The first Group race of the Korean season finally takes place on Sunday as the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) kicks off the Sprint Series on the South Coast, and with it the road to September’s International Korea Sprint. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES AT SEOUL AND BUSAN.
Thirteen will take their chance at Busan on Sunday, and there could be a changing of the guard at last in the speed division with BLACK MAMBA set to be the warm favourite. Although already five-years-old, he has had an interrupted career, finishing down the field behind Global Hit in the 2023 Korean Derby and then not racing again until April of the following year.
Black Mamba has assembled a record of eight wins from thirteen starts and was 2nd in the Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy over 1400M last November before putting together back-to-back one-turn class 1 wins. The son of With Distinction is in pole position in gate one to get his first Group race success.
At the start turn of the year VINCERO CAVALLO was set to be the next big thing over the shorter distances. His stock took a hit somewhat when only managing 8th of twelve on last month’s Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy at Seoul but the Seo In-seok trainee will have backers to return to form here.
Meanwhile, the old-guard is represented by 2022 Korea Sprint winner EOMA EOMA, who may have lost a yard of pace or so still has plenty of quality as well as the in-form CC Wong returning to the mount.
The wildcards are WINNER CLEAR, a two-time Listed winner in juvenile races at this distance last autumn, and CHOEGOUI KKUM a winner of five from six who races for the first time since last September.
The Busan Ilbo Sprint is the final race on the 6-race Sunday card at Busan with a local post time of 16:30.
1. BLACK MAMBA (KOR) – Emphatic class 1 winner at this distance in December and 1400M in January and beat plenty of these when 2nd in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy last November. Great draw and big chance.
2. LEEWOLMA (KOR) – Well back behind Vincero Cavallo and others last start but is a solid class 1 campaigner. Comes in fresh after thirteen weeks out but first time in Group company and others favoured.
3. VINCERO CAVALLO (KOR) – Multiple class 1 winner at this distance but disappointed in the Listed Segue Ilbo Trophy at this distance on February 16th and other than a bump at the start didn’t have many excuses. Well worth another chance today from a great draw.
4. SSONSAL (USA) – Former Group race winner and makes his first start since 6th in the Kookje Shinmun last November. Looked very well when blitzing a trial in February and his quality means he can be in this. Likes to come from off the pace.
5. EOSEOMAREULHAE (USA) – Winner of four from eleven including at class 1 over this distance. Beaten by Vincero Cavallo in each of his latest two so form to overturn especially at level weights.
6. EOMA EOMA (USA) – The 2022 Korea Sprint winner may have lost a yard or so of pace and was well back in last year’s Korea Sprint and most recently the Kookje Shinmun Trophy. Had an easy trial in February and CC Wong climbs up so a big run can’t be ruled out.
7. FANTASTIC KINGDOM (KOR) – Multiple class 1 winner including at this distance but hasn’t made an impact in elite races. Beaten by Vincero Cavallo and Daem Janggun in his latest two. Has second fastest time among these for the trip and top jockey on.
8. MIGHTY GO (USA) – Returned from more than year off to run 2nd at class 1 over this distance on January 12th which gets him his chance. Stablemate of Leewolma and will be a big outsider.
9. SOMETHING LOST (KOR) – Looked set to kick on at the start of last year but has since only run in elite company and has been found a little wanting. Midfield last time out in the Segye Ilbo Trophy and that would be par again here.
10. CHOEGOUI KKUM (USA) – A bit of a wildcard. He has won five from six with his first defeat coming on his first try at class 1 in September. He is three for three at this distance. Same owner and trainer as Ssonsal, he looked well in a February trial but big ask first up.
11. VICEROY (KOR) – Has won at class 1 but has been found wanting in Listed and Graded company in the past and his recent form doesn’t inspire confidence. One of the bigger outsiders here.
12. DAEAM JANGGUN (USA) – A long time since his last win but he rarely misses out by much, placing in his last three, twice behind Black Mamba. Can race on pace or from behind and is a place chance again.
13. WINNER CLEAR (KOR) – Two-time Listed winner as a juvenile he struggled at a mile on his first outing as a three-year-old in class 3 company in January. Big step up in caliber of opposition but he has run class 1 times already for the distance.
| Selections | (1) Black Mamba (3) Vincero Cavallo (12) Daeam Janggun (6) Eoma Eoma |
| Next Best | 7, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 10, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 