A year ago, Cheongdam Dokki added the Herald Business Trophy to the list of races he had usurped Clean Up Joy as holder of on his way to becoming the highest rated horse at Seoul. On Sunday, it’s his turn to defend as he faces seven rivals in this year’s renewal of the Listed 2000M race. There 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05:

If he fails, it will be a surprise. Cheongdam Dokki rounded out 2018 with a game but ultimately failed attempt to take the big domestic race that still eludes him, when he was 2^nd in the Grand Prix Stakes. He was then moved to the stable of Italian trainer Luigi Riccardi and had three months off before returning to action in the Owners’ Cup in March. Dropped back to 1200M, he only managed 5^th place as Silver Wolf took the honours but he should make no mistake this time.

The main danger is Moonhak Chief. 6^th in last year’s Grand Prix, he has begun his four-year-old campaign in fine style with back-to-back class 1 victories over 2000M, both times beating Shamrocker, who returns for another crack here. He has the potential to be one of the year’s break-out stars but may not be ready to beat Cheongdam Dokki just yet.

As for Shamrocker, now six-years-old, he’s spent his career chasing first Clean Up Joy and then Cheongdam Dokki on his way to racking up nine runner-up finishes. A good solid horse in his own right, he will surely be there or thereabouts in terms of the places on Sunday, although a win is a longshot.

As for the rest, Road Winner is a winner of seven from eleven but while he won back to back class 1 races around the turn of the year, he was well back in the Grand Prix Stakes and is yet to prove himself in true elite company. The nine-year-old Wonder Bolt, Asia Challenge Cup winner back in 2015 also goes around one more time. Though he has lost a yard of pace, he is still capable of running into the minor money.

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A maiden for three-year-olds to kick things off. (4) CHOEGANG MAGIC debuted with a solid 4^th place over this distance on March 23^rd and Luigi Riccardi’s colt looks to have solid claims to break through today. (11) GABO PULL QUEEN ran on well for 3^rd over 1000M on debut and steps up in trip today with it likely to suit. Moon Se Young taking over on board won’t do any harm either. (3) SPADE MASHIE ran nicely on debut in February and looked decent in a trial two weeks ago. He’ll likely be on the early pace and it’s not impossible he could go all the way while (10) BLUE BAND was a useful 5^th on debut and can build on it today. Of the three debut-makers, (2) SMART GUNHWANG looked the best in trials.

Selections	(4) Choegang Magic (3) Spade Mashie (11) Gabo Pull Queen (10) Blue Band
Next Best	2, 8
Fast Start	3, 5, 10

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

More three-year-old maidens and (2) BLACK WINGWING looks ready to win. She has two 3^rd places among four starts so far, both at this distance and from gate 2, should be leading from the start. She’ll be joined on pace by principal danger, (1) BORN ANGEL, who already has a 2^nd place to his name and comes in following a solid 3^rd last time. (7) LA VIE EST BELLE struggled over 1300M in both his latest outings but should be much more comfortable today dropped back in trip. (4) CHEONSE MANSE and (5) GOLD PERILLA are others in the hunt.

Selections	(2) Black Wingwing (1) Born Angel (7) La Vie Est Belle (5) Gold Perilla
Next Best	4, 3
Fast Start	1, 2, 5

Race 3: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) ACHIEVE made all to score by a full seven-lengths on debut back in January. He has a couple of injury setbacks since then and returns up in class, but he has enough ability to win again. It won’t be easy though. (1) BLUE FIRE remains a maiden after nine attempts but has proven competitive at this level and comes in after a good 3^rd in a similar race to this last start. He’ll be on pace early and could make his breakthrough today. (2) SUPER YEOWANG got her maiden win last June and then wasn’t seen for eight months. She’s registered a 4^th and a 5^th in two starts back and should be in the frame for more improvement today. (10) CHOWON MARU and (11) P.K.JEONSA, up in class after finishing 1^st and 2^nd over this distance at class 6 a month ago, should both be competitive too.

Selections	(3) Achieve (1) Blue Fire (2) Super Yeowang (10) Chowon Maru
Next Best	11, 6
Fast Start	1, 2, 3, 11

Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(5) MYEONGJIN MAN just missed out by a neck when 2^nd at class and distance on March 23^rd. It was his first try around two-turns; it seemed to suit, and he can go one better today. Plenty of others enter off the back of good results. (4) DAE BYEONHWA and (7) STAR LIST came home 3^rd and 4^th when they raced each other over 1300M on March 30^th. The latter steps up to this trip for the first time but both look capable here. (3) LUCKY BONGHWA remains a maiden but ran a strong class and distance 3^rd a month ago and is perhaps the biggest threat to the top pick, likely trying to lead early. (12) SZERENCSE another in the hunt.

