‘Raon The Fighter is the most exciting galloper in Korea right now,’ with the Grand Prix Stakes being the nation’s principal staying event, and run on Sunday at Seoul’s LetsRun Park.
In being a last-start winner the KRA Cup Classic of 2000m, he jumping from the outside of 13 runners to score by 5 lengths over the consistent King of The Match, who he meets again tomorrow.
In fact, ‘he used his natural speed to easily cross to the lead from a wide draw, and then explode into the straight before being eased in the closing stages’ and now has a 15: 12-3-0 career record.
With now-regular jockey Moon Se Young utilising his on-pace style from Gate 10 in the Korea Cup, it was only Winner’s Man who caught Raon The Fighter on the liner for a length victory.
So, with Raon The Fighter winning over 1200m in February, then at 1400, 1600 and 2000m, he’s now capable of 2300m of the Grand Prix, being a great training achievement for Park Jong Kon.
Home bred by prominent owner Son Jong-Soo on his private Jeju stud farm, where an up-grade track is used to prepare young horses, he’s by the ill-fated Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern.
With Mr Son having an impressive broodmares band, its Raon The Fighter who’s from the winning Empire Maker mare Clarinda, a sister to Lady Apple, Dr Diamonds Prize and Miss Red Delicious.
In drawing Gate 2 in the Grand Prix, the 4yo Raon The Fighter is noted for flying-the-gates, then it’s the Korea Cup hero Winner’s Man jumping from 10, that’s made him a slight second favourite.
In being a credible third in the President’s Cup of 2000m, when with the leaders at the 50 meters, Winner’s Man was a courageous winner the international Korea Cup at his previous start.
In running down Raon The Fighter on the line in the Korea Cup, and having won over 2000m in the YTN Cup at Busan, he’s 2021 Korea Derby winner, and this is also his first start at 2300m.
‘He is tactically versatile and is a big chance,’ for owner Lee Gyeong Hui, trainer Choi Ki Hong and jockey Seo Seung Un who has partnered him in all four Grade races this year.
Also a 4yo, and bred by Kim G Seok, Winner’s Man is by leading Korea based-sire Musket Man, from the good winning Volpoini mare Winner’s Marine, from Graceful Ballerina.
Leading owner and breeder Son Jong-Soo also has his 5yo filly Raon First backing-up from her President’s Cup victory, having previously run third to Eoma Eoma in the Korea Sprint.
Also, by his own successful sire Musket Man, she’s a full-sister to the 1600m stakes winner Raon Pink, and is from the stakes placed winning Warrior’s Reward mare Pink Candy.
With a full field of 16 runners contesting the Grand Prix Stakes, which greatly contributes to being crown Champion Horse, it was the juvenile last week in the Breeders’ Cup.
In being billed as ‘a race of two,’ it was the Bang Dong Suk trained Speed Young who scored by 5 lengths over the stakes placed Nanometa, with a tiring Fantastic Kingdom in third.
However, with Fantastic Kingdom being sent out as race favourite on the strength of his three stakes victories in Seoul, it’s now looking that Speed Young may be Champion Juvenile.
So what lays ahead for Speed Young as a Derby-Korea Cup-Grand Prix hero, before going to be Champion Sire and having been a ₩100 million graduate of the 2021 Nov. KTBA Yearling Sale.
Purchase by DRM City from Nokwon Farm, he’s the final crop by Menifee from the Fusaichi Pegasus Japanese mare Tapestry, out of the Champion Older Argentine mare Guernika.
