Baekpa aiming at YTN Success
SEOUL Japanese raider Yumeno Honoo joins 14 local hopes in the 500 million won (S$461,000) Group 3 YTN Cup (2,000m), the second leg of the Stayer Series, at Seoul Racecourse on April 20,
A winner of 18 of 23 starts at Kochi, Yumeno Honoo has never raced outside of that track, not even at other National Association of Racing (NAR) courses in Japan.
The son of Battle Plan looks to have settled very well in Seoul. A physical specimen, he had his ears pricked every morning and seemingly very much enjoying his work.
Those present observed that Yumeno Honoo moves over the sand very well and, while he has tended to hang out a little on the turns, if this translates to race day, it could be very ominous for the locals.
The locals are spearheaded by defending champion Global Hit, who won in 2024 before going on to finish third in the Korea Cup and winning the local Group 1 President’s Cup and Grand Prix.
This will be his first race since returning from Dubai, where he was third in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic (2,000m) on March 1. If he is at his best, he should be able to see off Yumeno Honoo.
But he has had a gruelling campaign and is drawn out in 12.
All eyes will instead be on up-and-coming star Success Baekpa, the winner of two legs of the Triple Crown in 2024. He ended his three-year-old campaign with a strong third in the Grand Prix.
In Global Hit’s absence, he won the first leg of the Stayer Series, the Group 3 Herald Business (2,000m) in March. He gets better with every start and can be a danger.
Speed Young ran second in the Herald Business. He is very versatile as he is equally comfortable over both the shortest and longest distances and everything in between, and he will surely be thereabouts again.
Miracle Marine led the Herald Business before ultimately finishing fifth. He beat Success Baekpa when they met at Busan in January and can put in a bigger performance this time.
Former Kranji jockeys Wong Chin Chuen and Ruan Maia ride Mighty Good and Tiz Barrows respectively. Both are outsiders.
The race kicks off at 2.15pm Singapore time. SKY RACING WORLD
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