough left after that to show his usual sprinting performance. There were no other problems but sometimes the race doesn’t go as planned.”

Born Dia is a five-year-old mare by With Distinction and out of T P Mc G (by Flatter). T P Mc G was unraced but has also foaled multiple Korean winners such as Seungbusa and Black Mamba. The five-year-old is owned by Son Byeong-hyeon and moves on to seven wins from twenty-four starts.

Vincero Cavallo Bids For Double Sweep: SROA Chairman’s Trophy Preview & Form Comments

A year ago, Vincero Cavallo became the first horse to sweep all three legs of the Korea Sprint Series. Now, the five-year-old is one race from doing it all again as he enters the favourite for the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday. FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON SUNDAYhttps://korearacing.live/2026/05/15/sroa-chairmans-sprint-sunday-seoul-busan-race-by-race-preview-may-17/.

Vincero Cavallo a year ago (Pic: KRA)

Having lost his form in the second half of 2025, VINCERO CAVALLO wasn’t sent off as favourite for either the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) or the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) but after comfortably scoring by two lengths in both races, the Seo In-seok trained five-year-old has reconfirmed his status as the nation’s top sprinter. He will be favourite this time and at his best, is untouchable by this set of rivals.

If Vincero Cavallo isn’t at his best, WINNER CLEAR, who was the market elect in both the first two legs of the Series, may take advantage. Seo Seung-un, who rode him to 5th place in the SBS Sports keeps faith, and so will plenty of backers. WONDERFUL GROOM and HAKSAN SPEED, 2nd and 3rd in the SBS Sports, will also have their supporters.

The wildcard is FINAL K. He won five of his first seven starts between September 2024 and June 2025 with his only defeats coming at Listed level as a juvenile and then in the G3 Owners’ Cup at Busan. He had several injury setbacks after that and didn’t race again until April 18th when he made a winning return at class 1 level over 1200M, beating I’m Jjang.

Final K can have derived plenty of benefit from that run and as the one who doesn’t have form to overturn on Vincero Cavallo, the Cairo Prince four-year-old could have as much chance as any of pulling off a surprise.

The SROA Chairman’s Sprint is race 8 on a ten-race card at Seoul that also features the Listed Sports Chosun over 2000M. 

1. SILVER RAIN – Three-time winner over this distance and hinted at a return to form with 4th place over 1400M on April 19th. He is a solid class 2 horse but looks overmatched in this company.

2. BEOLGYOUI KKUM – 4th at big odds in the SBS Sports when on pace throughout. Draws very nicely to be on the pace again and another money finish can’t be ruled out. Four-time winner at this distance.

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VINCERO CAVALLO EASILY WINS SBS SPORTS WITH KOREA SPRINT IN HIS SIGHTS

Vincero Cavallo confirmed his status as the fastest horse in Korea as he comfortably won the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) for the second year running at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. In doing so, he claimed his second consecutive Sprint Series victory with one leg to spare.

Vincero Cavallo (Pic: KRA)

With the field having been reduced to fifteen after the scratching of Yeonggwangui World, VINCERO CAVALLO started as favourite but not as short as some might have expected, given how well he won the first leg of the series, the Busan Ilbo, on the south coast last month.

Part of punters’ reticence may have been the wider draw for Vincero Cavallo and also perhaps that jockey Jo Jae-ro had been heavily unseated from his mount in race 5 and had a nervous wait before being passed fit to partner his career-defining horse.

Once the gates opened, all doubts disappeared. As expected, Born Dia showed the way early Vincero Cavallo began well too, Jo Jae-ro settling him in the front of midfield. Once he made his move in the home straight, the race was won with his now customary turn of foot proving far too much for his rivals. 38/1 chance Wonderful Groom was 2nd and 15/1 Haksan Speed 3rd.

“This was the first time we drawn this wide in the Sprint Series, so my thought was let’s just focus on the start and do well.” Jo Jae-ro told KRBC. “I trusted the horse and once we were away, I thought winning was inevitable and the race unfolded very comfortably.”

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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.