Race Reviews

Korea Sprint 2026 – Form Comments

Korea Sprint (1200M)

Form Comments

1. BEOLGYOUI KKUM (KOR) – It was all the way back in July 2024 that Beolgyoui Kkum last won a race, but he has established himself as a regular minor money winner at class 1 level, generally finishing in the top five in big handicaps. He was an on-pace 4th at odds of 90/1 in the G3 SBS Sports Sprint, but was 7th in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint and then well back in the G3 Owners’ Cup in June. Goes best on pace but doesn’t look a winning threat in this company.

2. VINCERO CAVALLO (KOR) – Swept last year’s Sprint Series and won the first two legs of this year’s but came unstuck in the final one when 3rd to Born Dia and was then well-beaten in a class 1 tune-up in July. Whether that’s a blip, rather than a more significant loss of form is key. 6th in this race two years ago, he missed a prep for last year’s edition and came in undercooked. At his best, he is a winning contender, but plenty of question marks and the draw may not be ideal for him if he gets stuck in traffic.

3. AMERICAN STAGE (USA) – Well traveled four-year-old who finished 4th behind Bentornarto in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last October and in the same position in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February. Most recent effort a 5th in the G3 Ibis Summer Dash at Niigata over 1000M. Differs from most Japanese contenders for this race in that he is a true sprinter rather and a horse who gets at least 1400M. He draws beautifully, he has loads of speed and if he gets to the lead, he may be hard to catch. No questioning the international campaigning credentials of his stable.

4. FINAL K (USA) – Won five of his first seven starts before suffering and injury that kept him off the track from June of last year to April of this. He picked up right from where he left off, winning at class 1 level over 1200M before finishing a creditable 6th in the G2 SROA Chairman’s Sprint in May. He then took a narrow class 1 win, coming from midfield in June. He will need to go up another level here but shapes as the potential wildcard among the local challengers.

5. MUNHAK BOY (KOR) – Looked a potential star a year ago and took big race glory when winning the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M at Busan last October. He hasn’t kicked on since though and has been well back in all four starts of 2026, including two trips to Busan for the G2 Busan Mayor’s Cup at 1800M and G3 Owners’ Cup at a mile. Dropped back to sprinting but hard to see him making an impact on recent form.

6. SILVER RAIN (KOR) – Broke through at Listed level as a juvenile and has steadily worked his way through the grades as a sprinter. He scored a breakthrough 5th place in the G2 SROA Chairman’s Sprint in May before running 3rd behind Final K at class 1 level in June. 2nd last time out when giving away a lot of weight at class 2 level. He hasn’t won since October 2025 and doesn’t shape as a winning chance here.

7. DRAGON WELDS (USA) – Up and coming sprinter from Japan, who is three for three in 2026, racing on pace each time, most recently winning the Listed Tokyo Sprint over 1200M at Oi in April. He comes in fresh having not raced since but Japanese visitors have successfully pulled that off before in this race and while he is yet to be tested among the elite at home, he could well be ready. Big chance.

8. WINNER CLEAR (KOR) – Known for having beaten Clean One in a Listed Juvenile event two years ago, he has stayed at sprint distances. He kicked off this year with a win at class 1 level and then took part in all three legs of the Sprint Series, finishing 2nd, 5th and 2nd. He likes to come from off the pace so he will be challenging late and should beat plenty, but the winner may have already gone. One of the best local hopes.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: AUGUST 21-23

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY A 1200M CLASS 2 WAS THE LAST OF THIRTY-FIVE THOROUGHBRED RACES ACROSS KOREA FOR THE WEEKEND AND RAON SILENCE recorded a comfortable win from an on-pace role giving jockey Jo Jae-ro a second winner of the day and a fifth winner for the weekend (writes Luke Humphreys).

