“Yeah, a big achievement for the Korea Racing Authority,” said Chip McGaughey of Keeneland on news that the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint are now in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
“Very glad they could get that done, as Blue Chipper won the Korea Sprint then ran third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Grade 1, and that was so big then and I’m sure Japan will be looking.”
As Chip McGaughey is Assistant Director of Sales Market Analytics at Keeneland, he was there when Blue Chipper was sold to KOID for $90,000 from Book 2 of 2016 September Yearling Sale.
Twelve months later at Keeneland, it was Chip McGaughey again seeing Knicks Go being purchase for $87,000 by the KRA, in using their K-Nicks Genetic program for future stud duties in Korea.
In winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, he was crowned the 2021 Eclipse Horse of The Year and World’s Best Racehorse, and is now at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.
As his first foals sold up to $200,000, and with his first crop yearlings are to be sold at Keeneland and Kentucky this year, there’s certainly a bright future for Korea and with the Breeders’ Cup.
This year the Korea Cup of 1800m, an international Gr.3, and the Korea Sprint of 1200m, also a Gr.3, will be both run on Sunday 8 September at Seoul Let’s Run Park Racecourse in South Korea.
And with the Korea Cup being an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the Korea Sprint has automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, while there are three races from Britain.
On Wednesday 21 August at York, the winner of the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, a Gr.3 over 7 furlongs, will gain ‘an automatic starting position’ into the $1m Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Gr.1.
The William Hill Prestige Stakes Gr.3 of 7 furlong will be run at Goodwood on Saturday 24 August, giving the winner a free berth into the $1m Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Gr.1 of 1 mile.
At the QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 19 October, the winner of the Fillies and Mares Stakes of 1½ miles can start in the $2m Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Gr.1.
And for the first time, the City of Hope Mile Gr.3 of 8 furlongs at Santa Anita Park on Sunday 29 September is a Win and You’re In event for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Gr.1, at 1 mile.
In announcing the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the ‘Win and You’re In’ of 82 races in 12 countries, it’s the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championship at Del Mar on 1, 2 November.
‘We take great pride in seeing horsemen world-wide capitalize on what is provided by the Challenge Series, the premier route to securing a starting position in the World Championships.’
Also, news for Lexington is that the 8½ length Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River is 128 as Longines World’s Best Racehorse, with Proven Thoroughbreds’ Private Eye the World’s Best Sprinter.
With Private Eye scratched from the TJ Smith Stakes at The Championships, he retains his 120 rating while fellow Australian’s I Wish I Win and Imperatriz are still equal second as WBR Sprinter.
Laurel River was never challenged in the Dubai World Cup, with defending champion Ushba Tesoro of Japan who remains on 120 while Senor Buscador, 121, finished a neck away in third place.
The Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winner Rebel’s Romance improved to 123 from 120 and is now the world’s second-highest rated horse, who defeated Shahryar, 120, of Japan by two lengths.
Meanwhile, Facteur Cheval was awarded 120 following the DP World, while Yuz is 119 on winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen by 6½ lengths, and Fierceness on 120 for the Curlin Florida Derby.
