A full field of sixteen will go to the post for the twenty-eighth edition of the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, when OASIS BLUE will be bidding to become the first horse since Power Blade in 2016 to follow up victory in the KRA Cup Mile by winning the Derby.SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON DERBY DAY.
Oasis Blue is favourite for the Derby (Pic: KRA)
Power Blade of course famously went on to sweep all three jewels in the crown that year. But while Hit Yegam in 2021 and Success Baekpa last year were able to bounce back and win the final leg, the Minister’s Cup, the Derby has eluded all Cup Mile winners in the past decade. Oasis Blue will be hot favourite to change that.
Oasis Blue is trained by Baik Kwang-yeol, who has won the Derby twice already, with Yeongcheon Ace in 2015 and Winner Star in 2022. A winner of five from eight (with one disqualification too) Oasis Blue was a facile winner of both the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun, Busan’s Classic Trial over 1400M and the Cup Mile.
Jin Kyum stays aboard and while they do have the challenge of a wide gate as well as tackling Seoul for the first time, Oasis Blue may be too good.
Moon Se-young has also won the race twice before, on Jigeum I Sungan in 2012 and Wonderful Fly in 2019. He partners ECLIPSE THE KING, who skipped both Seoul’s Classic Trial and the Cup Mile but has been assembling an impressive body of work.
It’s Korean Derby Day. We’ll have full form comments for the big race in a little while but for now here is the race-by-race guide to all Sunday races when there are 11 from Seoul between 10:35 and 18:00 (the Derby is race 7 at 15:15) and 6 at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30:
Last year’s Derby was won by Eunpa Sarang (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Seven fillies and one gelding in the opening maiden and we’ll take a chance on the debut-maker. (1) CHRYSOL POSH looked competent enough when running 4th in her trial in a fair time at the end of March. She draws the inside gate and competent enough could be good enough to prevail here. (5) GLORY QUEEN has a 3rd and a 5th among her four outings to date with the former coming two starts back at this distance. Moon Se-young climbs on for the first time and that will probably make her the betting favourite. (6) RAON THE CAVIAR was an improved 3rd, albeit in a very slow race over this distance last time out and can be there or thereabouts again. (4) ROAD TO SPEAR and (2) DUSON EUTTEUM the others who will be in the market.
Selections
(1) Chrysol Posh (5) Glory Queen (6) Raon The Caviar (4) Road To Spear
Next Best
2, 3
Fast Start
1, 2, 4, 6
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) SWEET SONG has been on the right trajectory across her three starts to date, most recently a 4th place at this distance on April 13th when she led for much of the way. She can lead again here and can potentially go all the way. (6) PURGE RUBY beat a couple of these on her way to best to date 2nd place on April 20th. It was a slow time, and she was a long way behind the winner, but she won’t need to improve very much to go one better here. (2) SEUNGNI BAROWS has, like Sweet Song, shown improvement over three outings most recently an on pace 5th when clocking the fastest time among these for the 1400M. Maia stays on and she can go close again. (1) STEP BY STEP and (4) SECRET WOLF are others in the frame.
Selections
(7) Sweet Song (6) Purge Ruby (2) Seungni Barows (1) Step By Step
Next Best
4, 8
Fast Start
1, 2, 3, 7
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (3) GYEOUL JANGMI has made good progress over three starts so far, most recently when 2nd on her first try at this distance on March 15th. She comes in fresh after eight weeks off, Moon Se-young stays on, and she is favoured to go one better here. (1) CHARMING QUEEN raced handy for 2nd place over this distance on debut on April 20th. She should have come on for that run and with some natural improvement can be a danger from a good draw. (6) RAON SILENCE was a well beaten 2nd at this distance on March 30th. She raced on pace that day and should do so again with every chance of being involved for a long way. (9) INDIAN TAPIT and (7) BULGUKSIDAE are the other main chances.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After an indifferent debut, (7) GEUMA PANTHER was a close 2nd when stepped up to this trip at start two on April 11th, settling midfield and running on. Third-up he can be peaking, and he will be hot favourite to go one better here. (5) BABYLON FOX was much improved when beating three of these on his way to 3rd place at this distance in a different race on April 11th. He was ridden on pace for the first time that day and with similar tactics can be close again. (8) HOUND POKER was 4th in that race, one of three top five finishes he has from six attempts, and he can be aiming to find the places here. (4) DREAMMA and (1) UNJU CHEONHA others in the minor money frame.
Selections
(7) Geuma Panther (5) Babylon Fox (8) Hound Poker (4) Dreamma
Next Best
1, 3
Fast Start
1, 4, 5, 7
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) GOLD QUEENS was a winner on debut and has been working back towards another in her three goes at this class, most recently when 2nd at 1200M on April 5th. She comes up 2.5kg in weight but draws well and the slight step up in trip can suit. (2) SAEROUN GUY enters off 3rd place over 1200M at this class on April 12th. He is yet to win but on that form can be a player here. (10) SEMYEONG STRONG is up in class having won a quick race at this distance on a wet track on April 6th. He has the challenge of a wider draw this time, but he can measure up in this company. (3) VIVA CHEONGSU and (4) CHRYSOL NIKE, the latter up in class following back-to-back 2nd places in her first two starts, are others to consider.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (7) PURE MARINE may only have a best of 4th from four starts so far but she comes in fresh following thirteen weeks off and, more to the point, was a close 2nd in a quick trial on April 26th. If she brings that form to the races, she will be able to see off this limited set of rivals. (9) HANEULPYEONGJEONG loves finishing 4th, having done so on five occasions from eleven starts including each of her latest four. She also has a 2nd place on her resume and that’s enough to have her in the numbers here. (5) WORLD TRIPLE CAT hinted at figuring things out when an improved 5th ahead of a couple of today’s rivals on April 4th and can aim for better here. (10) OWNER CHAMP and (3) SEOGWI CHOWON other placing chances.
Selections
(7) Pure Marine (9) Haneulpyeongjeong (5) World Triple Cat (10) Owner Champ
Next Best
3, 8
Fast Start
2, 7, 8, 10
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) WORLD JOY got his maiden win at 1300M in March before running 3rd on his first try at this class over 1800M on April 12th, racing handy throughout. He is nicely drawn here for Lim Da-bin to pick his spot, and he looks the one to beat. (9) ECO FORE has excelled since being sent up to this distance with a 2nd and last time out a win over it. That brings him up in class but the same apprentice who won on him keeps his weight low, and he can measure up. (3) SUPER BLUEMOON was a winner at this class and distance on April 20th at big odds. He is up 3.5kg in weight and has been a bit all or nothing so far but warrants consideration. (8) SPLENDID comes out of the KRA Cup Mile and should find this a more amenable assignment, while (1) LUCKY FAMOUS is another in the hunt.
Selections
(2) World Joy (9) Eco Fore (3) Super Bluemoon (8) Splendid
Next Best
1, 6
Fast Start
4, 5, 6, 8
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Horse Racing in Korea 