Racing
Global Hit set for rare Busan homecoming in Mayor’s Cup
Global Hit returned from Dubai to successfully uphold local honour by seeing off Japan’s Yumeno Honoo in last month's YTN Cup.
Now, the highest rated horse in Korea makes a return to the track where he does his training, but scarcely ever races, as he headlines the Busan Mayor's Cup (1800M KOR-G2), the final leg of the Stayer Series, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
While he does his day-to-day training on the track, since his breakout performance in the 2023 Korean Derby, only one of Global Hit's subsequent fourteen outings have been at home. That was in this race last year when as favourite, he was narrowly beaten into second by Tuhonui Banseok. He'll be favourite again.
Tuhonui Banseok is the double defending Champion having won the race in both 2023 and 2024 but on recent form, SPEED YOUNG shapes as the main danger. The stablemate of Global Hit was 2nd in both previous legs of the series, the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) and YTN Cup (2000M KOR G3). SUCCESS BAEKPA won the Herald, and along with TIZ BAROWS and NUT PLAY will be among the next line of favourites.
Here's a rundown of the full field of fourteen for the big race which, for live TV purposes (KBS N Sports in Korea), is race 2 at Busan with the early post time of 13:10:
1. BYEOLNARA JILJU – The lowest rated in the field by a considerable margin and while he placed at class 2 level over 2000M in February, he is a big outsider here.
2. NAOL SNIPER – Hasn't quite kicked on this year and with a 6th and a 12th in the two prior legs of the series, and on those efforts, he has plenty to find here.
3. TUHONUI BANSEOK – Winner of this race the past two years, he ended 2024 with 2nd to Global Hit in the Grand Prix but was well back in both legs of this series so far. Return to Busan may help and not to be dismissed.
4. SPEED YOUNG – Stablemate to Global Hit and the main danger. Has finished between 2nd and 4th in each of his last six starts, all at Seoul and all at Group (or Listed) level. Tactically versatile and will run on but has five-lengths to find on Global Hit. Solid place chance but will be a short price for that.
5. GLOBAL HIT – Returned from Dubai to win the YTN Cup in dominant fashion. This is a rare big race missing from his CV and while he hasn't scored at 1800M since his 2023 Derby victory, at anything like his best, he wins.
6. BEOLMAUI MONSTER – First time in Graded company, he got back-to-back wins at the turn of the year at class 2 before running 2nd at class 1 over 2000M at the end of March. On pace or handy but this is a hard ask at level weights.
7. STAR MATTA – Reliable journeyman who can occasionally pick up a class 1 place cheque, but he has been found wanting in this type of company previously and nothing suggests that will change here.
8. MIRACLE MARINE – Came into this series with big expectations on him following three straight wins across the turn of the year, two at class 1 and beating Success Baekpa. Led by faded to 5th in the Herald and only beat one home in the YTN. Cut back in trip may help.
9. DAEAM JANGGUN – Solid class 1 horse who hasn't won since returning from a near two-year absence but rarely runs a bad race either. Most recently he was 6th of twelve in the Busan Ilbo Sprint but he has gone well at this distance and 6th would be a par finish here.
10. SUCCESS BAEKPA – In Global Hit's absence he beat Speed Young by a head to claim the Herald Business before running 4th behind both and Japan's Yumeno Honoo in the YTN. Can race handy or from behind and should be close again.
11. TIZ BAROWS – 4th in the Herald and 6th in the YTN, he is accustomed to mixing it in top class company. Can race on pace or from behind and while maybe not a winning chance, he is capable of a place at potentially an each-way price.
12. CAPTAIN YANKEE – Ended last year with a class 1 win over 2000M and gena this with a 4th at the same. Hasn't raced since January so this is a hard ask first-up but at his best is a minor money chance.
13. NUT PLAY – Class 1 winner at 2000M in January before running 3rd in the Herald Business and 5th in the YTN, coming from off the pace. The wide draw shouldn't be a problem, and he can run into some money again.
14. GRAND SUN – Three recent class 1 placings get him his chance here, but he was 8th of fifteen in last year's President's Cup, his only previous experience of this caliber of race, and this is no easier.
| Selections | (5) Global Hit (4) Speed Young (10) Success Baekpa (11) Tiz Barows |
| Next Best | 13, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 8 |
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