Raon Silence (Musket Man) had been caught on the line at her previous start and chased home Roshe the time prior but proved too good by four-lengths as the 2.2 favourite with Drone Killer, 7.3, and Spalta, 6.8, doing the chasing for the minors with Excellent Tan, 8.1, and Star Trek, 7.5, in 6th and 8th places respectively.

Jo Jae-ro had earlier rode a winner that was just as impressive in the shape of SINGSING NASHE (Nashville) who produced one of the more impressive two-year-old performances of the season so far with an excellent seven-length front-running victory in Race 2 (1000M Class 4) which followed up his thirteen-length trial win on July 23. Whilst the track was fast the time of 58.8 seconds was outstanding and was just a half-second slower than both the class and course record.

Race 9 (1800M Class 3) saw GENERAL WIND (Yeonseung Daero) bounce back to form with a four-length success from the front under Furkan Yuksel justifying an odds-on quote of 1.6. General Wind has proven to be a smart type when controlling the race from the top however had bombed out at his previous start when unable to take the lead away from The Derby winner Hwang Geum Eo Jang and subsequently working hard but he had almost no competition this time not just in the run but also at the finish.

A Spanish named colt with a Spanish speaking jockey were the winners of Race 4 (1300M Class 5) with QUERENCIA (Concord Point) and Luis Quiroz eventually getting on top in a three-way photo finish. The winning trainer was Jung Ho-ik who completed a double when GLOBAL SERVE (To Honor And Serve) landed Race 7 (1200M Class 4) and that completed a double for Kozzi Asano as the Tony Castanheira trained FLYING SMART (Old Fashioned) earlier had won Race 5 (1300M Class 5) by a nose as the 3.0 favourite despite coming from midfield and receiving kickback.

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KOREA RACING REPORT – AUGUST 14-17 (ROOKIE STAKES)

IT WAS ROOKIE STAKES DAY IN KOREA LAST SUNDAY AND THE SEOUL VERSION SAW HOPE K record a second success in the race for owner Kang Gyeong-un after his colours were famously carried to success by Lala K three years ago (writes Luke Humphreys).

Dubai Heart claimed the Busan Rookie Stakes (Pic: KRA)

Hope K (Mitole) landed the prize in much distinct style to Lala K’s viral victory however as he led throughout to land the money by five-lengths for jockey Lee Dong-ha and trainer Moon Byeong-ki. Hope K was recording his second win at start three and beat the 4.4 second favourite, and previously unbeaten, Major Fury into 2nd. The other favourites were South Carnival, 5.0, who had beaten Hope K at the end of May, who finished 6th and the Luigi Riccardi prepared Johan Victoire ridden Kkumui Yeonsok, 2.3, who was the popular pick with punters after his sensational win on debut, but he was slow at the start and was never closer than second last.

Trainer Moon Byeong-ki completed a double when winning the concluding Race 10 (1200M Class 4) with PANGPANG DAERO (Frosted) who as the 4.2 second favourite led throughout from the inside gate to land the spoils by two-lengths at his first attempt at Class 4. Cheongsan Dolpung was 2nd whilst 3.9 favourite Sahara Khan did well to run 3rd after a poor start ahead of Ikkeulim, Ever Glory and Forever Gil in 4th, 5th, and 6th.

Whilst naturally the Rookie Stakes was the feature of the meeting Race 9 would have been the main race on the day on any normal card. It was an 1800M Class 1 and five-year-old mare GLADIUS (Boys At Tosconova) on her first run against the boys since February of last year, when she beat them by eight-lengths, proved way too good by a margin of nine-lengths despite being very wide throughout the contest. The grey mare is one of the most consistent horses in the country and no doubt her win would have been a huge confidence booster leading into the Queen’s Tour races this coming Autumn. Zetta Master, at this stage the only Seoul based horse entered in the Korea Cup, came from last as he always does to be 2nd whilst Musket Day, a Listed winner in May, was 3rd ahead of longtime leader No Problem in 4th. The disappointment of the race was the 2.9 favourite Best Race who had been best of the rest behind Roshe in the Owner’s Cup at his previous start. He had run over 1800M or further just twice in his career when 12th in both last year’s Derby and Minister’s Cup and the trip proved too far for him especially considering he was on pace in the run.