Selections	(5) Myeongjin Man (3) Lucky Bonghwa (4) Dae Byeonhwa (7) Star List
Next Best	12, 11
Fast Start	3, 4, 7

Race 5: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) HAMBAK MISO finished 2^nd, beaten a head, in a very tight finish at class and distance on March 23^rd. It was a good performance and he is favoured to come from off the pace to win here. (1) STORMY and (7) MIGHTY MAMBO came home 4^th and 5^th respectively in that same race, just over a length behind Hambak Miso and both have claims to go well today. Mighty Mambo actually beat Hambak Miso at the distance in February. The main danger though could be (3) TAP LUCK. It took him a couple of goes to figure things out but he’s up in class and in distance today following a commanding four-length win over 1300M in February and looks to have potential for more.

Selections	(8) Hambak Miso (3) Tap Luck (1) Stormy (7) Mighty Mambo
Next Best	6, 4
Fast Start	1, 3, 4

Race 6: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) MONSTER QUEEN and (1) JEJUI HEUKSEON finished 4^th and 5^th respectively with just a neck between them when they raced each other at class and distance on March 17^th…  Read more of this post

 

TREVE PRODUCES SIYOUNI FILLY

Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), a dual winner of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, produced her third foal, a filly by Haras de Bonneval resident Siyouni (Fr), at midday on Saturday, Apr. 13, Al Shaqab Racing tweeted on Wednesday. Bred by Haras du Quesnay, the bay raced for Al Shaqab and trainer Criquette Head, eventually being named a French highweight from ages three through five, and collecting six Group 1 wins. In addition to her Arc scores in 2013/2014, Treve also won the 2013 G1 Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks), two editions of the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille (>13/=15) and the 2015 G1 Grand Prix de SaintCloud.

A half-sister to SW and G2 Prix Greffulhe third Trois Rois (Fr) (Hernando {Fr}) and US SP Trophee (Fr) (Mr. Sidney), her first foal is a juvenile colt by Dubawi (Ire), while her yearling filly has been christened Paris (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}). Treve is out of the Anabaa mare Trevise (Fr), herself a full-sister to MSW and GI Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile third Tsigane (Fr). Last fall, Al Shaqab Racing announced that Treve will visit Gilltown Stud’s Sea The Stars (Ire) this spring.

 

European Lasix Reaction

cont. from p1 France Galop, responding in yesterday’s TDN, had for instance simply applauded “a major and positive move” that could nourish the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ agenda of harmonisation. Robin Mounsey of the British Horseracing Authority wasstill more understated. “We welcome the newsfrom the U.S. that some racecourses have banned the use of Lasix,” he noted on Friday. “It has long been the policy in Britain, in the interests of the welfare of our horses and of fair competition, that no prohibited substances should be present in a horse’s system on raceday, and only normal feed and water can be given on the day of the race.” For a perspective as uninhibited as it is exceptionally informed, then, let’s turn to Des Leadon–the distinguished Irish veterinarian whose diverse roles in the Thoroughbred industry have incidentally afforded him an intimate knowledge of the American racing environment. For many years he hassupervised the travel of elite European racehorses to the Breeders’ Cup, whose trainers have often felt obliged to administer Lasix to achieve a level playing field. But Leadon’s expertise has also been recognised by his peers in the U.S., having served as International Director of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

European Lasix Reaction cont. from p1 France Galop, responding in yesterday’s TDN, had for instance simply applauded “a major and positive move” that could nourish the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ agenda of harmonisation. Robin Mounsey of the British Horseracing Authority wasstill more understated. “We welcome the newsfrom the U.S. that some racecourses have banned the use of Lasix,” he noted on Friday. “It has long been the policy in Britain, in the interests of the welfare of our horses and of fair competition, that no prohibited substances should be present in a horse’s system on raceday, and only normal feed and water can be given on the day of the race.” For a perspective as uninhibited as it is exceptionally informed, then, let’s turn to Des Leadon–the distinguished Irish veterinarian whose diverse roles in the Thoroughbred industry have incidentally afforded him an intimate knowledge of the American racing environment. For many years he hassupervised the travel of elite European racehorses to the Breeders’ Cup, whose trainers have often felt obliged to administer Lasix to achieve a level playing field. But Leadon’s expertise has also been recognised by his peers in the U.S., having served as International Director of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. And, while describing Thursday’s news as “hugely” welcome, Leadon counselled Europeans to be patient. Commending the strategy of only applying the Lasix ban to juveniles next year, before extending to black-type racing in 2021, he said: “I think it’s very good they’re not trying to run before they walk. To go for evolution rather than revolution is much more sensible. Because to be fair, there are parts of the U.S. where they have very good reasons for taking a medicated approach to racing…

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/pdf/tdn/tdn190420e.pdf…