The YTN Cup is the big race at Seoul as a glorious four weeks of evening racing on the peninsula come to a close tomorrow.

In its tenth running, the YTN is this year, for the first time restricted to fillies and mares. A class 2 race, like the Munhwa Ilbo a few weeks ago, it brings together a group of up and comers along with more established horses who haven’t quite made it through to the top level just yet.

And an interesting field will assemble at 7:30pm. Air Kat looked to be steadily progressing in her three year old season last year before injury intervened. Absent for nine months, she came back in May and then ran second in a class 2 race last month. If she’s continued to improve since then, she’ll be the one to beat even though the mare who did beat her last time, Cheonsangcheonha will also go tomorrow.

Two three year olds may be her biggest threats. Keungori won the STC Trophy in May while Alpha Lady is the unknown quantity. The recent US import has only run four times and started inauspiciously but has won her last two by embarrassing margins. She hasn’t raced at more than six furlongs before so making the big step up to ten furlongs will be the first test for her.

Soseono, little sister of track legend Subsidy will be there and in with an outside chance while for Korean bred runners, Sangsangbong looks the best hope. Potential outsiders to watch include Kkumchaja and Exclusive Offer See below for a full lost of runners, records and riders:

YTN Cup (Class 2 Foreign Bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Aug 16, 2009

1. Jangjagang (USA) [Buddha – Illusory (Skywalker)] – (11/2/1/3) – Ham Wan Sik
2. Ginny’s Delight (USA) [Polish Miner – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – (26/1/2/5) – Kim Young Jin
3. Storm For Lucky (JPN) [Mejiro Ryan – Dark Moon (Real Shadai)] – (16/0/2/4) – Yoon Tae Hyuk
4. Keungori (USA) [Essence Of Dubai – Goldmakesmesmile (Mining)] – (10/3/0/1) – Shim Seung Tae
5. Sangsangbong (KOR) [Warzone – Balieria (Gulch)] – (15/3/2/4) – Choi Won Joon
6. Kkumchaja (USA) [Orientate – Westerville (Gone West)] – (10/1/2/4) – Cho Kyoung Ho
7. Princess Thumb (USA) [Stravinsky – Narjis Flower (Pleasant Colony)] – (28/2/2/3) – Lee Dong Kuk
8. Alpha Lady (AUS) [Iglesia – Star Tipper (Luskin Star)] – (4/2/0/0) – Park Eul Woon
9. Crown Carla (KOR) [Beautiful Crown – Fleet Carla (Afleet)] – (15/4/3/2) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
10. Soseono (USA) [Aldebaran – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] – (11/1/4/3) – Choi Beom Hyun
11. Air Kat (USA) [Digging In – Vivian’s Mercedes (Broad Brush)] – (13/3/3/2) – Moon Se Young
12. Cheonsangcheonha (USA) [Formal Dinner – Southbound Odyssey (Big Spruce)] – (34/3/3/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
13. Gild Regal (AUS) [Gilded Time – Regal Prospect (Exploding Prospect)] – (30/2/4/2 – Park Tae Jong
14. Exclusive Offer (USA) [Belong To Me – Soup ‘N Salad (Top Account)] – (21/3/2/0) – Toshiyuki Katoh

There are eleven races at Seoul on Sunday with the first off at 14:30. Busan hosts six races beginning at 16:20. Jeju’s nine race card gets underway at 16:30. From next weekend, all three tracks revert to their usual racing hours.