Breeders’ Cup: 24 horses seek 2 bids from Korea Cup & Sprint
The Breeders’ Cup challenge series returns to South Korea on Sunday headlined by the Group 3, US$1.15 million Korea Cup at 1 1/8 miles and the US$1 million Korea Sprint (G3) at six furlongs, both on the sand track at Seoul Racecourse.
The winner of the Korea Sprint at 2:25 a.m. EDT, 11:25 p.m. PDT, gains a guaranteed starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Korea Cup, which is at 3:45 a.m. EDT, 12:45 p.m. PDT, gives the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Both of the target races are Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Chancheng Glory will be backed in Korea Cup
Chancheng Glory, an eight-time winner for trainer Kin Wai Francis Lui, leads an 11-horse field entered for the Korea Cup. After racing 29 times on turf, Chancheng Glory takes to the dirt for the first time Sunday in his first race outside Hong Kong. That was where he had a win and a second-place finish in graded stakes this year. On Jan. 31 he captured the Centenary Vase Handicap (G3) at Sha Tin by three-quarters of a length going 1 1/8 miles. Four starts later the 5-year-old Iowa-bred Mor Spirit gelding finished second by a half-length in the May 31 Lion Rock Trophy (G3). Chancheng Glory was sixth, beaten by two lengths in a one-mile handicap prep at Sha Tin in his most recent start July 13.
Dura Erede is one of three entrants shipping in from Japan. Trained by Manabu Ikezoe, the 5-year-old son of Duramente won Japan’s Hopeful (G1) as 2-year-old and finished third in consecutive runnings of the 2023 and 2024 Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo. As a 3-year-old he finished second in the 2023 UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan. He has made three starts this year topped by a third in the Jan. 26 Procyon (G3) at Chukyo.
Four-year-old Ramjet, a son of Majestic Warrior, is another contender from Japan. He has won 5 of 12 starts including three consecutive wins in 2024. They were highlighted by the Unicorn Stakes (G3) at Kyoto and the listed Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo. Trainer Shozo Sasaki sent him on a Middle East tour this winter when he finished sixth in the Saudi Cup (G1) and ninth in the Dubai World Cup (G1).
Four-year-old Success Baekpa leads the local contingent. South Korea’s champion 3-year-old in 2024 won two of Korea’s Triple Crown races, the KRA Cup Mile and the Minister’s Cup. Trained by Min Jang Gi, the son of Purge scored a four-length victory in his most recent start, the Aug. 3 listed KRA Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Seoul.
Chikappa, Vincero Cavallo lead Korea Sprint
Chikappa, Sunrise Hawk and Tagano Beauty represent Japan in the Korea Sprint, which drew 13 runners. They are set to challenge local star Vincero Cavallo in the test for 3-year-olds and up.
A 4-year-old son of Real Steel, Chikappa won two listed stakes in Japan last year. He took the Hokaido Sprint Cup at Mombetsu and the Tokyo Hai at Oi in October for his fifth win. Trained by Kazuya Nakatake, Chikappa was sent to Saudi Arabia in February for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2), where he finished 10th. He will be ridden Sunday by Yutaka Take.
Sunrise Hawk, a 6-year-old gelded son of Leontes, has won seven times in 20 starts for trainer Mitsunori Makiura. He has had two near misses this year, losing the Feb. 24 Kakitsubata Kinen at Nagoya by a nose and the April 16 Tokyo Sprint at Oi by a head.
Tagano Beauty tried to earn an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic when he finished eighth in the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo. Trained by Masato Nishizono, the 8-year-old son of Henny Hughes is seeking to add to eight career wins which include last year’s listed Sprint at Saga.
Vincero Cavallo has won 10 races in 21 starts highlighted by his sweep of the 2025 sprint series at Seoul. He took the final two legs with the April 13 SBS Sports Sprint by 1 1/2 lengths over Black Musk and prevailed by a length in the Chairman’s Sprint on May 18 as the odds-on favorite.