When the four-year-old pair of Raon The Point and Something Lost flashed to the front in the final furlong of the Busan Ilbo Sprint a month ago, it seemed to show a generational change was finally taking place among the one turn elite. At Seoul on Sunday, they have to opportunity to confirm it as a full field of sixteen line up for the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Sprint Series. SEE HERE FOR PREVIEWS OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL & BUSAN ON SUNDAY.

At this point it is fair to acknowledge that part of the reason for the generational change is because of the absence of the biggest older star. Raon The Fighter won this race last year before suffering an injury that was confirmed this past to week, to have ended his racing career. But the new set are exciting, nonetheless.

Raon The Point and Something Lost have raced just nine times apiece. The former has won seven and the latter five, but they won’t necessarily come home in the same order as in the Busan Ilbo, when Raon The Point got the better of their late duel by a neck. Something Lost comes into a much better gate this time around, and he will probably start as the market leader.

Don’t rule out the old order striking back. Chief among those of course, is Eoma Eoma, who won this race in 2021 and then went on to claim the big one, the international Korea Sprint in 2022. He had an ordinary 2023 for the most part but came back into form when winning the Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy over 1400M at Busan last November and that provides some hope that he can bounce back from his 5^th place in the Busan Ilbo last month.

The wildcard is Beolmaui Star. He temporarily shot to the top of the sprinting ranks by leading the 2023 Korea Sprint, only being passed by eventual winner, the world class Remake. It’s all gone a bit wrong since though. He missed the start in the Kookje Shinmun and then travelled to the Dubai Carnival where he scarcely featured in two disappointing efforts. He won a trial in fine fashion in March and if the Beolmaui Star of last year’s S   print shows up, he can win.

1. PREEMAX – Has long since lost his form. 9^th over 1400M on season reappearance in February and is a big outsider here.

2. DOCTOR CAESAR – An excellent 3^rd place in the Busan Ilbo having led from gate 1. Draws well again to be on pace and can be in this a long way, although others favoured.

3. SSONSAL – Won the G3 SROA Chairman’s Trophy at this distance here last June but has shown patchy form in three starts since. 6^th in the Busan Ilbo and that would be par here. Regular jockey Da Silva staying in Busan may be a clue.

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