LetsRunPark Busan-Gyeongnam, 19th Busan Ilbo Cup 'Experience vs. Spirit Showdown'

Showdown Between Rising Stars and Veterans
for the Top Sprinter Title at 4:30 PM on the 9th

The 19th Busan Ilbo Cup (G3, 1200m, 3 years old and above, 500 million KRW), the premier short-distance race in Korean horse racing, will be held as the 6th race at Korea Racing Authority's LetsRun Park Busan-Gyeongnam on the 9th.

The Busan Ilbo Cup, which has produced star horses well known by name such as Eomama and Raon the Fighter, was newly established in 2006 as a race sponsored by a major local media company and became the first gateway of the Sprinter Series in 2019. The Sprinter Series continues from this Busan Ilbo Cup to the SBS Sports Sprint in April and the Seoul Jockey Club President’s Cup in May.

Looking at the results of the Busan Ilbo Cup over the past five years, horses aged 4 to 5 have recorded the most wins, with Seoul-based horses winning for five consecutive years. Although it is a short-distance race, the winning pattern has often been a late charge from behind rather than leading early. It is also notable that the only time the favorite horse with the highest odds won was in 2023, when Raon the Fighter took first place.

This year’s Busan Ilbo Cup is expected to be fiercely contested amid no standout absolute favorite. A total of 13 horses have entered the race.

Among the entrants, the only 3-year-old horse, Busan’s Winner Clear, who has already won two major races, has entered to show the spirit of a rising star. In response, Seoul’s experienced Eomama and Busan’s Thorns Sal are expected to engage in a fiery competition. Also, Seoul’s Vincero Cavallo and Busan’s Black Mamba, who have always left only regrets in major races, are aiming to wash away their winless woes through this competition.

Winner Clear showed outstanding performance last year in 1200m races for 2-year-olds. It won the Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Cup and the Busan Gangseo-gu Office Cup, and placed second in the Gimhae Mayor’s Cup. In a 1200m general race entered in August as a 2-year-old, it demonstrated the ability to handle a fast race, finishing with a record of 1 minute 11.8 seconds (track condition 2% dry) with a margin of 15 lengths. Being the only 3-year-old among the entrants, it also has the advantage of carrying a lower weight. It tends to run with a front or stalker running style. Winner Clear is a foal of KLIMT, whose stud fee is known to be under $20,000. Therefore, instead of competing in the Triple Crown (Grade level) series, which requires a stud fee of over $20,000, it is expected to continue its success in short-distance major races.

Winner Clear Gangseo-gu Office Chief Cup Winning Scene. Photo by Korea Racing Authority

Vincero Cavallo has consistently performed well in general races but has always left regrets in major races. In the World Ilbo Cup (L, 1200m) held in February this year, it led the race alongside the winner Crown Hamseong but lost momentum on the straight and finished 8th, leaving a disappointing impression. In the International Newspaper Cup (G3, 1400m) last November, it ran as a stalker in 5th place, conserving energy but lacked finishing power in the final stretch and finished 4th. It has a maternal lineage strong in short distances and can adapt its running style according to the situation, making it a contender for a good result in this closely contested race.

Black Mamba is a horse that placed second in last year’s International Newspaper Cup. Originally focused on middle and long-distance races, it has been competing in short-distance races since last year’s International Newspaper Cup. Although it has relatively little experience in major races, it has recently shown good racing form and is considered a candidate for victory. It made its first appearance in a 1200m general race in December last year, defeating Daeam Janggun by 5 lengths to win. Its running style is a stalker type, following behind the leaders rather than forcing the pace early, and making a late move in the final stretch. It is poised to prove its strength as a short-distance specialist in this competition.

Thorns Sal is the oldest and highest-rated horse among the entrants and, during its prime, dominated the Korean short-distance racing scene alongside Eomama. It won the Seoul Jockey Club President’s Cup, the third leg of the Sprinter Series, in both last year and the year before, defeating Eomama. It has participated in 17 races over 1200m, achieving 6 wins, 1 second place, and 4 third places. Known for its exquisite late charge aiming for a come-from-behind victory at the finish line, there is anticipation whether this veteran can overcome its advanced age and write another dramatic chapter.

Eomama is a horse whose name alone explains its reputation. It holds the fastest race record among the entrants and won the 2022 Busan Ilbo Cup with a time of 1 minute 11.1 seconds (track condition 3% dry). With a total of five major race wins, it has the most distinguished record among the entrants. In last year’s Sprinter Series, it placed 5th in the Busan Ilbo Cup, 2nd in the SBS Sports Sprint, and 2nd in the Seoul Jockey Club President’s Cup, showing it has not lost its edge. It earned the highest cumulative points in the Sprinter Series and was selected as the best short-distance horse aged 3 and above in 2024, receiving an incentive of 100 million KRW. Recently, it has shifted from a front-running style to a closer style, and after a disappointing recent major race, it is strongly motivated to demonstrate its resilience in this race.