Diktaean, Self Improvement land BC WAYIs in Korea

Shippers from Japan and Hong Kong fought out thrilling finishes in both Breeders’ Cup Challenge contests in Seoul on Sunday. While Japan’s Diktaean prevailed over Chancheng Glory in the $1.1 million Korea Cup (G3), Hong Kong’s Self Improvement outdueled Japanese favorite Chikappa in the $1 million Korea Sprint (G3).

Korea Cup (G3)

A “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the about 1 1/8-mile Korea Cup marked the first Group victory for Diktaean. G1 Racing Co.’s seven-year-old veteran had a bit more to prove than fellow Japanese contenders Ramjet and Dura Erede, who both had internationally-recognized Grade 1 form at home. Diktaean compiled four listed stakes victories over the course of his career, but over further, and the cutback in trip posed another variable. 

Chancheng Glory had a question to answer himself, not in terms of class, but surface. Although he brought smart turf form from Sha Tin, he had yet to race on dirt, and the off-track in Seoul was a novel raceday scenario. Chancheng Glory handled conditions admirably, as might have been expected for an Iowa-bred son of Mor Spirit, and he nearly pulled off the double for Hong Kong.

In the early going, Chancheng Glory and favored Ramjet closely stalked pacesetting local Great Winner. Diktaean was outpaced back in the pack before gradually winding up.

Ramjet and Chancheng Glory moved in tandem past the weakening Great Winner turning for home, and the stretch duel was on. Chancheng Glory ultimately won their battle, only to lose the war when Diktaean arrived on the scene late.

Staying on relentlessly for Takayuki Yano, Diktaean collared Changcheng Glory and drove to a one-length decision. The Katsunori Arayama trainee finished in 1:50.8 and paid $20.20 stateside.

Ramjet weakened to third, two lengths behind Chancheng Glory. Speed Young checked in fourth, and Dura Erede retreated to a disappointing fifth. Success Baekpa, who ranked as the best of the home team on paper, wound up sixth, and Great Winner was eighth in the 11-horse field.

Diktaean sports a mark of 30-10-1-3. His highlights include the 2023 Brilliant S. at Tokyo, Urawa Kinen, and Nagoya Kinen, as well as last year’s Hakusan Daishoten. He’s also placed in the 2024 Teio Sho and the April 9 Kawasaki Kinen. Winless from four previous starts this campaign, Diktaean was exiting a fourth in the July 2 renewal of the Teio Sho.

Bred by Oiwake Farm, Diktaean is a Breeders’ Cup-nominated son of King Kamehameha. The dark bay gelding is out of the multiple stakes-winning Medeia, a daughter of King Halo and U.S. Grade 2 victress Witchful Thinking.

Korea Sprint (G3)

Manfred Man has trained standout turf sprinters, but Self Improvement handed him a major dirt victory with his $42.40 upset in the Korea Sprint. 

Although well known for his dirt form around Sha Tin, the six-year-old gelding was plying his trade in mere handicaps. The inevitable class question was therefore hanging over him in Seoul. 

As it turned out, Self Improvement’s ironclad determination was the most valuable quality of all. That earned him a place not only in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), but in the annals of Hong Kong racing history. He’s the second Hong Kong-based horse to win the Korea Sprint after Super Jockey (2016). 

Self Improvement could emulate Super Jockey elsewhere on the world stage. Super Jockey missed by a head in the 2015 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup night, and Meydan is a likely port of call for Self Improvement. The South China Morning Post reports that Man is looking more toward Dubai next spring than Del Mar in November.

Jockey Jerry Chau had Self Improvement well positioned early, tracking locally-based Super Finish on the outside and poised to strike. But heavy favorite Chikappa had room to rally on the inside. Cutting the corner into the stretch for the legendary Yutaka Take, he appeared to have made the winning move.

Self Improvement refused to concede the issue. Sticking on resolutely alongside Chikappa, he outgamed the favorite to win going away by a half-length.

By reeling off six furlongs in 1:10.5, Self Improvement scored his first stakes win and enhanced his record to 34-7-4-2.

Chau, speaking to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Declan Schuster, praised his beaten rival as well as his own mount’s courage. 

“He’s a great jockey,” Chau said of Take, “and that was a great horse (Chikappa). I think the key of winning is because we got to the front earlier and didn’t get the kickback. It was helpful for my horse. 

“In the straight my horse had a very big heart. When the other horse passed him, he tried to go again and fight back. I was really happy with that.”

Super Finish held third from another Korean runner, Black Musk, while their ostensible top hope, Vincero Cavallo, was a non-threatening sixth. The other Japanese contenders, Tagano Beauty and Sunrise Hawk, reported home fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 13-horse field.

Bred by A.R. Bell Racing in Australia, Self Improvement is not Breeders’ Cup-nominated, and connections would have to pay to make him eligible. The bay is by Deep Field, also the sire of current Hong Kong Triple Crown hero Voyage Bubble. Self Improvement’s dam, the Star Witness mare Jerry’s Witness, is a three-quarter sister to Group 2-winning sprinter Star Turn.