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There is a heavyweight rematch in the Owners’ Cup (Korea Group 3) at Busan this Sunday as Silver Wolf and Power Blade face off once more having run 1st and 2nd in the Busan Ilbo Cup earlier this year.
This time it’s at a mile and they’re joined by other big-hitters Doraonpogyeongseon and I’m Your Father in what is set to be one of the races of the summer.
While Cheongdam Dokki, who was also expected to run, ultimately doesn’t take his chance, the Owners’ Cup always provides drama. In last year’s race, Power Blade upset stable-mate Triple Nine to take the victory and the Grand Prix champion has an opportunity to exact revenge on Aussie bred mare Silver Wolf, who beat him to win the Busan Ilbo back in April.
That day Silver Wolf got a ground-saving run while Power Blade was forced wide and arrived on the scene with too much to do. This time, with an extra two furlongs to play with, things may be very different. Silver Wolf is versatile and has won at up to 2000M but against the likes of Power Blade, excellent at any trip, it won’t be easy for her.
Doraonpogyeongseon was 3rd in the Busan Ilbo and he went on to comfortably defeat an out of sorts Silver Wolf when successfully defending his SBS Sports Sprint title in Seoul last month. For him too, the step up to 1600M, while not insurmountable, is not necessarily ideal.
I’m Your Father, fresh from 4th place behind Cheongdam Dokki in the Busan Mayor’s Cup earlier this month, a return to a mile looks a tantalizing proposition and he may well play a role while for up and coming Seoul raider Mighty Ssing, this may be too much too soon. The three-year-old Congrats colt is highly though-of as one for the future and was an effortless class 1 winner in the capital in June. Under jockey Antonio Da Silva, this provides an early progress check to see where he stands against the current elite.
A total of twelve will line up for the Owner’s Cup which is race 4 on a brief 5-race card at Busan on Sunday. The big race starts at 3.30pm local Korea time.