NEXT UP

Ssonsal  had come home in 3rd place in both of the first two legs of the Sprint Series, the Busan Ilbo Sprint and the SBS Sports Sprint. But with the dominant winner of both those races, Raon The Fighter , absent the door was left open for the rest. Most pundits, as well as the punting public, believed that would be Eoma Eoma, last year's Korea Sprint winner, who ran 2nd in the SBS Sports Sprint and was sent off the odds-on favourite ahead of Ssonsal and the President's Cup winning mare Raon First.

From wide draws Raon Tap Man, a 48.8 outsider, and Lord Ban (21.5) flew across at the earliest opportunity to join Raon First on the early speed. That seemed to rattle Eoma Eoma who having drawn gate nine was, after the attack, neither able to lead nor save ground and was stuck somewhat in no-man's land out wide. Ssonsal meanwhile, as is his style, settled towards the rear under a calm Franco Da Silva.

Into the home straight and Raon Tap Man  and Lord Ban  did not capitulate although Raon First and Eoma Eoma started to assert their superiority as they entered the final furlong. But then arrived Ssonsal, who had been quietly making progress since the two-furlong pole and he and Da Silva swept by to strike,  going away. Raon First was 2nd, a head in front of Eoma Eoma in 3rd while the early pacesetters Raon Tap Man and Lord Ban were rewarded with very solid 4th and 5th places.

"I'm very pleased to get back to Seoul and win a big race," winning jockey Franco Da Silva told in-house broadcaster KRBC. "It's very special because this racecourse is so full of life, with the fans all cheering, so I am very pleased to get a big winner here."

Da Silva said he was always confident about Ssonsal. "Always I expect this horse to do much better than he sometimes does because he has a very special mind. Sometimes, he doesn't want to run to his potential, but the last three races he has done his best, so before the race, I was expecting to get the win today because Raon The Fighter was not there. I thought he would be the best horse today."

As for future plans, Da Silva is keen for Ssonsal to move up in trip. "We don't know what's after this, because I always know this horse can get a longer distance. The owner and the trainer pointed him to shorter, but I prefer him to go longer because I know if he stays behind in the pack, he has very strong power in the last three hundred (metres), so if the owner and trainer agree, we can put him (up a little bit longer distance."

Winning trainer Lee Sang-young was tasting Group race victory for the first time in his sixteen-year career.  "It's like a miracle." Lee told KRBC. "I was a bit worried about the gate number (12) but Ssonsal stays on and with so many front-runners in this race, I guessed they wouldn't all stick on as well as he (Ssonsal) can."

Lee also paid tribute to his jockey. "We could win this race thanks to the jockey. I really appreciate Da Silva. I love him!"

Ssonsal is a seven-year-old American entire by Adios Charlie and out of Wink At The Boys (by Graeme Hall). He was bred by Dee-Ellen Cook and Suzette Parker and was purchased for $8500 by KOID out of the OBS October Yearling Sale in 2017. He is now owned by Hong Kyung-pyo. Ssonsal was recording his thirteenth career win on his thirty-fourth start and has amassed in excess of a Billion Korean Won's worth of prize money.

Next week attention shifts to Busan and filly and mare division with the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. Ttukseom Cup winner Raon The Spurt heads the nominations.