There were multiple trainers and jockeys that had winning doubles on the day, and they included Tony Castanheira who had a race-to-race double at that with HOT FEVER (Old Fashioned) in Race 3 (1300M Class 5) and BEONGAE LEWIS (Uncaptured) in Race 4 (1400M Class 5). Hot Fever was recording her first win at start ten and pinched the prize from the front under Kozzi Asano whilst Beongae Lewis followed up his twelve-length trial win and six-length debut win with a four-length score as the 1.6 favourite sixty-five minutes later and is a three-year-old colt to keep following.

Lee Hyeok was the winning jockey on Beongae Lewis, and he completed a double when YONGBIGYO (Nitrous) was a smart nine-length winner from the front in Race 7 (1600M Class 4) on her Class 4 debut. She comfortably accounted for the 1.8 favourite Raon Finalle who was finishing 2nd for the third consecutive start.

Kang Hwan-min trained a double with SAMJEONG YEOJE (Cowboy Cal) winning by four-lengths in Race 2 (1300M Class 6) before ONE DIA (Independence) won Race 5 (1400M Class 5) as the 2.8 favourite with Furkan Yuksel. The winning rider on Samjeong Yeoje was Kim Yong-geun and he completed a pair of wins on the day when NAMSAN ROCK (Known Agenda) scored by nine-lengths as the 1.9 favourite in Race 6 (1400M Class 4).

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KOREA RACING REPORT: AUGUST 7-9

THE MAIN RACE THIS WEEKEND IN KOREA WAS THE CONCLUDING CONTEST AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY IN THE SHAPE OF A 1200M CLASS 1 HANDICAP AND WITH LESS THAN THREE-LENGTHS COVERING THE FIRST EIGHT HOME IN THE ELEVEN-RUNNER FIELD IT WAS KING HONOR who landed the prize completing a treble on the day for rider Kim Yong-geun (writes Luke Humphreys).

The consistent King Honor (To Honor And Serve) came from midfield to score at his very first attempt at the grade over 2.6 favourite Hansen Bracing with the ever-consistent Ziggurat in 3rd. One of the roughies in the field in Geosen Bangyeok looked the winner for most of the way down the straight before peaking on the run in the final 100M with Daehan Jilju, Mighty Look, Yongam Sesang, and J S Road, 4.0 second favourite, filling the next four places in an outstanding finale to the weekend.

The Oaks winner CATCH RACE (Afleet Express) bounced back to winning ways in Race 9 (1600M Class 3) with an effortless five-length victory as the 1.3 favourite. She had put the writing on the wall in the Luna Stakes (Korean 1000 Guineas) prior to her last gasp Oaks victory before being beaten in similar fashion to the way she defeated Clearly Winner in The Oaks when 2nd to Sunrise in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. She never looked like losing and defeated co-favourites Namsan Belt, 7.7, and longtime leader Baro Danaeun, 9.2.

MUJEOK HAMDAE (Mischieviously) scored for Furkan Yuksel as the 3.1 favourite in Race 7 (1800M Class 4), one of multiple wins across the weekend for trainer Lee Shin-woo. Mujeok Hamdae was first up since the beginning of April when chasing home Gwanaksan Sky and came from midfield to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

TIGER BULPAE (Power Blade) broke through at the ninth time of asking in Race 6 (1400M Class 5) and justified punters confidence winning by two-and-a-half lengths as the 1.7 favourite. The three-year-old filly had finished either 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th in each of her eight previous runs but finally was able to better all those results and did it well. Kim Yong-geun was the winning jockey and that was the first of his three wins on the day.

