No joy for Hong Kong as locals dominate in Korea

Hong Kong hopes of Korean big-race glory sank in the Seoul sand this afternoon, Sunday, 8 September.

Glorious Artist ran best of the two Sha Tin-based challengers, running an honest fourth in the KOR G1 Korea Cup (1800m), while Ugly Warrior’s legs laboured to 13th in the KOR G1 Korea Sprint (1200m).

Glorious Artist was trainer Frankie Lor’s first runner outside of Hong Kong and the G1-winning handler was satisfied to take home a fourth-place prize cheque.

“I’m happy, it’s better than nothing! I think it’s ok for my first time overseas,” he said.

The Zoffany gelding was able to stalk the lead from his rail-side starting berth, thanks to a slackening of pace following a frenetic charge to the first turn. Moonhak Chief made a race-winning skirt to the lead half-way down the back and when he kicked for glory off the home turn, the Hong Kong challenger was short of zip.

“He’s not a horse that picks up quickly when you ask him, he just keeps trying – he’s a little bit one-paced,” Lor said after the five-year-old had boxed on to finish six and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.

“He’s not used to a left-hand turn and he was coming here after a month off – if he’d had a run before coming here that would have been better,” Lor added.

Ho, too, was content with the effort.

“He ran well all things considering,” he said. “He handled the track ok – it is still so deep so there wasn't the turn-of-foot like there is in Hong Kong for him.

“We got off the fence like we wanted to. The pace came out of the race, so the one down the outside took off. We still travelled ok but when they were hunting at the 600 to 700 metres, I thought, if I followed, he wouldn't finish, so all things considering, he did well.”

Moonhak Chief scored for trainer Kim Soon Keun and jockey Moon Se Young, and led home fellow Korean runner Cheongdam Dokki. It was Korea’s first win in its biggest contest, Japan having dominated in past years with Chrysolite (2016) and London News (2017 & 2018).

One race earlier, with a contingent of more than 90 connections on course to cheer on the two Hong Kong raiders, Ugly Warrior went to post a warm market leader. But the writing was on the wall from the off: Ho had to scrub the Me Tsui-trained galloper from gate 12 to find an early berth just off the front rank – his arms never stopped pumping.

The gelding’s prominence was short-lived. By the time the victorious Blue Chipper hit the front exiting the home turn, Ugly Warrior was long since done, backpedalling to finish more than 16 lengths 13th.

“He didn’t handle it,” Tsui said, as Ho dismounted the chestnut.

Seoul’s tough kickback was a pre-race concern but Ho felt that his mount handled that potential hindrance just fine.

“The surface was too loose and too deep,” he explained. “The track is wet, which actually helped a little, it’s a bit firmer than it would be usually. He didn’t mind the kick-back, he just didn’t pick up.

“They were very quick and I had to push him out all the way. It was his first time left-handed and when they took the corner, he lost a little bit of balance and I had to track him back.”  

Blue Chipper gave Korea its first win in the race. Hong Kong’s Super Jockey won the inaugural contest in 2016, while Japan’s Graceful Leap and Moanin won the past two editions.

Jockey You Hyun Myung drove the Kim Young Kwan-trained winner to a length and a quarter win over Dia Socks, with Gaon Champ third as Korean runners filled the first seven places.“There are a lot of good jockeys in Hong Kong and at the top we have Joao (Moreira) and Zac (Purton) dominating everything. Although we get on some good rides, it’s still quite difficult to stay on them.

“If Zac or Joao calls the owner, it’s very easy for them to take us off – that’s the Hong Kong way. My goal is to just concentrate on myself and ride the best in the circumstances. Whether people think the horse I’m riding has a chance or no chance, I’ll still always do my best.”

His quest for “best” is in actuality a quest for perfection. Ho delivered two wins on opening day at Sha Tin last weekend, but it was the one that got away that his mind chewed over.

“If Fast Most Furious had won I would be very happy. But two wins, I can’t complain too much,” he said.

“No one can give me as much pressure as I give myself,” he added. “Straightaway, I know what I’ve done wrong. I’ll watch the reply back at home. Sometimes you have to react in a certain way and Hong Kong is tough, you can get things wrong, so you have to learn how to deal with it and prevent making that mistake the next time you face a similar situation. I criticise myself a lot – I try to be perfect every time.”

Hong Kong duo relaxed

Ho is heading into Sunday confident that his two mounts are in good heart as he seeks a first overseas win on a Hong Kong-trained galloper. He partnered Korea Sprint contender Ugly Warrior through a steady canter on the main track before guiding Glorious Artist around the inner training circuit, again at a nice canter.

“Ugly Warrior felt good, he was just curious, looking around a bit, but in a good way. I’m quite confident because he feels good. When he walked back, he was jumping around a little bit. He’s happy,” he said.

“Glorious Artist went well: it was just a quiet day today for him. They took the hood off the last couple of days and today they put it back on so that made a difference.”

As regards the sand track, Ho was satisfied with what he saw and felt.

“It’s not bad,” he said. “The sand is a bit loose but after the rain I think it will get firmer. We just have to see how the horses will handle the kickback. At the moment, you never know until they race, so we’ll try to avoid the kickback as much as possible.”

Getting out of the kickback from gate one means that a sharp start could be the key to Glorious Artist’s chances of success in the Korea Cup.

“If he jumps well like in Hong Kong, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. If he’s fast enough I think we can get off the rail and out of the kick-back. I’ve spoken to a couple of friends who ride here and they say it’s quite straightforward to ride – you just can’t shift ground in the first 100 metres, that’s the rule,” he said.

Ho, mind you, has no intention of shifting ground in his continuing quest to reach the sport’s pinnacle.or and Glorious Artist will also be broadcasted.ugust.

“Mr Stunning has been back cantering for two weeks and I don’t want to push him,” Lor said. “December should be fine though; I think we’ll see him in November but I will need to think about whether he will be ready to run in October.

“Furore looks ok. He’s not too big but he looks nice, he looks stronger. I think he can make it in Group 1, he looks like a horse that will be effective from a mile to 2000 metres.”

Glorious Forever was unable to repeat his G1 triumph and was last seen placing fifth in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup in May. He was rested from the training roster for the whole of July.

“Glorious Forever looks ok,” Lor said. “There’s still a long way to go so it’s just step by step with him and he should be ready for November.”ng Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, 8 September.