Keiai Dorie was scratched from the Sprint on Saturday, but Japan-trained horses will still be hotly fancied to take out both the OBS Korea Cup (1 1/8M G3) and OBS Korea Sprint (6f G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. Both races are “Win & You’re In” qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar in November.
A probable front-runner having drawn gate number two, Keiai Dorie was first observed slightly lame on Friday and after examination, was withdrawn as a precaution. That leaves fifteen facing the starter for the $1,000,000 OBS Korea Sprint, with defending champion Remake likely to start as the heavy favourite.
"The plan was always to come back to Korea, so we took time off to refresh after Dubai." Assistant Trainer Matsuda Masafumi explained to the Korea Racing Broadcast Channel (KRBC) about Remake's long absence since his 4th place in the Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 30th. "We really want to win this race because we plan to go to the United States (Breeders' Cup Sprint) afterwards."
With Keiai Dorie out of the picture, Jasper Krone is the only other remain ing Japanese representative in the Sprint. His recent form has been patchy, but the seasoned globe-trotter has been racing in top class company. "This is a horse that runs better on sandier tracks" said trainer Hideyuki Mori, speaking to KRBC. "I think the Korean track will suit him and if we can get off to a good start, we have a chance. We really want to go to the Breeders' Cup."
Out to stop the Japanese pair as well as the set of the local speedsters is a horse who already knows Del Mar very well, the Doug O'Neill trained Anarchist. "We've come all the way from California, but it looks like he loves this track and he's been training pretty good, so we're comfortable." rider Fredy Gonzalez explained to KRBC. "His last races have been a little tough, but he has shown us great results, so we gave him a little time off (and now) I ride him every morning and for me, he is 100% ready." Jockey Edwin Maldonado is likely to be looking to get to the lead early.
The local Korean challenge is headed by Speed Young while the 2022 winner Eoma Eoma and the 2023 runner-up Beolmaui Star will also be in the starting gate. The wildcard is the only filly in either of the two races, Gangseo Giant. She broke the track record for 6f at Busan in August and gets her chance among the elite.
In the $1,200,000 OBS Korea Cup, Crown Pride returns to defend his crown. He struggled for form in a couple of races after last year's victory, including 9th place in the Saudi Cup, but recently returned to form with victory in the Listed Mercury Cup at Morioka.
"We ran hard in the Saudi Cup, competing with the world's best horses but were then disappointing (in the Kashiwa Kinen)." Matsuda Masufumi said to KRBC. "In the Mercury Cup, though the opponents may not have been of the highest level, he achieved his goal, which was to win."
While Yuga Kawada, who was victorious on Crown Pride last year, jumps on rival Wilson Tesoro this time, Matsuda has plenty of faith in Takeshi Yokoyama, already known for wins on the likes of Titleholder and Efforia. "Our jockey Yokoyama is something of a super-rookie in Japan. He knows the horse and will ride him to his strengths. True, Kawada knows Crown Pride very well too and knows his pros and cons, but Crown Pride loves the Korean conditions, and he will help Yokoyama."
In Wilson Tesoro, a proven G1 competitor and 4th placegetter behind Laurel River in the Dubai World Cup, Crown Pride faces a formidable opponent. "We came because we thought this was the kind of race where Wilson Tesoro could really show his ability." Assistant Trainer Kazuya Oba said. "He is very well, both mentally and physically and we had been preparing him for the Korean sand and he has adjusted very well after arrival. He was 2nd (in the Teio Sho) which was a good preparation for this."
Light Warrior rounds out the Japanese challenge. "We were originally thinking to run at Oi but the sand conditions there have recently changed so we looked for another race and we felt this was the perfect fit; very similar surface to Kawasaki (Racecourse) and also running counterclockwise." Assistant Trainer Takahiro Seto told KRBC. "It is true that there is a (rating) gap between him and Japan's top horses, but these conditions are perfect for him."