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GANGPUNGMA TASTES GROUP GLORY AT LAST IN KRA CUP CLASSIC

He’s an enigma no longer. Gangpungma, the horse who always has an excuse, finally needed none as he roared clear of Global Hit, Success Baekpa and Speed Young, to win the KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Gangpungma (Pic: KRA)

As the eleven-strong field entered the home straight, the four big guns of Korean racing – in the absence anyway of the clearly better but scarcely raced Clean One – fanned across the track having seen off the seven lesser lights. Defending champion Success Baekpa led, but it seemed set up for Global Hit, ominously showing signs of his best form, to take advantage, Speed Young meanwhile was close and dangerous.

Instead, the day finally belonged to Gangpungma. Back with trainer Kim Dong-chul, his trainer license restored, back with the pounds piled on and weighing in at 572kg, this time starting well and being much closer to the speed and avoiding traffic, Gangpungma broke his Group race duck at last.

“I’ve been riding him for three years now and for the last two I have thought he surely has a big race win in him, but something always seems to happen” winning jockey Jo Jae-ro, who has partnered him in all but one of his races, told KRBC. “Be it the race pace or bad luck, nothing seems to go right, but it has never been about ability with this horse.”

“Well done to the stable, they got him physically at his best, with the weight back on but in very good condition with it. The start was good this time, and we were able to get all the way to the third corner without using too much energy.”

“I thought just stay close to those three Busan horses (Success Baekpa, Global Hit and Speed Young) and then see what happens. 90% of the race went how we planned (and) Gangpungma did the rest at the end.”

Looking forward to the future, and September’s Korea Cup, the jockey was under no illusions that it would be as straightforward: “The Korea Cup will absolutely not unfold in the same way as today’s race.” said Jo. “The pace will be much stronger, and it will be all about choosing when to try to catch up to that pace. But I trust the stable to prepare well and we will give it a good go.”

After five months on the sidelines, Kim Dong-chul is training again and has Gangpuungma back as his stable star: “I always felt just a few percent had been lacking with him” Kim Dong-chul told KRBC. “2nd, 3rd, always just missing out. I think that today, he was where he should have been in the previous races, on the outside and close instead of stuck inside, and the jockey was quite firm about what he wanted to do this time.”

Gangpungma and Jo Jae-ro (Pic: KRA)

As for what’s next. “We’ll check how he is and then go for the Korea Cup or if not, the President’s Cup.”

A six-year-old, Gangpungma is by Peace Rules and out of Wonder Dreamer (by Hawk Wing). The victory moved him on to ten wins from twenty-eight starts.

Racing now takes a short summer break with all three tracks dark next weekend. Racing returns to Korea at Busan on Friday August 7th.

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 25)

There are 10 races at Seoul on Saturday from 10.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:

Derby winner Hwang Geom Eo Jjang is back on Saturday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

(5) MIGHTY HUNKY is a Seo Hong-soo trained debutante by Happy Saver that trialled twice in April for a second and a victory. The score was by four-lengths and considering the second placed horse in that trial Major Fury has subsequently had two races for two wins this colt should be extremely hard to beat indeed. (8) MAHO was an odds-on chance on his debut and was a seven-length second behind a smart looking type. He may very well be able to go one better. (3) SAUDI SOCKS has six-and-three-quarter lengths to find with Maho from that race but rates next over Jung Ho-ik prepared Caracaro newcomer (4) GARAKAI with (7) MIGHTY HUSH and (2) SUPREME DIA best of the rest.

Selections(5) Mighty Hunky (8) Maho (3) Saudi Socks (4) Garakai
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start3, 5, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(8) BREEDO GALAXY comes off a last start second where he was only beaten a half-length and had been just behind the placegetters at his previous two runs so he will go close again. (10) ROAD TO PERFECT has only missed the top five on one occasion from seven starts so with that sort of record rates as a chance. (1) ILGEUP BISUL has almost seven-lengths to find with Breedo Galaxy from their last runs a month ago but rates next whilst (11) DONGBAEK has been consistent enough to be given a hope. (3) LOVELY JACKPOT is best of the rest over (7) SEOBU KING.

