South Korea: Diktaean, Self Improvement earn Breeders' Cup berths

Diktaean and Self Improvement produced upset wins in Group 3 stakes at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea on Sunday to earn automatic berths for Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Diktaean (6-1) won the $1.16 million Korea Cup at 1 1/8 miles by a length over 6-1 Changcheng Glory, an Iowa-bred gelding by Mor Spirit who is based in Hong Kong.

Ramjet finished third as the 13-10 favorite. Earlier this year, Ramjet finished sixth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia and ninth in the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

The win gave Diktaean a berth in the BC Dirt Mile. Ridden by Takayuki Yano for trainer Katsunori Arayama, Diktaean won for the 10th time in his 30th start.

Diktaean, a 7-year-old Japanese-bred gelding, has won four listed stakes in Japan at distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 5/16 miles since April 2023.

The Australian-bred Self Improvement won the Korea Sprint at six furlongs at 15-1 with a stalking trip to earn a berth in the BC Sprint, provided he is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program before pre-entries are due on Oct. 20.

In the $1.02 million Korea Sprint, Self Improvement, ridden by Jerry Chau for Hong Kong-based trainer Manfred Man, finished a half-length in front of 3-10 favorite Chikappa, a two-time sprint stakes winner in Japan in 2024.

Super Finish (70-1) finished third in the field of 13.

Self Improvement, a 6-year-old gelding, won two six-furlong sprints in minor handicaps on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong last November and in March during the 2024-2025 Hong Kong season.

Last November at Del Mar, Remake finished last of 11 in the BC Sprint after winning the Korea Sprint. Crown Pride won the Korea Cup but did not start in the BC Dirt Mile.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.