The local Korean challenge is headlined by last year's Korean Derby winner Global Hit, a winner of three out of four Group races that he has participated in this year. 2022 victor Winner's Man returns to action for the first time since winning the Grand Prix Stakes last December, while Simjangui Godong is another local money chance.
KOREA SPRINT (6F-G3) RUNNER BY RUNNER PREVIEW
1. YES PERFECT – He has only raced twice this year and was well beaten in both in G3 and G2 company. This is his first start since May and while he still has a high rating as a result of earlier exploits, he is hard to recommend here, despite the inside gate.
2. KEIAI DORIE – NON-RUNNER.
3. SOMETHING LOST – Beaten a neck by Raon The Point in the Busan Ilbo Sprint over this distance in March, and followed up with a 3rd and a 4th in two subsequent sprint efforts in Group company. Draw a line though his latest at a mile. Likes to settle handy and run on but a minor money chance at best.
4. BLACK MUSK – A Group winner at this distance two years ago, he has struggled to reach those heights again. Returned in August following five months out but had a hard time over 1 1/8M. His form before the layoff wasn't great either and he will be an outsider here. At this best, he comes from off the pace.
5. MORFHIS – The grand old galloper of Korean racing, he won the SBS Sports Sprint (6f KOR-G3) in both 2020 and 2022. While he hasn't tasted victory since the latter of those, he can still mix it with the best on his day as shown with his 3rd place behind Ssonsal and Eoma Eoma in the SROA Chairman's Sprint (6f KOR-G2) in May. He settles back and comes off the pace and was most recently 2nd in a class 1 race on August 4th.
6. EOMA EOMA – Won this race in 2022 beating Japan's Raptus who while good, is no Remake. He has raced four times in 2024, all in Group company and has placed in three of them including last time out when tried at a mile for the first time in the Busan Owners' Cup. He may not be quite as quick as he once was, but he won't be far away. Place chance.
7. REMAKE – The defending champion has maintained his form in three starts since triumphing in last year's race, most notably winning the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard in February, when he came from behind to run the field down, before finishing 4th in the G1 Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night. It's his first start since March, but the Seoul Racecourse track record holder for the 6f will take some stopping. Yuga Kawada will be up.
8. JASPER KRONE – His recent finishing positions in no way reflect his ability as he has been tackling some serious company. He was 4th behind Remake in Saudi Arabia when engaging in an early speed duel and he can have a line drawn through his spin up the Meydan straight when he went to the other side of the course to all the others. Forgive too his latest in an eighteen-runner lottery over five furlongs at Niigata and we are left with a horse who if he gets to the speed, has every chance of being in the mix.
9. SPEED YOUNG – A stablemate of Cup contender Global Hit, he chased him home in the final leg of the Triple Crown last year as well as running 3rd to Winner's Man and Global Hit in the President's Cup (1 1/4M KOR-G1). The drop back to 6f for the first time since his debut – 2nd in a Listed juvenile race – is intriguing and he has undoubted quality. A leading local chance.
10. BEOLMAUI STAR – Last year's runner-up defied gate thirteen to lead and ultimately only Remake was able to go past him. He had an unsuccessful trip to Dubai, and he mixes his form, as show last start in May when, as he can do, he missed the start. He trialed well in August and if he gets out well, and goes to the lead, anything can happen.
11. ANARCHIST – A Group 2 winner in the United States from the barn of veteran international campaigner Doug O'Neill. He only has a 6th and a 5th in two starts in 2024 but he won third-up last year and could be peaking again. He is the kind of horse that can thrive here with an on-pace style and if he can get to the lead, he could prove very difficult to run down. The first of the internationals to arrive, he has had plenty of time to acclimatize and jockey Edwin Maldonado is a master on front-runners although the draw is a touch wider than ideal.
12. GANGSEO GIANT – The only filly in either race, she enters in great form having smashed the track record at Busan over this distance on August 3rd when settling in the middle of a small field and running on strong. The wide draw shouldn't be a problem, and she can be a factor here with Alan Munro aboard.
