Clean One emphatically confirmed his status as the best horse in Korea as he dominated the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) on Sunday afternoon, leaving his rivals trailing far behind him in the Busan sand in the final leg of the Stayer Series.
Having rounded out his three-year-old season by winning the Grand Prix Stakes by the biggest margin in three decades, Clean One kicked off 2026 with a dismissive score in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3), the first leg of the Stayer Series at Seoul in March. With bigger targets and workload management in mind, he was kept out of last month’s YTN Cup. That was won by Succes Baekpa, and instead, Clean One came straight to the Busan Mayor’s Cup over the Korea Cup distance of 1800M.
Clean One was sent off as the 1.4 favourite. That price seemed generous as as under Seo Seung-un, Clean One cruised into the lead setting a pace that, as in the Grand Prix and Herald Business, his rivals were soon uncomfortable with. Seo meanwhile sat motionless before asking for a brief effort in the home straight that saw the pair kick on and win by six-lengths from Global Hit.
Ever the enigma, Gangpungma ran a fine 3rd, with Success Baekpa in 4th. Yeonggwanguifirst was 5th with Speed Young an uncharacteristic 6th.
“From about the 4th corner, I was confident he would win” trainer Moon Hyeon-cheol told KRBC. “I am so proud of Clean One” he said, with a little more conviction. “It’s the greatest success for our stable so far and so good to do it in front of so many fans who have turned out at Busan.”
As for what’s next for Clean One: “Nothing has changed from before, we will next go to the KRA Cup Classic and then to the Korea Cup. The only factor we consider is the horse’s health.”
Winning jockey Seo Seung-un wasn’t quite as reticent as his trainer. “The plan was to lead, and while I had a couple of ideas what to do if we were unable to do that, we got to the front quite easily and really, 100 metres into the race, I was pretty sure we would win.”
“I only care about the chemistry between me and the horse. My job is to help him flow freely and not get in his way. To be honest, this race was a race he should win; the race I am focused on is the Korea Cup.”
Further down the field, Tuhonui Banseok signed off from a long career that saw him win the Mayor's Cup in 2023 and 2024 in 12th place. The eight-year-old, who also took part in two editions of the Korea Cup, will return to the races safe and sound one last time for his well-earned retirement ceremony next Sunday.
Clean One emphatically confirmed his status as the best horse in Korea as he dominated the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) on Sunday afternoon, leaving his rivals trailing far behind him in the Busan sand in the final leg of the Stayer Series.
Having rounded out his three-year-old season by winning the Grand Prix Stakes by the biggest margin in three decades, Clean One kicked off 2026 with a dismissive score in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3), the first leg of the Stayer Series at Seoul in March. With bigger targets and workload management in mind, he was kept out of last month’s YTN Cup. That was won by Succes Baekpa, and instead, Clean One came straight to the Busan Mayor’s Cup over the Korea Cup distance of 1800M.
Clean One was sent off as the 1.4 favourite. That price seemed generous as as under Seo Seung-un, Clean One cruised into the lead setting a pace that, as in the Grand Prix and Herald Business, his rivals were soon uncomfortable with. Seo meanwhile sat motionless before asking for a brief effort in the home straight that saw the pair kick on and win by six-lengths from Global Hit.
Ever the enigma, Gangpungma ran a fine 3rd, with Success Baekpa in 4th. Yeonggwanguifirst was 5th with Speed Young an uncharacteristic 6th.
“From about the 4th corner, I was confident he would win” trainer Moon Hyeon-cheol told KRBC. “I am so proud of Clean One” he said, with a little more conviction. “It’s the greatest success for our stable so far and so good to do it in front of so many fans who have turned out at Busan.”
As for what’s next for Clean One: “Nothing has changed from before, we will next go to the KRA Cup Classic and then to the Korea Cup. The only factor we consider is the horse’s health.”
Winning jockey Seo Seung-un wasn’t quite as reticent as his trainer. “The plan was to lead, and while I had a couple of ideas what to do if we were unable to do that, we got to the front quite easily and really, 100 metres into the race, I was pretty sure we would win.”
“I only care about the chemistry between me and the horse. My job is to help him flow freely and not get in his way. To be honest, this race was a race he should win; the race I am focused on is the Korea Cup.”
Further down the field, Tuhonui Banseok signed off from a long career that saw him win the Mayor's Cup in 2023 and 2024 in 12th place. The eight-year-old, who also took part in two editions of the Korea Cup, will return to the races safe and sound one last time for his well-earned retirement ceremony next Sunday.