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SARGA.CO - After winning the Hatsuharu Stakes, Chiba Stakes and Tokyo Sprint, Dragon Welds stormed to first place in the G3 Korea Sprint at Seoul Racecourse, blowing out fellow Japanese runner American Stage for his fourth straight win in 2026 and first overseas graded-stakes victory.
Ridden by Keita Tosaki and trained by Hideaki Fujiwara, the four-year-old gray colt turned the 1,200-metre contest into a sprinters’ showdown after breaking well and tracking the pace before taking control in the end.
The Korea Sprint featured a field of 16, yet it ultimately came down to two Japanese sprinters. American Stage went forward from the start, Dragon Welds settled just behind him, and the two stayed among the leaders as the race entered the long straight.
With around 200 metres remaining, they moved alongside one another, but the son of Frosted had more in reserve. Dragon Welds edged away and surged clear to a comfortable win at 1:10.7, while American Stage finished second and South Korea’s Vincero Cavallo was third.
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Jockey Tosaki also admitted that the atmosphere at Seoul Racecourse was electric, but he locked in. “I’m happy to be able to compete in Korea, a place I wanted to come. I’m also very happy to be able to win in such a great race,” he added.
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Tosaki said, as quoted by The Straits Times.
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Dragon Welds' triumph comes with an even grander opportunity: a “Win and You're In” berth for the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on 31 October.
The race will be his biggest challenge yet, but the colt has already demonstrated that travelling has not diminished his ability.
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Japan's victory in the Korea Sprint also produced a second consecutive international one-two on that day in Seoul, as Diktaean successfully defended his G2 Korea Cup title, defeating fellow Japanese runner Sunday Funday by six lengths to re-earn his own Breeders’ Cup berth.
For South Korea, the results highlighted the challenge posed by Japan's increasingly sophisticated dirt-racing programme. For Dragon Welds, meanwhile, Seoul provided a trophy and a passport to the world’s top stage.
1. Dragon Welds
2. American Stage
3. Vincero Cavallo
4. Munhak Boy
5. Gorgeous Win
6. Winner Clear
7. Final K
8. Silver Rain
9. Knicks Go Won
10. Beolgyoui Kkum
11. Mighty Look
12. Hansen Bracing
13. Haksan Speed
14. Self Improvement
15. Beauty Waves
16. Born Dia
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