Glory of Being Number One, What Words? ... Busan Gyeongnam Race Park Hosts the 15th Owners' Cup

Published 21 Jul.2022 12:18(KST)

Updated 09 Aug.2025 15:44(KST)

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Raon the Fighter.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] On Sunday the 24th at 5 PM, the Owners’ Cup will be held at the Busan-Gyeongnam Race Park. The race is classified as GIII and features male and female horses aged three and older competing over 1600 meters.

The Owners’ Cup, similar to the Seoul and Jeju Owners’ Association President’s Cup, was established in 2007 and is now in its 15th edition.

This year’s Owners’ Cup will feature 12 horses: 7 from Seoul and 5 from Busan-Gyeongnam. Here are the five most notable contenders.

▲ Heat Yegam (Busan-Gyeongnam, Domestic Grade 1, 4 years old, male, Korea, R102, owner Kim Jun-hyun, trainer Bang Dong-seok, win rate 64.3%, place rate 85.7%)

Last year’s best 3-year-old male horse. On the sire side flows the blood of ‘A.P. Indy,’ and on the dam side, the blood of ‘Mr. Prospector’ and ‘Storm Cat.’ The initial earning price of 150 million KRW also reflects the high expectations for this pedigree.

Until February this year, Heat Yegam had only recorded wins or runner-up finishes in all races entered, but in May’s Seoul Owners’ Association President’s Cup, his pace sharply slowed in the latter part, resulting in a disappointing 8th place.

In June’s Busan Metropolitan Mayor’s Cup, he showed a similar performance and finished 5th.

▲ Success Macho (Busan-Gyeongnam, Domestic Grade 1, 4 years old, gelding, Korea (Foaled), R110, owner Lee Jang-hyun, trainer Min Jang-gi, win rate 81.8%, place rate 81.8%)

He has a career record of 9 wins out of 11 races. The other two results were 3rd place in June’s Busan Metropolitan Mayor’s Cup and 12th place in last year’s Owners’ Cup.

Although he finished 12th out of 14 horses, a notably poor result, many analysts attribute this to lack of experience as it was his first graded stakes race since debut.

Since then, he has returned to a winning streak. Weighing around 480 kg, he is not particularly large compared to other entrants but possesses sufficient strength.

▲ Raon the Fighter (Seoul, Domestic Grade 1, 4 years old, male, Korea (Foaled), R133, owner Son Cheon-su, trainer Park Jong-gon, win rate 83.3%, place rate 100%)

He was undefeated in his first 10 races until he lost to ‘Eomamama’ in April’s Busan Ilbo Cup and then to ‘Black Musk’ in May’s Seoul Owners’ Association President’s Cup.

His winning streak ended at 10, but he maintains a perfect place rate of 100%.

This will be his first 1600m race, but as an outstanding horse regardless of distance, he is expected to perform well.

Raon the Fighter’s sire is ‘Byron,’ the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in the United States, and his maternal grandsire is ‘EMPIRE MAKER,’ the 2003 Belmont Stakes winner.

▲ Black Musk (Seoul, Foreign Grade 1, 4 years old, male, USA, R121, owner Kim Han-su, trainer Kim Dong-gyun, win rate 57.1%, place rate 78.6%)

In the Seoul Owners’ Association President’s Cup, he demonstrated explosive speed 200 meters before the finish line and achieved a thrilling nose victory over ‘Raon the Fighter.’

Although his performance has varied, he has shown considerable racing ability, switching between front-running and closing styles. Like ‘Success Macho,’ he suffered humiliation by finishing 14th out of 14 in last year’s Owners’ Cup.

▲ Simjangui Godong (Busan-Gyeongnam, Domestic Grade 1, 6 years old, male, Korea, R127, owner Oh Jong-hwan, trainer Shim Seung-tae, win rate 37.0%, place rate 44.4%)

He is the offspring of the 2012 Horse of the Year ‘Jigeum Isungan.’ Last year, he solidified his position as a long-distance specialist by winning the ‘Presidential Cup (GI).’

In his most recent race, June’s Busan Metropolitan Mayor’s Cup (1800m), he settled in the mid-pack as a stalker, conserved energy, and demonstrated veteran savvy by maintaining his pace to finish 2nd.