Overseas-trained horses will run in Korea for the very first time as three Japanese runners will make the trip to Seoul for the SBS ESPN Goodwill Cup on September 1. In November, three Korean horses will make the return trip to Tokyo.

It’s Korea vs Japan in the SBS ESPN Cup

After what has been a long process to win government approval due to Korea’s strict quarantine rules, the Japanese entrants will arrive in Korea on August 22 and be transported directly to a special quarantine zone in Seoul Racecourse. Japanese jockeys will be in-town to ride in the race.

The visitors, 8-year old Final Score, 9-year old Tosen Archer and 5-year old Big Gulliver will line up against a maximum of 11 Korean-trained horses with Grand Prix Stakes and Busan Metropolitan Stakes winner Tough Win set to head the home challenge.

In a major coup, the 7-furlong race will be shown live on SBS ESPN, Korea’s leading cable and satellite Sports Network, who will also lend their name to the event.

The return leg, at Ohi Racecourse on Tuesday November 26 – the “Japan Collaboration Cup” – will be run over 6 furlongs and, like the first leg in Seoul, will have a prize fund approaching $250,000.

A maximum of 14 horses will run in each race. Here’s a rundown of the entrants at this stage (Name [Sire] Age, Sex (Starts/1/2/3):

SBS ESPN Korea/Japan Goodwill Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – September 1, 2013 – 16:20

Japan

Final Score (JPN) [Fusaichi Pegasus] 8 Horse (36/6/7/4)
Tosen Archer (JPN) [Barathea] 9 Horse (47/5/2/2)
Big Gulliver (JPN) [Tap Dance City] 5 Horse (28/8/8/2)

Korea

Pureun Miso (USA) [Malibu Moon] 3 Filly (10/4/1/3)
Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska] 6 Gelding (29/22/2/1)
Sydney Jewelry (AUS) [Lion Heart] 4 Colt (13/6/2/1)
Sing Sing Cat (USA) [D’Wildcat] 5 Horse (26/10/3/1)
Maengsan Horangi (USA) [El Nino] 4 Gelding (12/5/3/1)
Nolbu Manse (USA) [Simon Pure] 4 Colt (22/5/4/3)
Dongbanjaui Gijeok (USA) [Half Ours] 3 Colt (9/5/2/0)
Murangae (USA) [Sunriver] 4 Gelding (25/1/6/4)
Celebrate Tonight (USA) [Songandaprayer] 5 Horse (24/5/2/4)
Remember Bulpae (USA) [After Market] 3 Horse (8/4/1/1)
Stradiot (AUS) [Strada] 4 Colt (14/3/1/1)
Damyang Chukjae (USA) [Good Reward] 4 Colt (15/3/2/2)

(3yo’s will carry 55Kg and 4yo’s 57Kg. Fillies & Mares receive a 2Kg allowance).