Search
where the horse is always the hero
Article Item
Posted 2019-09-08 10:04:55  
Korea Dominates It's International Races

Moonhak Chief scored for trainer Kim Soon Keun and jockey Moon Se Young, and led home fellow Korean runner Cheongdam Dokki. It was Korea’s first win in its biggest contest, Japan having dominated in past years with Chrysolite (2016) and London News (2017 & 2018).

 

Hong Kong hopes of Korean big-race glory sank in the Seoul sand this afternoon, Sunday, 8 September.

 

Glorious Artist ran best of the two Sha Tin-based challengers, running an honest fourth in the KOR G1 Korea Cup (1800m), while Ugly Warrior’s legs laboured to 13th in the KOR G1 Korea Sprint (1200m).

 

Glorious Artist was trainer Frankie Lor’s first runner outside of Hong Kong and the G1-winning handler was satisfied to take home a fourth-place prize cheque.

 

“I’m happy, it’s better than nothing! I think it’s ok for my first time overseas,” he said.

 

The Zoffany gelding was able to stalk the lead from his rail-side starting berth, thanks to a slackening of pace following a frenetic charge to the first turn. Moonhak Chief made a race-winning skirt to the lead half-way down the back and when he kicked for glory off the home turn, the Hong Kong challenger was short of zip.

 

“He’s not a horse that picks up quickly when you ask him, he just keeps trying – he’s a little bit one-paced,” Lor said after the five-year-old had boxed on to finish six and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.

 

“He’s not used to a left-hand turn and he was coming here after a month off – if he’d had a run before coming here that would have been better,” Lor added.

 

Ho, too, was content with the effort.

 

“He ran well all things considering,” he said. “He handled the track ok – it is still so deep so there wasn't the turn-of-foot like there is in Hong Kong for him.

 

“We got off the fence like we wanted to. The pace came out of the race, so the one down the outside took off. We still travelled ok but when they were hunting at the 600 to 700 metres, I thought, if I followed, he wouldn't finish, so all things considering, he did well.”

 

One race earlier, with a contingent of more than 90 connections on course to cheer on the two Hong Kong raiders, Ugly Warrior went to post a warm market leader. But the writing was on the wall from the off: Ho had to scrub the Me Tsui-trained galloper from gate 12 to find an early berth just off the front rank – his arms never stopped pumping.

 

The gelding’s prominence was short-lived. By the time the victorious Blue Chipper hit the front exiting the home turn, Ugly Warrior was long since done, backpedalling to finish more than 16 lengths 13th.

 

“He didn’t handle it,” Tsui said, as Ho dismounted the chestnut.

 

Seoul’s tough kickback was a pre-race concern but Ho felt that his mount handled that potential hindrance just fine.

 

“The surface was too loose and too deep,” he explained. “The track is wet, which actually helped a little, it’s a bit firmer than it would be usually. He didn’t mind the kick-back, he just didn’t pick up.

 

“They were very quick and I had to push him out all the way. It was his first time left-handed and when they took the corner, he lost a little bit of balance and I had to track him back.”

 

Blue Chipper gave Korea its first win in the race. Hong Kong’s Super Jockey won the inaugural contest in 2016, while Japan’s Graceful Leap and Moanin won the past two editions.

 

Jockey You Hyun Myung drove the Kim Young Kwan-trained winner to a length and a quarter win over Dia Socks, with Gaon Champ third as Korean runners filled the first seven places.

Hkjc

Rate:
Email link to a friend | Printable Version
  • International
    Displaying 10 ResultsSee All
    juliette - star of the indian turf 2024-03-03

    Juliette, under the training of Karthik Ganapathy, made history at the Kolkata racecourse, securing ...

    View | Add Comment
    saudi champions onto dubai2024-02-27

    Senor Buscador, the Saudi Cup (G1) champion, has touched down at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, gearing...

    View | Add Comment
    tower of london scraps home2024-02-24

    Aidan O’Brien’s Tower of London (IRE) rallied from the back of the pack to land the fift...

    View | Add Comment
    sir alex ferguson claims another trophy with spirit dancer2024-02-24

    Legendary former Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson hit the back of the net again when his ...

    View | Add Comment
    senor buscador wins a cracking saudi cup2024-02-24

    Senor Buscador (USA) prevailed in a photo-finish to the US$20m The Saudi Cup as the American trainee...

    View | Add Comment
    japan's derby as forever young leaves it late2024-02-24

    Susumu Fujita’s Yoshito Yahagi-trained Forever Young (JPN) won the fifth edition of the US$1.5...

    View | Add Comment
    venniker strikes in saudi 2024-02-23

    Rachel Venniker, represented South Africa in the International Jockey Challenge in Riyadh at King Ab...

    View | Add Comment
    saudi speed: cup race could be a speedy affair 2024-02-23

    Anticipated at King Abdulaziz for the world's richest race: A thrilling showdown awaits at the G1 Sa...

    View | Add Comment
    white abarrio draws 1 in poor draw for american star2024-02-21

    The Post Position Draw function took place at the Cultural Center at King Abdulaziz Racecourse to a ...

    View | Add Comment
    kublers living the dream with astro king2024-02-21

    It took until just short of his seventh birthday for Astro King (IRE) to contest a Group race but Br...

    View | Add Comment