G1 Racing's Japan-based Diktaean surged past Chancheng Glory to win the Korea Cup (G3) by a half-length at Seoul Racecourse Park Sept. 7.
With this victory, Diktaean earned an automatic starting position in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Earlier in the program, Chung Yin Won's Self Improvement captured the $1 million Korea Sprint (G3) and earned a free berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Trained by Katsunori Arayama and ridden by Takayuki Yano, Diktaean, a 7-year-old King Kamehameha gelding, won his 10th race in 30 starts. He completed the 1 1/8 miles over the sandy dirt surface in 1:50.8 on a track listed as wet.
Breaking well from post 7 in the 11-horse field, Diktaean, off at odds of 7-1, saved ground in eighth place along the rail up the backstretch. A tightly packed group of horses contested the pace, led by Great Winner, with Iowa-bred, Hong Kong-based Chancheng Glory and 6-5 favorite Ramjet in close pursuit.
Off the far turn, Chancheng Glory and Ramjet moved prominently to the front, but out in the center of the track, Yano let Diktaean loose in the home stretch, and they caught Chancheng Glory inside the final 50 meters. The win earned Diktaean his first group stakes triumph and his first victory of the year in four starts.
Video
Hong Kong-based Self Improvement Scores Upset in Korea Sprint
In the six-furlong Korea Sprint, Self Improvement, away at 16-1, raced forwardly in the 13-horse field, just a neck behind pacesetter Super Finish through three furlongs. On the turn for home, 3-5 favorite Chikappa sped to the front and took a half-length lead over Self Improvement. The duo battled side by side inside to the final 30 meters before Self Improvement prevailed at the wire by a half-length. Super Finish held on to finish third.
A 6-year-old gelding by Deep Field, Self Improvement earned his sixth win, completing the race in 1:10.5. He came into Sunday's race off an 11th-place finish in the July 16 Lucky Patch Handicap going six furlongs at Happy Valley in Hong Kong.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Diktaean to start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and for Self Improvement to start in the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, which will be run at six furlongs. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 to receive the rewards.
Video
