After two years off the calendar because of the pandemic, the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint finally return for their respective fifth editions at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday, Sept. 3 (US Date/Time). Boasting International Group 3 status for the first time, the races feature a typically diverse set of runners from around Asia and beyond competing for purses in each race of 1 Billion Korean Won (approximately US$750,000).
Japan-trained horses have won every edition of the Korea Cup (1 1/8 miles) that they have contested and this year, Sekifu is the one who gets the opportunity to maintain that record. A 3-year-old, he has a slightly different profile to previous winners London Town and Chrysolite, but he won the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix as a juvenile and is already well-travelled having spent the early part of the year overseas, running a close second to Pinehurst in the Saudi Derby at Riyadh before an unsuccessful tilt at the UAE Derby at Meydan. On his return to Japan, Sekifu ran second in the Unicorn Stakes at Tokyo, and he has solid chances in the Cup.
Jane Chapple-Hyam has been a firm supporter of the Korea Cup since its inception, with her Solar Deity running in the inaugural edition and Ambassadorial third in 2019. This year, the Newmarket-based trainer brings Intellogent who has racked up almost US$1Million in prize money in a career that has been mostly spent in France but has included trips to Saudi Arabia and the USA. Since being transferred to Abington Place this Spring, Intellogent has been running in the big Heritage Handicaps and scored a superb second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in June.
The final international entrant in the Cup is Hong Kong's Kings Shield. Frankie Lor, newly crowned as Hong Kong's Champion Trainer, also knows what it takes to be successful on the sand at Seoul, having brought Glorious Artist over for a creditable fourth– a neck behind Chapple-Hyam's Ambassadorial – in 2019.
For the locals, 2019 winner Moonhak Chief returns, but most eyes will be on Raon The Fighter, a winner of ten from twelve so far and currently the hottest property in Korea racing. 2021 Grand Prix Stakes winner Haengbok Wangja is also set to start, as is last year's Korea Derby winner Winner's Man. Dolkong, winner of the 2019 Curlin Handicap at Meydan, also appears on the list but is a doubt having not raced since the tail end of that year. He has though successfully navigated a series of barrier trials in recent months.
Japanese horses have won the Sprint on two occasions, with Graceful Leap in 2017 and Moanin a year later. This year Raptus, a dirt specialist with nine wins from twenty-one, is the representative from Japan. Most of those have been at seven furlongs but that was true too for Moanin and he can't be ruled out.
Hong Kong's Korea Sprint challenger is Computer Patch. Jimmy Ting's sprinter may not have won for some time, but he spends his time racing alongside the best at Sha Tin and ran an excellent second to Wellington in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in April. Hong Kong won the inaugural Korea Sprint with Super Jockey in 2016 and Sha Tin based gallopers have consistently out-performed expectations in Seoul, including when the unheralded Fight Hero went down by just a Head in a memorable duel with Moanin in 2018.
Mick Appleby brings three-year-old sprinter Annaf from the UK. He had a luckless run in the Steward's Cup at Glorious Goodwood but has held his own in other big sprint handicaps and his wins have come on the all-weather. He may well relish the conditions in Seoul.
The Korea Sprint grew out of a race held in 2015 called the Asia Challenge Cup, which was won by Singapore's El Padrino. Singapore is represented this year by Celavi. An all-weather specialist, she is a winner of eight from eighteen at Kranji and her on pace style could be well suited .
The local Korean sprinting division is strong and in Eoma Eoma, the visitors will find a worthy adversary. Morfhis is also a multiple Group winner while Black Musk is one of the up-and-coming stars of the division. Busan-trained Blue Chipper won the Korea Sprint in 2019 and went on to run third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita two months later.
The Korea Sprint has a post time of 2:35am ET / 11:35pm PT with the Korea Cup following an hour later at 3:35am ET / 12:35am PT local Seoul time.
The post Korea Cup, Korea Sprint Return After Two-Year Hiatus, Boast International Group 3 Status appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
