Day: November 11, 2023

Sprinter Showdown Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (November 12)

The sprinters have their final chance of 2023 of a big prize at Busan on Sunday afternoon when the likes of Eoma Eoma, Beolmaui Star and Ssonsal line up over 1400M in the local G3 Kookje Shinmun Trophy. See here for full preview. The big race is race 5 on a 6-race card at Busan that runs from 11.50 to 16:35. There are also 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are all the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener and there will be a hot favourite. That’s (3) HERE I AM who after an ordinary debut has registered a 2nd and a 4th in two subsequent starts, both over this trip, and both times racing on pace. He has the fastest time of any of these at the distance and from a good draw, he should have too much here. The second quickest time belongs to (10) GEOLJAK EUTTEUM. That was recorded on his second start when coming from off the pace and finishing as runner-up, a long way behind a good winner but well clear of 3rd. He did nothing on his reappearance in October, but that 2nd is enough to give him a chance here. (1) HAKSAN DAESE has finished off both his races to date well and was 5th when stepped up to this trip. Expect him to be running on and threatening the places here. (6) LONDON VICTORY and first-time starter (8) SOLAIRE other place chances.

Selections(3) Here I Am (10) Geoljak Eutteum (1) Haksan Daese (6) London Victory
Next Best8, 5
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Fillies (and one mare) in this maiden. (8) TAEPYEONGMU shapes as a probable favourite here. She has six top-five finishes from nine starts and has posted consistent times at this distance. She likes to race on or close to the pace, and today can be here day. (7) HAYAN TAEYANG raced twice in the spring for 6th and 4th and then returned after five months off to run 5th of nine over this distance on October 14th. She should strip fitter for that run and is potentially the danger. In a race with not much early speed, (9) GOLDEN FLYING may well find herself up with Taepyeongmu setting the pace. Her form his fair and she can be competitive. (2) CHONGAL COLONEL and (10) YEJIMONG among other minor money hopes.

Selections(8) Taepyeongmu (7) Hayan Taeyang (9) Golden Flying (2) Chongal Colonel
Next Best10, 1
Fast Start5, 7, 8, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) ACRO MARINE has made steady progress across three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over 1200M on October 8th when he was ridden much further forward than in his first two starts. Moon Se-young climbs aboard today and he can settle behind the early speed and prove too strong. (2) HANGANG TSAR was an improved 2nd over this distance on October 14th. He hasn’t exactly set the stopwatch alight but from a nice draw he can go close again. (1) THEME TANSAENG will be expected to be on pace here and enters with a 3rd and a 4th among his latest three. A repeat of either of those performances will see him challenging for better in this company. (10) BULGEUN POKPUNG and (4) WONDERFUL REGAL among others who could make it into the minor money.

Selections(5) Acro Marine (2) Hangang Tsar (1) Theme Tansaeng (10) Bulgeun Pokpung
Next Best4, 8
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 10

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maidens with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (6) HUIMANG CANDY will be the hot favourite.  After finishing 5th on debut, she was an improved 2nd at start number two on October 13th racing on pace and leading in the closing stages only to be narrowly beaten. She can be on pace or handy here and prove too strong. (11) OVER THE TRIPLE looks an interesting debut-maker from the Bart Rice stable. He came from well back to easily win an October trial in quick time and if he can bring that form to the races, he is a chance. (7) DOCTOR ERICA was 3rd behind Huimang Candy when debuting in that October 13th race and was on the speed throughout. With some natural improvement she can go close again. (2) POWERFUL DASH actually beat Huimang Candy on the latter’s debut and along with (9) KOHINOOR is another in the hunt.

