NEWS PREVIEW
Korea Review - Power Blade To Undergo Surgery, Doraonpogyeongseon Wins Owners Cup, Foster On Form At Seoul
Power Blade will this week undergo surgery on the fractured sesamoid that ended his storied career one day before he was due to defend the Busan Owners’ Cup that he won last year.
In his absence, Doraonpogyeongseon, the two-time SBS Sports Sprint winner, took top honours in the Group 3 contest at Busan Racecourse last Sunday.
The diagnosis on Power Blade was made public early Sunday morning , together with the announcement that once he recovers from surgery he will be retired to Stud.
In addition to sweeping all three legs of the 2016 Triple Crown, Power Blade (by Menifee) managed to place in Group company at the Dubai World Cup Carnival early in 2017, ran 2nd to Japan’s Graceful Leap in the Korea Sprint in September and rounded out the year by winning the Grand Prix Stakes, the traditional finale to the Korean racing year. While he was beaten on his only previous start of 2018, running 2nd to Silver Wolf in the Busan Ilbo Cup over 6 f in April, he was expected to get back in the winner’s circle last Sunday.
As it turned out, the up and coming US import Mighty Ssing (Congrats) was sent off as favourite ahead of fellow Seoul raider and last year’s champion filly/mare Silver Wolf (Oratorio). Doraonpogyeongseon (Kantharos), thought to be more a sprinter than a miler, was sent off only fourth-best among ten in the eyes of punters. Jockey Choi Si Dae rode the 5-year-old patiently, keeping him towards the back and on the rail and they steadily made progress rounding the turn, while Mighty Ssing went off in pursuit of early pacesetter King Of Ace.
Doraonpogyeongseon struck the front around a furlong and a half out and the rest had no answer as he strode away to a three-length win, the $50K purchase crashing through the Billion-Won prize-money barrier at the same time. Mighty Ssing was 2nd and Silver Wolf 3rd.
In other news, Seoul headed into its short summer break – there is no racing in the capital this coming weekend – with two bumper cards last Saturday and Sunday and it was the most successful weekend yet for trainer Simon Foster.
The Australian handler sent out his biggest number of runners since arriving at Seoul at the end of last year and was rewarded with three winners across the two days. Filly Lovely Nute (Menifee) was a seven-length maiden winner on Saturday while on Sunday, another Foster-trained filly Sky Jump (Thunder Mocassin) also got her maiden win. She may have weighed in at just 873lbs but the manner of her six-length win suggests she has a bright future. The more experienced Pro Matheus rounded off a good weekend for Foster later on Sunday.
Seoul’s break means attention will switch to Busan which this coming weekend runs a rare Saturday card as well as an expanded Sunday one, in order to make up for the capital’s absence.
In his absence, Doraonpogyeongseon, the two-time SBS Sports Sprint winner, took top honours in the Group 3 contest at Busan Racecourse last Sunday.
The diagnosis on Power Blade was made public early Sunday morning , together with the announcement that once he recovers from surgery he will be retired to Stud.
In addition to sweeping all three legs of the 2016 Triple Crown, Power Blade (by Menifee) managed to place in Group company at the Dubai World Cup Carnival early in 2017, ran 2nd to Japan’s Graceful Leap in the Korea Sprint in September and rounded out the year by winning the Grand Prix Stakes, the traditional finale to the Korean racing year. While he was beaten on his only previous start of 2018, running 2nd to Silver Wolf in the Busan Ilbo Cup over 6 f in April, he was expected to get back in the winner’s circle last Sunday.
As it turned out, the up and coming US import Mighty Ssing (Congrats) was sent off as favourite ahead of fellow Seoul raider and last year’s champion filly/mare Silver Wolf (Oratorio). Doraonpogyeongseon (Kantharos), thought to be more a sprinter than a miler, was sent off only fourth-best among ten in the eyes of punters. Jockey Choi Si Dae rode the 5-year-old patiently, keeping him towards the back and on the rail and they steadily made progress rounding the turn, while Mighty Ssing went off in pursuit of early pacesetter King Of Ace.
Doraonpogyeongseon struck the front around a furlong and a half out and the rest had no answer as he strode away to a three-length win, the $50K purchase crashing through the Billion-Won prize-money barrier at the same time. Mighty Ssing was 2nd and Silver Wolf 3rd.
In other news, Seoul headed into its short summer break – there is no racing in the capital this coming weekend – with two bumper cards last Saturday and Sunday and it was the most successful weekend yet for trainer Simon Foster.
The Australian handler sent out his biggest number of runners since arriving at Seoul at the end of last year and was rewarded with three winners across the two days. Filly Lovely Nute (Menifee) was a seven-length maiden winner on Saturday while on Sunday, another Foster-trained filly Sky Jump (Thunder Mocassin) also got her maiden win. She may have weighed in at just 873lbs but the manner of her six-length win suggests she has a bright future. The more experienced Pro Matheus rounded off a good weekend for Foster later on Sunday.
Seoul’s break means attention will switch to Busan which this coming weekend runs a rare Saturday card as well as an expanded Sunday one, in order to make up for the capital’s absence.
