3 minute read
The stage is set for one of the most exciting races at Seoul this season with the YTN Cup, the 1st leg of the 2019 Korean Stayers’ Series, taking place on Sunday.
Cheongdam Dokki lines up in the race looking for back to back victories after defeating Clean Up Joy last year by a dominant 5-lengths.
The five-year-old Luigi Riccardi-trainee returned to the winner’s circle last start in the Herald Business Cup when demolishing seven rivals, many of whom will line up in the feature on Sunday.
A field of thirteen will contest the YTN Cup over 2000M with Moonhak Chief, Baengmunbaekdap and the progressive New Legend looking the main dangers to stop Cheongdam Dokki in his quest for successive wins.
Antonio Da Silva will be legged aboard Cheongdam Dokki once again on Sunday and is confident the horse is the one to beat now that he has stepped back up to the longer journey.
This will be the third time I’ve ridden him – we didn’t get a good result the first time, but it was a sprint and he’s not really a sprinter” Antonio Da Silva said.
“He is exactly (the same condition) where he was at the same time before the Herald Business Cup”
“Gate twelve is not ideal and I’m not really happy as the draw can affect the race:
“We know he is a good starter but whatever happens and however the horse settles we’ll have our strategy and the horse will let me know what he wants to do”.
Cheongdam Dokki is aiming for his fourteenth win on Sunday from just twenty-two starts.
In-form jockey Seo Seung-un will partner with the lightly raced New Legend in the deature on Sunday.
Having previously won in the United States, the son of Menifee has won five from six starts in Korea with his first defeat on home sand coming at his most recent run.
The Kim Young-kwan trained galloper lined up in Class 2 company over 2000M two starts back and annihilated his rivals with the runner-up being beaten thirteen lengths.
Coming off an Oaks victory last week, Seo Seung-un heads to Seoul in the hope of taking out his second feature in as many weeks.
“This is a very good horse. He responds really well to everything we do in training and this will be the first time I’ve ridden him in a race” Seo Seung-un said.
Referring to his last start defeat in the Busan Ilbo Cup over 1200M, Seo Seung-un believes the horse is suited over a longer distance.
“He’s a stayer, not a sprinter and what I like about this horse is he knows what he is supposed to do; he knows when he’s meant to make an effort”.
“We’ve drawn gate number nine and we think it’s ideal, he’s a really good starter so we have no worries in that regards:
Seo Seung-un is not concerned with where Cheongdam Dokki settles in the run, explaining his connections will focus on New Legend’s tactics.
“We don’t care what Cheongdam Dokki does, we know he’s drawn outside of us and we know he will work forward as that is what he always does”
“I’ll have a chat with the trainer and see what we’re going to do”.
Kim Young-kwan will also saddle up Baengmunbaekdap, who continues to build a good record.
The Tapizar four-year-old was sent out in the red by punters last time out and duly saluted, winning by ten-lengths over the 2200M.
The task looks tough for the Busan-based galloper at set weights but Kim Young-kwan has taught punters never to rule his chances out coming off an unexpected Oaks win last week with Deep Mind.
The nineteenth running of the YTN Cup will take place at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday at 4.45pm Korea local time.
