‘Cheongdam Dokki rolled back the years, crushed all-comers and silenced the sceptics by completing a sensational hat-trick in the Herald Business Cup at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.’
These are the words of English race announcer Alastair Middleton with Cheongdam Dokki’s run-away main race victory at Seoul’s Lets Run Park, with the lifting of COVIT restrictions.
In his race preview Alastair stated ‘can the enforced break mean a changing of the guard as the old champions Triple Nine and Cheongdam Dokki take on the young pretenders.’
The 6yo Cheongdam Dokki certainly proved that in simply running his rivals off their legs from barrier rise in the 2000m listed event, to score comfortably by 4 lengths with Park Tae Jong in the saddle.
Now returned to his original trainer Park Jong Kon, who in applying these ‘go to the front and run away’ tactics Cheongdam Dokki won 13 of his first 19 races, winning up to 2000m.
A graduate of the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Cheongdam Dokki is half-brother to stakes winners Gouldings Green and Filare L’Oro, being by duel Gr1 sire To Honor and Serve.
However, Korea’s racing fans will definitely be looking to the return of Breeder’s Cup hopeful Blue Chipper, following his valiant third in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile at Santa Anita last year.
Blue Chipper truly announced the ‘Korean Breeders’ Cup Arrival’ when third to Spun To Run and Omaha Beach at Santa Anita, for Busan trainer Kim Young Kwan and owner Choi Byeong-bu
Jockey Flavien Prat rode Blue Chipper to win, tracking front-running Spun To Run from barrier rise into the home straight. Unable to quicken at the furlong pole he was passed by Omaha Beach for second.
What is Blue Clipper’s programme heading to the $2m Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile of 8 furlongs on Day 2, Saturday 7 November at Keeneland, now that he is a ‘world proven miler.’
Possessing an international reputation, Big Chipper may start his 2020 campaign with The 32nd Ttukseom Cup of 1400m at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday 5 July.
In being an international open event and the first leg of Queen’s Tour, Blue Chipper should then press onto the Queen’s second leg, The 15th KNN Cup of 1600m on 16 August at his home track of Busan.
Or will Blue Clipper diverse and make it back-to-back victories in The 14th Owners Cup at weight-for-age, run over 1600m on 26 July at Busan.
Then take the same path to the Breeders’ Cup World Championship in winning the international invitational 5th Korea Sprint of 1200m, a world-rated Gr3 event on 13 September, prior to Keeneland.
In being the first Korean trained horse to win the Keeneland sponsored Korea Sprint, Blue Chipper is also the first Korean horses to contest the Breeders’ Cup, having been BC registered as a weanling.
At Keeneland, Blue Chipper will be returning home as he was bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing Corp., having been a $95,000 graduate of the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Selected by Busan trainer Bart Rice from the consigner Taylor Made Sales in Book 2, he was purchased by K.O.I.D being by the highly successful Breeder’s Cup Classic winner Tiznow.
An impressive type from the Gr2 Winning Dixie Union mare Dixie City, Blue Chipper is a half-brother to the stakes winner Win The War, now the family of Peter Pan Stakes winner Unified.
Blue Chipper also found no joy when heading the Korean contingent to the Dubai World Cup Carnival in February, only to contact travelling sickness on arrival at Meydan.
In being further disappointed when the Dubai World Cup night was cancelled due to COVIT-19 pandemic, he left Today to be the best Korean performer in running second in the Curlin Handicap.
The Korean Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association recently conducted its first Jeju May Sale of Two-Year-Old for the year at the KTBA Jeju Island Sales Complex with 151 lots being offered.
Topping the sale was the Take Charge Indy half-brother to the stakes placed winner Ojei Myeongdab, at KRW 90 million, A$111,300, on behalf of DRM City who race the good sprinter Spring Back.
Consigned by breeder Kim Jung Cheol this colt is from the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Patti’s Sweet Song, the family of Naninja, Dance Master and Henrythenavigator.
Patti’s Sweet Song was $50,000 graduate of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, in-foal to the King’s Bishop Stakes winner Forester who races as Ojei Myeongdab.