The summer weekend evenings of decadence and debauchery are over as racing returns to its normal morning start times this weekend.
And sore heads will find plenty to lighten their wallets over in competitive cards at both Seoul and Busan, with the highlight being Seoul’s Ilgan Sports Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Gwanggyo Bisang (Menifee) has won 6 of his 7 starts to date, including the Munhwa Ilbo Cup last time out, and despite not having run since that Stakes victory back in July, is set to be favourite for the 1800 metre race, which has attracted a field of 13.
The injury-blighted K-Tap (Menifee), who was Seoul’s champion juvenile last year and was 2nd to Gwanggyo Bisang in that Munhwa Ilbo also goes, as do fellow 3-year-olds Blue Camp (Forest Camp) and Like The Sun (Forest Camp). Among the older horses they will face are Sand Jjang (Forest Camp) and Viva Cat (Creek Cat), both proven winners at this level.
Also at Seoul on Sunday, highly rated 2-year-old Canadian import Persia Wangja (Ghostzapper) seeks to get back to winning ways after being narrowly defeated by phenom Fly Top Queen last time out.
At Busan, the feature race on Sunday in which Peter Wolsley, fresh from saddling his 200th Korean winner last weekend, sends out stable star Cheongchun Bulpae (Milwaukee Brew).
Also at Busan, as reported here, a statue to the late Mister Park will be unveiled on Sunday. On a lighter note at Seoul, top K-Pop group “Dal Shabet” will be performing.
Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday September 13
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 11:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:10 to 17:40
Saturday September 14
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:15
Sunday September 15
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00 including the Ilgan Sports Cup at 16:35
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:05