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Cheongdam Dokki Aims For Third Time Lucky As Seoul All Set For Grand Prix Showdown

3 minute read

The 38th running of the Grand Prix (KOR G1) takes place on Sunday at Seoul Racecourse.

Cheongdam Dokki winning the Class Open Special Weight B
Cheongdam Dokki winning the Class Open Special Weight B Picture: Korea Racing Authority

The time-honoured race has attracted a field of ten runners who will line up over the 2300M.

Dolkong has been ruled out of the race due to injury after a five-length win in the KRA Cup Classic, leaving the race wide open.

It has been ten years since a favourite has saluted in the staying feature with, the gruelling 2300M in the sand being the downfall of plenty of well-fancied top picks in recent times.

Cheongdam Dokki will tackle the race for the third straight year with connections hoping he can go one better on his runner-up performance last year behind Triple Nine, who has not graced the racetrack since.

Triple Nine too four attempts in the race before he broke through for his first Grand Prix a year ago.

Cheongdam Dokki  looks to have peaked at the right time coming off a 2nd place performance in the KRA Cup Classic when finishing behind Dolkong.

The Luigi Riccardi trained galloper settled behind the leading division in the Classic before searching for a run at the top of the straight.

He ran on doggedly to finish 2nd whilst Dolkong was kept to the inside rail going on for a dominant win.

Prior to his last run, Cheongdam Dokki finished 2nd in the Korea Cup behind Moonhak Chief.

Cheongdam Dokki settled behind the pacemakers in the event before the speed slackened when jockey Moon Se-Young made a race winning move taking Moonhak Chief to the lead in the back straight.

Cheongdam Dokki did his best to reel in Moonhak Chief, steadily making ground on the winner but it was obvious at the furlong that he would have to settle for 2nd.

Moonhak Chief will also line up in the Grand Prix coming off a disappointing 5th in the KRA Cup Classic when appearing one-paced through the line.

Antonio Da Silva, who rode Moonhak Chief to 2nd behind Dolkong in the Busan Mayor's Cup in June will return to the ride replacing the currently injured Moon Se Young.

Moonhak Chief finished 2nd in last year's Grand Prix when weakening noticeably in the final furlong.

The Australian-bred Silver Wolf is the only mare engaged in the race and she comes into the event in great form, winning all of her last five starts.

Four of her past five starts have been against fillies and mare, winning them all with ease and confirming that she is by far the best mare in Korea.

She did line up against the geldings and entires in March, winning over 1200M in the Owners' Association Trophy, a race in which Cheongdam Dokki ran 5th.

She has stepped up in distance since then, with he rmost recent win over 2000M when settling back and hitting the line strong.

If Silver Wolf can win the race, she will be the first mare to take the honours since Gamdonguibada in 2012.

Busan appears best represented by Today and Great King.

Five-year-old Today managed to finish 3rd in this event last year when finishing just a head behind Cheongdam Dokki.

Connections of the chestnut elected to go into the Kookje Shinmun Cup over 1400M prior to stepping up to the 2300M of the Grand Prix.

The Kim Young-kwan trained galloper ran out of his skin to finish 2nd, three lengths behind stablemate Baengmunbaekdap.

Today looks the likely pacemaker from barrier two with his Busan counterpart Great King likely to work forward early as well.

Great King has won his last two starts at class 1 level over 2000M and 2200M.

His victory over 2200M was impressive when leading throughout and going on to win by a five-length margin, beating New York Mangchi, who will also line up in the Grand Prix.

The remaining runners engaged are Shamrocker, Shark Daejanggeun, Jumbo Blade and Dongbang Daero, the latter runner-up in the race two years ago.

The 38th running of the Grand Prix gets underway at 4:45pm Sunday local time.


Korean Racing Authority

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