Korea Spikes Dubai

It’s late February and Korea is still to registere a gold medal success at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival. Last year Korea had become the 21st country to win at the Carnival when Main Stay took out the Meydan District One Handicap.

Main Stay highlighted Korea’s presence in international racing when winning at Meydan, with stable mate Seoul Bullet finishing fourth in the same event, both being trained by Young-Kwan Kim at Seoul Lets Run Park Racecourse.

In 2017 the Korean champion Triple Nine became the first Korean horse to race on Dubai World Cup night, when unplaced in the Gr2 Godolphin Mile. Triple Nine had finished fifth previously in the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3, with fellow Korean Power Blade third in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2.

Korea’s venture into international racing was highlighted in 2016 at the Dubai World Cup Carnival with Success Story finishing third to California Chrome, the 2014 US Horse of The Year and Kentucky Derby winner, in the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy at Meydan.

Already this year the Simon Foster trained Dolkong is knocking on the door of success following a 1¾ length third in the Jebel Ali Trophy of 2000m, when ridden by Olivier Doleuze. Previously in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round, the Stewards reported that ‘Dolkong lost its right fore-plate in running.’

Dolkong had a disappointing season last year in winning only once over 2000m at Seoul, before finishing fourth to London Town in the international invitational Korea Cup. As a 3yo he won four of his five starts, from 1700 to 2000m when ridden by Seoul’s champion jockey Djordje Perovic.

Owned by Mr Lee Tae In, and with 6 wins from 13 starts, Dolkong was a Fasig-Tipton 2015 October Yearling Sale buy for $52,000 through Wayne Detmar, consigned by James M Herbener Jr as agent.

A 5yo horse by the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex, Dolkong is from the winning Broken Vow mare Swampoodle, and is the family of Champion Older French Horse in Always Earnest. 

Ace Korea has had an unhappy start to the Dubai Carnival with a tailed-off effort in the Gr3 Dubawi Stakes of 1200m. Following a successful official starting stall test when he was difficult to load in the stalls, Ace Korea was again disappointing in finishing last in the Inside Out Handicap of 1200m

A 4yo horse, also trained at Busan by Peter Wolseley, formally of Murray Bridge, Ace Korea is US bred, by the multiple Gr1 US sprinting sire Smiling Tiger, from the stakes-placed winning Broken Vow mare Queen Rolex, whose dam is the stakes winner Bet Birdie.

Owned by Mr Shin Woo Cheol, Ace Korea has won 6 of his 14 starts, having graduated from Class 3 in April last year to winning the listed Open Class Weight-for-Age of 1400m in November.

The Bart Rice trained Buhwarui Banseok has found it uncomfortable when racing on turf for the first time with unplaced efforts in the  in the Azizi Star Handicap of 2000m, when ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, and the Wheels Handicap over 2400m.

Owned by Mr Doo Soon Lim, Buhwarui Banseok won over 1800m and 2000m last season in Busan, and now has an impressive record of 8 wins from 1400m to 2000m, including three at 1800m.

A US bred 6yo bay horse by the now Korean based US triple Gr1 winner Tizway, he is from the Deputy Minister mare Aim For The Moon, and is half-brother to stakes-placed winner Bear’s Rocket and Korean champion imported 3yo filly New York Blue.

Purchased for $22,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Year Sale by K.O.I.D, from Taylor Made Sales, K.O.I.D later purchased his Orb half-sister at the 2017 September Yearlings for $80,000, who will race as Jangsan Tokyo in Korea.

Yet to make his debut at the Dubai Carnival is Choego Money, who really came of age in Korea last year in winning three starts over 2000m and 2300m, when ridden by French jockey David Breux.

A 6yo brown gelding, trained by Australian expatriate Simon Foster, at Seoul Racecourse for the Hamchun ownership, he has won 6 races up to 2300m from 14 starts, and was previously trained by Luigi-Salvatore Riccardi.

 A $30,000 buy by K.O.I.D. at the Fasig-Tipton 2015 Kentucky October Yearling Sale consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, he is by triple Gr1 winner Stephen Got Even and is half-brother to stakes winner and producer Alina, from the Sea Hero winning dam Lady Heroine.

Sweden registered its first Dubai World Cup Carnival victory when I Kirk won the Azizi Farishta of 1200m for trainer Susanne Bernekint and jockey Carlos Lopez. Australia added to its Meydan success with the David Hayes trained Nicconi 6yo gelding Faatinah winning over 1000m for Shadwell Australia.

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