Eclipse Berry enters the second leg of the Triple Tiara as hot favourite to take out the most prestigious jewel in the series, the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.The Korean Oaks is race 6 on the 7-race Sunday card at Busan with a local post time of 16:05. There is also a 10-race Sunday card at Seoul. SEE HERE FOR THE RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW.
Eclipse Berry (Pic: KRA)
The top-nine placegetters from the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-L) on March 31st all return, but with ECLIPSE BERRY having won that race by a cool seven-lengths, making all the running, she is going to be hard to oppose. She has already won over 1800M, the only one in the race to have done so, and that was on a wet track. Rain is forecast for Busan on Sunday afternoon. Moon Se-young returns to Busan to partner the Seo Hong-soo trained Shackleford filly.
GLOBAL TAEYANG was 2nd in the Luna Stakes and from a much better draw this time can get closer, while last year’s champion juvenile BAEKDUUI KKUM is not to be dismissed. WONPYEONG LIST had plenty of excuses in the Luna and is a class 3 winner already while BANG BANG BANG was a revelatory 3rd in the opening jewel of the Tiara and only four races into her career, still has plenty of scope for further development.
1. STAR CHANGER – Maiden winner at start seven at class 5 level over 1700M on March 30th making all. Well drawn but a big ask here.
2. GLOBAL TAEYANG – A winner up to a mile and class 4 level and 2nd in the Luna Stakes. Has seven-lengths to make up on Eclipse Berry but draws better this time and can get closer. Second favourite.
3. PERFECT ACTION – Won three of nine up to a mile and class 4 but was 8th in the Luna Stakes so plenty of form to overturn. Will race handy and may offer each-way value.
4. LOVE MUNMAK – Only win came at class 6 level but was a smart 2nd over 1700M at class 5 last time out when on pace. Plenty to find in this company but has a strong finish.
5. FLYING STAR – 5th in the Luna and was found to be slightly lame. Returned to work on April 19th. Has won at class 4 over a mile but a few too many question marks to recommend.
It’s Korean Oaks Day. The Filly Classic is race 6 on a 7-race card at Busan which runs from 11:25 to 17:00. There are also 10 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Eclipse Berry is hot favourite to return to winner’s circle in the Korean Oaks (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in the opening maiden with three of the eleven racing for the first time, and we’ll take a chance on one of them. (4) UASEN looked very competent in her trial crossing the line in 4th place in a good time (albeit with a class 1 horse up front helping them to some fast fractions. She ran through the line well and 1200M can suit first-up. Of the experienced ones, (6) BEAUTYWONDERFUL has shown the most so far. She comes in following a runner-up finish over 1200M on March 24th when she settled midfield and ran on. That continued an upward trajectory in her recent appearances, and she should be close again. (10) HAMPYEONG JANGMI has a 2nd place on her resume and in this limited company that’s enough to put her in the numbers while (2) SEMYEONG GHOST and debut-maker (5) TIZ THE FASHION look other minor chances.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) NAOL INDY was a much-improved 4th at start number two over 1200M on April 5th, settling midfield and running on. That was a full ten months after his inauspicious debut last summer and he should strip much fitter for the run and from a good draw, is the one to beat. (7) GALSAEK DOJEONJA has hinted at ability across six starts so far with a 3rd on his record and a last start 4th over this distance. In this small field and this company, he can be a little further forward than usual and can be in this a long way. (4) DANCING GANGJA enters off a much-improved 3rd place over 1200M on April 7th when racing handy throughout. He is drawn well to attempt similar here. (9) CHROMITE and (2) P N S JU are other placing chances.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Two debut-makers in this field and she looks interesting. (6) YOUR TURN has been through three trials, dating back to last September and has won two of them and finished 2nd in the other, all three in quick times. This is not an intimidating field to debut among and if she brings the trial form to the races, she can win. (7) STORM GRIT is the big danger. He was very close 2nd at start number two over this distance on March 15th when coming from off the pace and almost getting there. He will be running on strong again here. The other first-timer is (9) NEW LEADER. She went through two trials, finishing behind Your Turn in the second of them. The time was quick though and a big first-up run can’t be ruled out. (3) DANCING BOY and (1) DONGBU CHOEGANG are other experienced ones who may have a say.
Selections
(6) Your Turn (7) Storm Grit (9) New Leader (3) Dancing Boy
Next Best
1, 11
Fast Start
3, 5, 6, 11
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) ECLIPSE HONOR will be a hot favourite. He ran 2nd over this distance on debut on March 23rd, settling midfield and running on. The time wasn’t quick, but nothing here has gone much quicker and with some natural improvement from his first start, he will be hard to beat. (7) EUMSEONG POWER was 5th behind Eclipse Honor on debut in that March 23rd race and has since come back out and run 4th, again at 1400M. He seems on the right trajectory and third-up can be peaking fitness-wise. (8) NONSTOP YEOLCHA enters off a solid 2nd at 1300M on March 23rd, settling midfield and running on. The slight step up in trip can suit. (4) TAENGGEURI and (9) MAGIC PRINCE others in the placing frame.
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only here. (9) DAEJIUIYEOJEONSA is yet to win but has also never finished outside the top-four in seven starts. She loves finishing 2nd, which she has done on each of her last four outings, but she really should be stepping up here. On her latest she was a very close runner-up in a quick time over this distance and she won’t need to improve much on that to win. If she does find one too quick yet again, it could be (2) TROUBLEMAKER. She is one for one at this distance but has been slow away in her two subsequent tries at this class over 1400M. She draws nicely here and if she gets out of the gate even only fairly, then she can be a threat. (8) GREAT QUEEN got her maiden win over this distance on March 29th. She comes up in class today but can measure up. (11) BLACK JILJU and (10) RAID HIT among plenty of others with placing chances.
Selections
(9) Daejiuiyeojeonsa (2) Troublemaker (8) Great Queen (11) Black Jilju
Next Best
10, 3
Fast Start
4, 5, 8, 11
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. We’ll take a chance on (3) FOUR ACE. She is yet to win in seventeen starts but she has come close on plenty of occasions including a smart 3rd place last time out on March 17th over this distance when, as she often does, she got a long way back. CC Wong climbs aboard today and if she can be a bit closer in touch, it can be her day. (6) BEST DAERO got his maiden win at stat number three over 1300M on March 30th, leading all the way. He comes up in class but is down in the weights and there could be more to come. (7) WONDERFUL SWEET got his maiden win at this distance on Christmas Day and has since run 4th in two tries at this class. He should be there or thereabouts today. (4) LEGENDSUN and (5) SEMYEONG LADY others in the hunt.
Selections
(3) Four Ace (6) Best Daero (7) Wonderful Sweet (4) Legendsun
Next Best
5, 2
Fast Start
1, 4, 5, 6
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) MONSTER DRAGON was a winner on debut over 1200M in January and has since run 3rd in two tries at this class and distance, both times settling handy and running on. Expect similar tactics today and this time he can come home on top. (2) SKY GRIT was a winner two starts back at 1200M before running 4th on her first try at this level at 300M on April 7th. She draws very nicely to be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (4) GRAY QUEEN was 3rd in that April 7th race having run on from midfield. The slight step up in trip can suit and she should be in the finish again. (6) BIG WILD has won a trial since his latest showing and can be given another chance. (11) DOCTOR LEO another possible placer.
Horse Racing in Korea 