FUNNY WILD will head into the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon as favourite to win and keep his bid to become the first horse since Power Blade in 2016 to win the Triple Crown on course. In the same race one of the most significant jockeys in Korean racing history will be legged up for the last time. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN.
The Choi Ki-hong trained FUNNY WILD won the KRA Cup Mile a month ago in Busan, racing handy throughout and then holding off late challengers. He has already won at the Derby distance of 1800M, but he has a wide draw, and the Bayern colt has plenty to do if he is to give jockey Seo Seung-un his first Derby win.
HWANG GEUM EO JJANG was also on pace in the Cup Mile and stayed on for a narrow 2nd. He gets a much better draw this time and could get a much easier run. Not getting a good draw is LIVE STAR. He was sent off as the favourite for the Cup Mile but beat himself at the start and never played a role. Draw a line through that and back at Seoul were he was so impressive when winning by half the length of the straight in February, and he can be given another chance.
Finishing rapidly in the Cup Mile were CHOCOLATE and CEONGHUNEUNJAYU and both will have backers to get closer over the extra furlong.
DOCTOR CHRIS didn’t’ go in the Cup Mile but is already a three-time winner over the 1800M and looks a very solid contender. Others who didn’t go attempt the first jewel include AIRFORCEONE and GLOBAL PRINCE.
Ten-time Seoul Champion jockey Moon Se-young has won the Derby twice, with Jigeum I Sungan in 2012 and Wonderful Fly in 2019, and the “Crown Prince” of Korean racing will bring down the curtain on his career in the saddle by partnering MUSKET CLEAVER. The Musket Man colt has won three from seven but will be an outsider to give Moon a golden send off.
As is traditional, General Admission at Seoul Racecourse on Korean Derby day is free. The big race is the 8th on the ten-race program with a local post time of 4:30pm.
1. DOCTOR CHRIS – Skipped the Cup Mile but has raced six times over 1800M already, winning three. That’s not unusual for his trainer with Derby prospects and he comes in having won his latest two, both at this distance. From the inside gate, he will be on pace, and he can go all the way.
2. HWANG GEUM EO JANG – A bit of an enigma. Beaten just a length in the KRA Cup Mile when he overcame a wide gate to race on a quick pace and stayed on when the leader didn’t. From a better draw, he should have a much easier run this time and the extended trip can be in his favour. He is a big chance.
3. GWANAKSAN SKY – The only perfect record in the race with three wins from three starts, he burnished his Derby credentials with an eye-catching all the way win over 1800M at class 4 level on April 4th. While this is undoubtedly more testing, he is beautifully drawn to lead, on that evidence he has to be a chance.
4. CHOCOLATE – A revelation in the Cup Mile when he came from last to run 3rd, finishing faster than anything else. He has only won once, but the way he finished off at a mile, combined with his draw here, means he must be taken seriously.
5. LEGEND HIT – 5th in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie and 6th in the Cup Mile, getting a long way back both times, means he has form to overturn on plenty of these, but he ran 3rd at this distance in February at class 4 level. Others preferred.
6. KING MASTER – Never finished worse than 3rd in seven starts including three at this distance, winning at class 4 level on March 29th when on pace throughout. He’s carried light weights in his successes so far but if he can get to the lead from a great draw, he can’t be ruled out.
7. HEY BROTHER – Non-Runner (Lame near-foreleg).
8. GLOBAL PRINCE – Since finishing runner-up on debut he has been perfect since with three victories, most recently over this distance at class 4 level when on pace throughout and in a time for the 1800M quicker than any of the others who have tackled it have achieved, albeit on a wet track. Place chance.
9. FANTASTIC FORCE – Just the one win back on debut but 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie and 5th in the Cup Mile and in between ran 3nf to Funny Wild over a mile at class 5. First time at 1800M but it can suit and while he has a bit to find, he has a Derby winning jockey aboard.
10. CHEONGCHUNEUNJAYU – Has won up to 1400M and class 4 and ran on from the back to finish 4th in the Cup Mile. Some form to overturn but the step up to 1800M can be in his favour, and he will have backers.
11. CONCORD BLUE – No worse than 3rd in four starts but hasn’t won at higher than class 5 or further than 1300M but was a close 2nd over 1700M at class 4 on April 11th when on pace. Plenty to find.
12. AIRFORCEONE – From the first Korean crop of Air Force Blue, he has won at this distance at class 4 level and most recently scored over 1700M at class 4. Well back in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie before that. If he can lead, he will see out the trip, but he is drawn a touch wider than ideal.
13. MUSKET CLEAVER – Moon Se-young concludes his riding career with a tough ask from a wide gate. A winner of three from seven, he scored with a dominant effort over a mile at class 4 in March. Moon has ridden him plenty of times in work but wile nothing can be ruled out, a win would be a surprise.
14. FUNNY WILD – The Cup Mile winner but they were coming back to him. He was a dominant winner over this distance at class 4 level in February but was overhauled at class 3 in March when drawn similarly wide. The last furlong will be the test, but there is no better pilot than Seo Seung-un so if he can find a decent position, he is a big chance.
15. LIVE STAR – Sent off as favourite for the Cup Mile but took himself out of contention with antics on the way to the gate and then a dreadful start. Draw a line through that and he is a real chance based on his emphatic win over this distance on February 7th. Draw the only concern but if he can find the lead, he is a winning chance.
16. CONCORD CODIE – A winner of three from seven up to class 5 and 1400M but was well back in the KRA Cup Mile. 3rd over a mile at class 4 the start before. Ha the hardest draw and has a lot to find.
| Selections | (1) Doctor Chris (14) Funny Wild (2) Hwang Geum Eo Jjang (15) Live Star |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 11, 13, 14 |
Horse Racing in Korea 