Selections(8) Breedo Galaxy (10) Road To Perfect (1) Ilgeup Bisul (11) Dongbaek
Next Best3, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(4) LAVITA has been close-up in three of her five runs whilst being well out the back in the other two. If putting her best foot forward she can prove hard to beat. (5) QUEENS TIGER has been beaten five-lengths into third and fifth in two runs so that form is more than good enough and Seo Seung-un is on board. (3) DREAM DIA has been a beaten favourite in each of her last three starts but will be around the mark if on song whilst (7) SONGDANG JILJU rates next over (9) ANGEL TIME and (10) P N S ME.

Selections(4) Lavita (5) Queens Tiger (3) Dream Dia (7) Songdang Jilju
Next Best9, 10
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(8) FLYING SMART was a bit of an enigma in her first three starts getting out of her ground as favourite on each occasion and subsequently was not sent off favourite last time and duly got the cash. She showed early pace to lead last start, unlike any of her previous runs, and that win should have done her confidence the world of good. She has ability and can go on with the job. (11) GANGHAN GAMMA was behind a couple of nice winners at maiden level but after three minor placings at that grade to be promoted to one win company she only beat three home when running at this class for the first time. She can be given another chance, however. (3) MIGHTY SHINE comes off a last start second and rates as one of the each-way chances as does (4) X-TEN with (7) CUPID K and (10) GRAY GO next best.

Selections(8) Flying Smart (11) Ganghan Gamma (3) Mighty Shine (4) X-Ten
Next Best7, 10
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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KOREA RACING REPORT: JULY 10-12

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY TWO 1400M CLASS 3 RACES WERE THE MAIN EVENTS ON THE CARD AND THE CONCLUDING RACE OF THE PAIR WAS WON BY GREAT STORM, who despite being the outsider of the field bar one got the prize by one-and-a-quarter lengths (writes Luke Humphreys).

Great Storm (Overanalyze) was an important winner for both jockey Jo Seong-hwan and trainer Lee Kang-seo with his one-and-a-quarter length victory proving enough to beat the 3.9 favourite Cheongryongui Cal. Great Storm was down in class but will presumably find himself straight back to class 2.

Latin American riders had a race-to-race double on the card with Luis Quiroz riding 23.2 chance THUNDER A ONE (Thunder Moccasin) to victory in Race 8 (1600M Class 4) whilst fifty minutes earlier Andre da Silva recorded his second Korean victory on his eighth ride with BLUE PIORA (Take Charge Indy) who landed Race 7 (1400M Class 3) by an impressive eleven-lengths in a time that was 2.2 seconds faster than standard for the class and grade.

The last victory for jockey Kim Hyo-jung before a trackwork injury in early June wason THE SUN STORY (Shackleford) on May 30. As it turned out her first weekend back of riding saw The Sun Story take his place in Race 5 (1700M Class 5) and they duly scored by three-lengths. The Sun Story had no issues with the extra 300M in distance and will now be up to Class 4 grade after completing this hat-trick of wins.

Kim Hyo-jung completed a double when riding HIGH FOLLY (The King) to an upset victory in Race 9 (1800M Class 4). That race saw 2.1 favourite Musket Cleaver, who had run a great 6th in the Derby in May in what was the final ride for Moon Se-young, run a disappointing 5th.

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Korea Racing Report: July 3-5

SUNDAY AT SEOUL SAW A 1200M CLASS 1 AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND AND THE POSSIBLE LAST RUN FOR SOME OF SEOUL’S BEST SPRINTERS BEFORE SEPTEMBER’S INTERNATIONAL KOREA SPRINT AND IT SAW KOREA’S BEST SPRINTER BOMB OUT WHILST THE ENIGMATIC NICE FORCE showed that on his day, he can really match it with the best of them as he produced a win from the top under Ruan Maia (writes Luke Humphreys).

