Global Hit sealed his status as the nation’s top three-year-old as the Korean Derby winner produced another late surge up the inside to win the Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday evening.
Sent off as third favourite in a full field of sixteen, Global Hit was unable to get to a forward position coming out of the gate when Uptown Whiz drifted in front of him. Instead, jockey Kim Hye-sun had to be patient and settle the Derby winner in midfield as Dokki Bulpae and betting favourite Naol Sniper set the pace.
Global Hit steadily improved as the field made their way down the backstraight and joined the leaders as they turned for home. Once in the straight, Global Hit quickly accounted for Naol Sniper and Dokki Bulpae and was left with only stablemate Speed Young to see off. This he did with a final furlong burst of speed that saw him cross the line two-lengths to the good. As ever late on the scene, Nut Play came home 3rd a full seven-lengths further in arrears.
“I am really happy. Global Hit is a very good horse and he proved that the Derby wasn’t just luck” winning jockey Kim Hye-sun told in-house broadcaster KRBC. “I don’t really think I gave him due credit in my interview after the Derby, but I expected him to win this time. He has so much talent, and while his legs are not the strongest, the stable staff did such a good job in managing him and allowing him to show his ability.”
Asked about the start when Uptown Whiz crossed, impeding Global Hit from getting their desired position and whether it forced her to change tactics, Kim said she noted it. “As we came out the gap narrowed, I hesitated a little but decided not chase it, so we settled back a little bit further than planned, but ultimately it didn’t matter.”
For trainer Bang Dong-suk, it was a remarkable one-two with last year’s champion juvenile Speed Young running a redemptive race following lacklustre showings in both the Cup Mile and the Derby.
“I have to praise my jockeys.” Bang told KRBC. “They were great, but this is a whole team effort by everyone back at the stable. They worked hard to prepare this.” As for the future, the trainer was non-committal: “Global Hit has been through a lot with his legs, but they are both young and I am looking forward to what’s next.”
Jockey You Hyun-myung rode Speed Young to win the Breeders’ Cup and following a lengthy spell out after a bad injury in a race fall, was reunited with him in the Minister’s Cup. “The staff had told me he was back in form, and they were right. Global Hit was just too strong in the last 200M.”
Global Hit is by To Honor And Serve and is out of Tammy’s Victress (by Yankee Victor). With the win he moved on to five wins from seven starts.
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