13. VINCERO CAVALLO – The solitary three-year-old in the race, he won a valuable Trophy race over this distance in April and has since registered a 3rd and two runner-up finishes at class 2 level. This seems a significant step up in challenge, but he has quick times and can have more progress in him.
14. DAEMANGUI GIL – Began the year well with 4th place in the Busan Ilbo Sprint but hasn't followed up in three subsequent starts. Likes to come from well back and he could pass plenty late on, but he is an outsider.
15. DAEHAN JILJU – This is his third attempt in the race, having been 4th in 2022 and 6th a year ago. He has only raced three times this year with a 2nd in a Listed race and 4th in the SBS Sports Sprint, both at this distance before struggling over a mile last time out. He doesn't need to lead so the wide draw is not a disaster. But others are preferred.
16. RAON THE POINT – Made his breakthrough with a super win over this distance in the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint in March but didn't kick on finishing well back in two subsequent outings over the same trip. He picked up a little when 5th last time out in a class 1 handicap over 7f in July but this is a big ask.
KOREA CUP (1 1/8M-G3) RUNNER BY RUNNER PREVIEW
1. WINNER'S MAN – He won this race in 2022 when the Japanese challenge wasn't as strong and was 3rdlast year but he hasn't raced since successfully defending the Grand Prix Stakes in December due to a fracture requiring surgery. He has been back in work since June and looked well in an August trial. A very hard ask first-up but is of top quality.
2. GLOBAL HIT – In Winner's Man's absence earlier, last year's Korean Derby winner established himself as Korea's top horse with three Group race wins from four starts so far this campaign, most recently the KRA Cup Classic over 1 1/4M here in early August. Generally sits midfield and runs on, he is the best local hope.
3. VICS GO – Dropped back to a sprint distance and won a Listed race back in February but has been in indifferent form since. Likes to be on or close to the pace and he has won at up to 1 1/4M, but his recent efforts make him hard to have here.
4. LIGHT WARRIOR – A nine-time winner, most recently at Listed level over 1 1/4M at Kawasaki in April. Most recently was 6th in the Teio Sho at Oi in June so he does have form to overturn on Wilso Tesoro He is an on-pace runner so draws very nicely and can be expected to get to the front and can be in this a long way.
5. SUCCESS MACHO – Just like Winner's Man, Success Macho is racing for the first time since the Grand Prix Stakes last December when he ran 3rd and subsequently sustained a chip fracture. He is a G3 winner, and he looked good in an August trial. He is tactically versatile, having raced well when forward and when closing and while this is hard, he can be in the mix.
6. HEUK JEONSA – Well back in his last Group outing in the Busan Mayor's Cup in May, he gets his chance here having run a solid 3rd in a class 1 handicap over this distance in August when he led for much of the way. At the risk of stating the obvious, this is a whole lot harder.
7. SIMJANGUI GODONG – He had an unsuccessful trip to Dubai, but he bounced back well with his best in four starts since returning 2nd place in the G3 Busan Owners' Cup over a mile in June. He has a strong finish, and he will be running on. He was 10th in this race last year.
8. WILSON TESORO – A two-time G1 runner-up and earlier this year finished 4th behind Laurel River in the Dubai World Cup. He comes in off a runner-up finish behind King's Sword in the Teio Sho at Oi. He can race on pace or come from behind and Yuga Kawada, who won on Crown Pride last year, climbs on. Big chance.
9. MONTAUK CHAT – The lowest rated in the race by a significant margin, his previous start was a similar shy at the stumps in the KRA Cup Classic in August when finishing 6th, thirteen lengths behind Global Hit and seven behind Simjangui Godang. The outsider of the field.
10. GALAXY ROAD – He has won at up to 1 1/4M at class 1 level and enters with recent form reading fairly with a 6th and a 4th from his latest two in G2 and G3 company. Likes to settle back and run on and he could pass a few late on.
11. CROWN PRIDE – The defending champion won this race from gate fourteen last year, so the wide draw holds no fears. He came back into form when winning at Listed level at Morioka in July and if he is peaking again here, then it could spell trouble for the rest. Every chance of a repeat.