Nice Force (Mor Spirit), 9.6 fourth favourite, had gone into the inaugural running of the KRA Sprint on Grand Prix Day last year as an odds-on favourite but bombed out and had been inconsistent in five runs since. On Sunday he showed his best form and it was good enough to run the legs off his rivals and score by three-quarters of a length. Haksan Speed, who had run very well in the Busan Ilbo and SBS Sports Sprints, put his poor SROA Chairman’s Sprint run behind him with a 2nd place finish as the 4.3 second choice with Something Lost in 3rd. The 4.9 third favourite Crown Hamseong has been up and down in form this year and was only 6th after receiving every chance in the run.

However, the talking point out of the race is the performance of Korea’s best sprinter Vincero Cavallo who was never closer than midfield and ultimately finished 9th of ten. He got himself out of a tricky rearward position on the rail in the run to finish a never nearer 3rd in the SROA Sprint and was in a similar position in this race, but there appeared to be fewer excuses this time. Vets found no abnormalities.

SU BU TAI (Concord Point) came from off the pace to score in Race 6 (1400M Class 5). The 7.4 chance provided the first Korean winner for former Selangor Turf Club champion jockey Andre Luis Da Silva, the pair overturning the favourite and long-time leader Pasa Queen in the last half-furlong. The Brazilian rider landed 72 winners in Malaysia in 2025, a full twenty-seven clear of his nearest rival. It had been a lengthy visa and insurance process for Da Silva who has now hit the ground running in a license that initially runs to the end of this year.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: JUNE 19-21

IT WAS A STAKELESS SUNDAY IN KOREA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR MONTHS BUT THERE WAS A NAMED FEATURE ON THE CARD IN SEOUL AND THE 15TH SPORTS DONG-A CUP WAS WON BY ROYAL SOCKS under apprentice Kwon Jung-seok (writes Luke Humphreys).

However, the main talking point of the race was the late scratching of Di Ne, one of the country’s top three-year-old’s, his subsequent stand down from racing for twelve months. He did not look right on the way down to the start and was eventually withdrawn and a post-race physical examination found him to have a bowed tendon.

Whilst this year’s Korean three-year-old crop has produced some fine performances from the likes of Roshe, Hwang Geum Eo Jang, Funny Wild and Clearly Winner it has lost plenty of spark. Supex Winner sadly had to be put down after suffering a ligament and sesamoid injury in the week leading up to the KRA Cup Mile, whilst Geudaemaniddamyeon fractured a cannon bone whilst preparing for the YTN Cup. Di Ne, like Geudaemaniddamyeon, will no longer be seen in his three-year-old campaign.

This left Royal Socks (Hansen) to run the 2.0 favourite and he led for most of the way to score by four-lengths. He recorded his sixth career victory at start eleven and will now be up to Class 2 grade. Baro Danaeun was the other favourite, 2.7, but just like she did when last seen in the G2 Ttukseom Cup she finished 7th.

Royal Socks completed a riding double for Kwon Jung-seok after landing Race 2 (1700M Class 6) on the 3.8 favourite THE SUN COMING (Cowboy Cal) which after racing on pace won by four-lengths and was breaking through at the eighth time of asking. It also was part of a treble for trainer Kang Sung-o after success with BLACK SIDAE (Chrysolite) who won Race 6 (1800M Class 4) by an extending eight-lengths as the 5.2 second favourite before FEDAYKIN (Audible) proved too strong in Race 10 (1200M Class 4) running away late to score by one-and-a-half lengths as the 3.5 favourite.

Black Sidae was beating the 1.8 odds-on chance Ghost Chrysol into 2nd place in what was a slowly run race. Jockey Jo Jae-ro and Black Sidae put some pace into the race when taking off at the end of the back straight and they were never caught. Fedaykin broke through at the third time of asking after a 6th on debut in April before a 3rd in May.

