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Global Hit wrapped up Horse of the Year honours and sealed his passage to Dubai with a display of home straight dominance to secure a comfortable victory in the Grand Prix (2300M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, the horse and jockey Kim Hye-sun both sealing the biggest wins of their respective careers.
With the snow that was piled high at the side of the track following the record-breaking snowfall earlier in the week rapidly thawing as temperatures rose, Global Hit was sent off as the 1.4 favourite among the fourteen-strong field in the time-honoured final Group 1 of the season, a race in which he was beaten just a nose by Winner's Man a year ago.
Under jockey Kim, Global Hit settled in the front of midfield as the field made their way through the first part of the race with the pace being set by stablemates American Gold and Black Belt with Naol Sniper and Tuhonui Banseok prominent.
It would stay that way until turning for home when Bart Rice's Tuhonui Banseok, the only Korea-based horse to beat Global Hit this calendar year, struck the front and laid down the gauntlet. Once unleashed in the home straight though, Global Hit proved far too strong breezing past to run on and score by just under two-lengths on the line.
Tuhonui Banseok, racing for the first time since finishing as runner-up to Global hit in August's KRA Cup Classic, was 2nd once more, with three-year-old double Classic winner Success Baekpa running on for a big 3rd place. Global Hit's stablemate Speed Young was 4th.
"Actually, my goal was to win the Grand Prix last year." Winning jockey Kim Hye-sun told in-house broadcaster KRBC after the race. "But we came 2nd, and I still blame myself a lot for that and thankfully today I was finally able to resolve it."
"I have to thank Global Hit" she continued, "but I also have to thank the owner (Kim Joon-hyun) for sticking with me when there are so many qualified and skilled male jockeys. It would have been easy for him to change (after last year) but he stuck with me, and I am so grateful for his trust and to pay him back today,"
Jockey Kim also paid tribute to trainer Bang Dong-suk and his staff. "I feel like the trainer and assistants at stable 26 (Bang Dong-suk) are a perfect match and I'm really honoured to work with them."
Global Hit will, all being well with his post-race vet checks, immediately enter pre-export quarantine before flying to Dubai and taking his chance at the Carnival in in the new year. He has a high international rating, which means he will probably need to compete in Group company at Meydan. The owner has selected Kim Hye-sun to also travel to ride him and the jockey said they are ready.
"I have high expectations. As a rider, it will be a great experience, and it is also amazing that (Global Hit) has the opportunity to go. I have always felt that I am riding a truly great horse, but I felt it even more this time and I am looking forward to working with him in Dubai."
Global Hit [To Honor And Serve – Tammy's Victress (by Yankee Victor)] moves on to ten win from seventeen lifetime starts. Bred by the Yeonhak Agricultural Co., he is owned by Kim Joon-hyun and trained by Bang Dong-suk.
Race Video: https://youtu.be/P20VC202Cak?si=bjGqnH_grNZfudZ0