Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita came through with a blistering late run on Ima Firecracker to land the International Lady Jockey Invitation Race at Busan Race Park this evening.

Favourite Namdo Jeap with Korea’s Park Jin Hee on board bounced out of the gate and into an early lead with Jennifer Stisted of the USA on Florida Native right alongside her. Ima Firecracker was away slowly and sat right at the back of the field. Second in the betting, Miss Ecton, under Laura Cheshire also sat towards the back of the field.

As they rounded the turn and entered the straight Namdo Jeap looked ready to kick on. Meanwhile, Australian Linda Meech brought Max Is Cruisin up alongside her and Mai Beppu on Dongbang Geona looked ready to strike. Namdo Jeap kept the lead, however, as those challengers fell away.

Instead the danger ultimately came down the far outside as Ima Firecracker hit top gear bringing Miss Ecton along just inside of her. These two swept by the leaders in sight of the line, Ima Firecracker in the lead by a length on the line. Namdo Jeap’s final furlong collapse was compounded by outsider Oreumak (Chiaki Iwanaga) and Meech on Max Is Cruisin also coming by in a blanket finish for the minor placings.

Invitation Race (Foreign Bred) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Ima Firecracker (USA) [Hold That Tiger – It’s Destiny (Red Ransom)] – Hitomi Miyashita (Japan) – 13.9, 2.6
2. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] – Laura Cheshire (New Zealand) – 1.5
3. Oreumak (AUS) [Favorite Trick – Vigne Vierge (Diesis)] – Chiaki Iwanaga (Japan) 6.2
Distances: 1 length/Nose
Also ran: 4. Max Is Cruisin (Linda Meech – Australia); 5. Namdo Jeap (Park Jin Hee – Korea); 6. Florida Native (Jennifer Stisted – USA); 7. Dongbang Geona (Mai Beppu- Japan); 8. Gangcheol Labi (Catherine Gannon – Ireland); 9. Winter Invitation (Lee Ae Li – Korea); 10. D M Merch (Yoo Mi Ra – Korea); 11. Yeongwonhanhangbok (Nadine Rapson – South Africa)

(h/t: fallight)