Race 9 (1600M Class 2) was the highest graded race on the day, and SUPREME SOCKS (Flameaway) got the prize by a neck for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi. The race was primarily dominated by the favourites with Tap Tier, 3.1, coming from a long last to run 2nd over Jeongsang Ace, 8.7, in 3rd with Useung Concord, 4.2, in 4th. Ace K, 5.8, was disappointing for the third consecutive time at Class 2 grade as he ran a long last of the nine runners.

Race 8 (1400M Class 3) was one of the more competitive races on the card and it saw TOHOMARKET (Revolutionary) get up late on to score by a half-length at odds of 29.6 over 15.5 chance Nano Masin with 7.1 fourth choice Cheonmahoryeong at her second 1400M attempt once again just getting caught in the closing stages finishing 3rd after leading. The other favourites were Magic Strong, 7.7, who was 6th, Navy Captain, 6.2, who finished 7th whilst the main two in the market Teukgeup Party, 4.1, and Free The One, 5.2, were 8th and 10th in the eleven strong field. The consistent Teukgeup Party produced the worst run of her career whilst Free The One, whose best form has seen him place behind Roshe at black type level, was disappointing for the second straight start.

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SUNRISE SHINES OVER CATCH RACE IN TIARA FINALE

For the first time in five years, a different filly has won each individual jewel of the Triple Tiara as Sunrise got the better of Korean Oaks winner Catch Race in a final furlong duel, to win the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Sunrise bests Catch Race (Pic: KRA)

With Luna Stakes victor Clearly Winner skipping the race, Catch Race, who had got the better of her in a desperately close finish to the Oaks, was sent off as the 1.7 odds-on favourite for the final and longest test of the Tiara.

After early pacesetters Chief Star, Daebi Mama and Wild Magic gave way, Catch Race and jockey Seo Seung-un assumed the lead inside the home straight and looked set to go on score. But Under Jung Do-yun, Sunrise, who at 8.9 hadn’t exactly been missed by the market following her Oaks 4th place, loomed up from midfield and went by late to win by half a length on the line. A full six-lengths behind the first pair, Tiger Roar closed for 3rd.

It was a redemption of sorts for jockey Jung, who just a week ago had been demoted from 2nd to 3rd on Breedo Sol in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the colts’ Triple Crown. Not that he dwelt on that:

“It was the first time I had ridden (Sunrise) in a race” Jung Do-yun told KRBC. “But I rode her in training a few times and while there are always going to be a lot of variables in the final leg of the Tiara, I did think we had a good chance.”

“When she ran in the Oaks, she hadn’t previously gone any further than 1300M but as this was the second time, I thought she would come on for it and with only ten runners the positioning would be easier. It went exactly as planned and I felt the further we went, the stronger she got.”

(Pic: KRA)

Sunrise is trained at Busan by Ha Mu-seon and runs in the colours of owner Kim Geun-young. By Gemologist, she is out of Sun Crest (by Arch), who also did her racing in Korea, winning one of twenty-three starts.

“I felt really good coming in” winning trainer Ha Mu-seon said. “Sunrise really has no weaknesses, and I expected it to come down to her and Catch Race with our filly having a very good chance of winning.”

“As a stable, we won our first big race in the Breeders’ Cup Queen (with Ace High) last November so it’s good to carry that momentum forward and win today.”

Seo In-seok, trainer of Catch Race, wasn’t too downbeat. “I was hopeful for today, I don’t think she ran badly but Sunrise just ran a little bit harder. Running in these (Triple Tiara) races in three consecutive months isn’t easy so she will have a rest, and I think we will see her in some big races again.”

With a win and two placings from the three races, Catch Race is the comfortable winner of the Series in terms of points with Sunrise and Clearly Winner tied for 2nd. They will probably now move on to face their elders when the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter begins on September 20th with the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3).

(Pic: KRA)

There is no Stakes action in Korea next weekend but there are still full programs at both Seoul and Busan. Group level racing returns with the Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3), the first instalment of the Premier Series, at Busan on Sunday June 28.