Cheongdam Dokki Too Tough in Busan

Making the trip down from his Seoul base to try Busan for the first time in his burgeoning career, last year's champion 3-year-old Cheongdam Dokki (To Honor and Serve) was not able to control Sunday's Mayor's Cup from the front, as is his custom, but in the end, his class shone through as he continued on a track likely to culminate in the W1-million Keeneland Korea Cup in early September.

Drawn gate 13, with 2016 Horse of the Year Triple Nine (Kor) (Ecton Park) two stalls to his inside, Cheongdam Dokki jumped well enough, but was beaten for speed by King of Ace (Malibu Moon) and was forced to do the chasing instead of being the hunted. But the gelding settled kindly through the middle stages and finished well, repelling a stretch challenge from Cheonji Storm (Kor) (Admire Don {Jpn}) for a first black-type success.

Cheongdam Dokki is out of a half-sister to MGISW Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues), dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and current Spendthrift stallion Cross Traffic (Unbridled's Song), MSW Thirteen Arrows (Indian Charlie) and SW Exodus (Medaglia d'Oro). Cheongdam Dokki is the last listed produce for his dam. Click for a video replay.

Sunday's Results:
BUSAN MAYOR'S CUP, KRW500,000,000 (£339,903/€383,929/US$448,869), Busan, 7-1, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:52.2, sy.
1–CHEONGDAM DOKKI, 126, g, 4, To Honor and Serve–Elusive Gold, by Strike the Gold. *1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($20,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Kimbyeongjin; B-Blue Heaven Farm LLC (KY); T-Park Jong Kon; J-Lim Gi Won; KRW285,000,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Colt-Kor, 16-11-3-0, KRW1,337,900,000. *1/2 to Gouldings Green (Charismatic), MGSW, $682,493; Baby Bird (Cape Town), MSP, $222,804; and Filare l'Oro (Hard Spun), SW & GSP, $185,100.[bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]2–Cheonji Storm (Kor), 126, h, 5, Admire Don (Jpn)–Great Thought, by Empire Maker. O-Cho Chang Seok. KRW105,000,000.
3–Triple Nine (Kor), 126, h, 6, Ecton Park–A Little Poke, by Pleasant Tap. O-Choi Byeong-Bu. KRW65,000,000.
Margins: 3, 1HF, 4. Odds: 0.40, 17.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: I'm Your Father, Buhwarui Banseok, Saengil Gippeum, King of Ace, Dongbang Daero, Champ Line (Kor), Iron Train, World Number One, Cheonjeok, Winner Red.