New Citadel and Today were the biggest names in action this past weekend in Korea, the pair beginning strong favourites for their respective assignments at Seoul and Busan.

Today was an easy winner of Busan’s Sunday feature, tracking early leader Gasok Engine under just over a furlong out before cruising past for a three-length victory. Today (Drosselmeyer) moved on to eight wins from ten starts and is looking a fine sprinter althugh he has won at a mile too.

At Seoul, New Citadel had to work much harder for victory on what was his first start sicne running 2nd to Cheongdam Dokki in the KRA Cup Classic last October. He was sent off as the prohibitive favourite for the 1800M handicap but had to work for his win.

The preceeding two races around two-turns on Sunday had seen early leaders stay on all the way around and this time it was the turn of 77/1 chance Suseong Captain to lead from the gate and simply refuse to budge when New Citadel came alongside at the top of the stretch, sticking on admirably on the rail. Meanwhile on the outside, Sinjo Daehyeop, considered the best chance to beat the favourite, closed at speed. However, Jo Jae Ro was able to just find a little more out of New Citadel and the four-year-old got home by a neck for his suxth win from eleven outings.

In other races, 2014 Grand Prix Stakes winner Gyeongbudaero’s full sister continued her 100% start to her career. Blue Flag (Menifee) led gate to wire in Sunday’s race 3 at Busan. Two days earlier on Friday, Dynamic Star (Hansen)took his own unbeaten streak to four.

Current and former Champion jockeys Djordje Perovic and Moon Se Young both returned to the saddle for the first time this year at the weekend and both were promptly among the winners while in other news, Seoul rider Jang Chuyoul passed the 200 career winners milestone (in Korea, he won one in the USA too) when guiding Big Ace (Raconteur) to victory in race 6 at Seoul on Saturday.