Knicks Go, Mr. Crow representing Korea in Breeders' Cup

On one of the sport’s biggest international stages, there will be a chance for Korean racing interests to take a turn in the spotlight, as the colors of KRA Stud Farm will be carried by Knicks Go in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Mr. Crow in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

With racing in Korea conducted exclusively on dirt due to frequent wet weather, owners and breeders have placed a premium on American stock to build their industry, importing stallions such as classic-placed Menifee, now a perennial leading sire in Korea, juvenile champion Hansen, and Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy.

In recent years, Korean buyers have gained increased purchasing power at major American sales. For many years, their activity overseas was curtailed because the national government, which regulates Thoroughbred industry activities, imposed a price limit for imported horses. With racing on the rise in the country, those restrictions have been amended, and buyers have been more active and buying at higher levels as a result.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

One example is this year’s Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes runner-up, Mr. Crow, a $150,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Knicks Go, an $87,000 purchase at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale, earned his way into the Juvenile by springing a $142 upset in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

Ben Colebrook trains Knicks Go.

“[The KRA] runs all the racetracks in Korea, and this was an experiment to try to make a stallion in America,” Colebrook said, adding that the colt’s name is not a reference to the New York Knicks but rather a riff on the name of a genetic “nicking” program used to select horses.

The KRA has had one prior Breeders’ Cup starter – J. S. Choice, who finished 13th in the Juvenile Turf two years ago.