Japanese rule supreme in Seoul; Korea Sprint, Cup fall to Japan’s team of four in double 1-2 finish

Though the names have changed, Japan’s raiders once again dazzled at Seoul Racecourse as they secured both first and second place in the day’s big events -- the Grade 3 Korea Sprint and the Grade 2 Korea Cup -- the only two international grade races hosted by Korea Racing Association.

With both races designated as “Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In” challenge races, Sprint winner Dragon Welds and repeat Cup champ Diktaean got their tickets to fly.

First up on Sunday, Sept. 6 was the 1,200-meter Korea Sprint, with the 4-year-old colt American Stage taking an early lead from the No. 3 gate amid a full gate of 16 runners. Dragon Welds broke from the No. 7 gate and tracked American Stage from closely behind.

Entering the stretch, Dragon Welds closed on American Stage and the two fought it out fiercely with the former pulling ahead by 2 lengths for the win. Four lengths later, Korea’s Vincero Cavallo made the money in third place.

Winning jockey Keita Tosaki, who claimed his fifth victory from the six times he rode Dragon Welds, said, “The draw was good, so I went straight out from the gate as the trainer and I had discussed. We settled three wide just off the leader and all went as planned.

“I had been a bit worried about the passionate Korean racegoers because this horse does tend to get worked up, but when I got on I felt he was still in the acceptable range.

“I’d wanted to come to Korea, so it was great to secure a ride, and then to win right away, and hear the cheers from the fans, it was really something and it really got me fired up inside.”

The U.S.-born Dragon Welds, a 4-year-old by Frosted, is based at the Ritto barn of Hideaki Fujiwara. The gray colt improved his winning score to seven from 14 starts.

Runnerup American Stage, also 4 years old, also American-bred, is by Into Mischief and trained by globetrotting Yoshito Yahagi.

American Stage has, in addition to Korea, competed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the United States and scored a fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

From 17 starts, he now has three wins, six seconds and two thirds, with the Korea Sprint representing his second time (after the Grade 3 Mahab Al Shimaal at Meydan　Racecourse) to score a personal best second place in graded race.

The Korea Sprint carried a first-place prize of approximately 70 million yen and an overall purse of 140 million yen.

One hour later in the 1,800-meter Korea Cup, it was age before youth, with the 8-year-old gelding Diktaean overtaking the early leader, the 6-year-old Sunday Funday, with 1 furlong remaining and sailing on to secure, by a whopping 6 lengths, his second win of the race.

Ridden by Takayuki Yano, the King Kamehameha-sired Diktaean raced from the back of the nine-strong field as Sunday Funday, with Yamato Tsunoda up, dictated the pace.

Diktaean moved up in the backstretch and sat comfortably behind Sunday Funday in third position. The two Japanese dueled it out in the straight and stamina won over speed as Diktaean overtook Sunday Funday at 200 meters out and drew clear for the win.

The remaining seven runners were left far behind with the U.S.-bred, Korea-based Amazing Khan clearing the line in third place 11 lengths behind Sunday Funday.  

Winning jockey Takayuki Yano, who also rode last year’s win, said, “I came to win, but I was a bit worried at the first turn, so I am very relieved to have won. During the race, I’d wanted to keep the leaders within striking distance, and Diktaean really delivered with a long, powerful finishing surge of power.”

Diktaean, now with 12 wins from 34 starts, is based at Oi Racecourse at the barn of NAR trainer Katsunori Arayama. The dark bay followed his win of the Korea Cup last year with a first at Oi in the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten, then raced in only two more starts before returning to Seoul off a third place in the listed Teio Sho over 2,000 meters at Oi Racecourse on July 1.

Sunday Funday, by Suzuka Causeway, is based at the Ritto barn of Akishi Higashida. He has posted eight wins, including the Grade 2 Procyon Stakes and the Grade 3 March Stakes, both over 1,800 meters. He has figured in the top three in half of his 30 starts.

The Korea Cup was worth a total 1.6 billion Korean won (about 160 million yen), with a first-place prize of 800 million won (approx. 80 million yen).

Japan has dominated the two Korean international races since their begin in 2016. Japan-based horses have now won the Korea Sprint five times and the Korea Cup seven times in the eight times Japanese horses have participated. They clinched the top two spots in both races in 2024, and marked second year of sweeping first and second place this year.

Please visit the following websites for more information.
Korea Racing Authority
Official Result
Korea Cup and Sprint