Selections(6) Huimang Candy (11) Over The Triple (7) Doctor Erica (2) Powerful Dash
Next Best9, 3
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies only and it’s a competitive race. (1) SINUI YEOJE was a winner over 1000M at start number two in September before running 5th of eleven when favourite for her first try at this class over 1200M on October 22nd when handy throughout. She comes into a much better gate tonight so could well get a softer run to the lead and if she does, she can win. (5) GALSAEK HYANGGI enters off a 2nd and a 4th from her latest two at this class with the 2nd being at this distance. She likes to settle back and run on, and she should be a danger late here. (3) LADY CODI has similar form to Sinui Yeoje with a win over 1000M followed by a really good 4th at this class on October 14th in a similar all-filly race at 1200M. She is well drawn and should be in the mix. (10) GEOLJAK ONE and (7) SESANG APEURO the others in the hunt.

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Eoma Eoma, Beolmaui Star, Ssonsal Face-Off in Sprinters’ Final Showdown of 2023

The first eight local horses home in September’s international Korea Sprint will reassemble on Sunday afternoon at Busan Racecourse among a full field of sixteen going a furlong further in the final big prize of the year for the speedsters, the Kookje Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-G3). While nothing could trouble Japanese star Remake in the Sprint, runner-up Beolmaui Star will take his place in the line up as will 2022 Korea Sprint winner Eoma Eoma and SROA Chairman’s Trophy victor Ssonsal.

Eoma Eoma won the Kookje Shinmun in 2022 (Pic: KRA)

EOMA EOMA is the defending champion, having won last year’s Kookje Shinmun shortly after his Korea Sprint win, and also holds victories in similar Group races, the SBS Sports Sprint and Busan Ilbo Sprint. He was 5th under a conservative ride when attempting to defend his Korea Sprint crown on September 10th, a full ten-lengths behind winner Remake and six behind Beolmaui Star, who he faces again. Antonio Da Silva climbs aboard for the first time and given their respective draws, plenty will be expecting Eoma Eoma to overturn the form at a distance over which he is the track record holder at Seoul.

BEOLMAUI STAR was the standout local in the Korea Sprint. Under bold tactics by jockey Seo Seung-un he overcame gate ten to lead and while there was nothing he could do to repel Remake, who went on to win by four-lengths, he held off the challenge of Goldolphin Mile and Saudi 1351 Turf Sprint winner Bathrat Leon by a comfortable margin with Hong Kong’s Duke Wai and Eoma Eoma further back down the track. He is still only four-years-old and has trialled very well since the Korea Sprint. He is done no favours by the draw as he won’t get an easy lead but heh overcame gate thirteen in the Korea Sprint, and with an additional furlong, there is plenty of time before they reach the bend for him to find position.

Beolmaui Star (Pic: Ross Holburt/KRA)

SSONSAL had a strong summer with 3rd places in the Busan Ilbo and SBS Sports Sprints followed by a victory in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint when as is his style, he arrived late with a last gasp burst of speed to deny Raon First and Eoma Eoma. That led him to be sent off fourth in the betting for the Korea Sprint and while he ultimately came home in 8th place, it wasn’t a bad run. A return to 1400M can suit.

Plenty of other big names fill out the field. Grand old galloper MORFHIS may have lost a yard of pace since his two SBS Sports Sprint wins, but he remains competitive and was 8th in the Korea Sprint. He is another for who the step back up to 1400M can suit and will be running on late. DAEHAN JILJU was 6th in the Korea Sprint and very nearly won this race last year before being overhauled by Eoma Eoma in the shadow of the post.  He certainly loves the 1400M with six wins and two runner-up finishes from eight attempts at it.

CALM STRONG, RAON TAP MAN and BLACK MUSK finished 9th to 11th in the Korea Sprint and all return too. Calm Strong in particular followed up the Sprint with an eye-catching class 1 win over a mile in October when she came close to Blue Chipper’s track record for that distance. She draws much better than she did in the Sprint and receives the filly and mare allowance. Among the eight who didn’t go in the Sprint, the three-year-old filly GANGSEO GIANT looks the most intriguing.

The Kookje Shinmun Trophy is race 5 on the 6-race card at Busan on Sunday with a local post time of 15:45. There are also 11 races at Seoul on the day.

SELECTIONS: (3) Eoma Eoma (16) Beolmaui Star (6) Ssonsal (4) Calm Strong