Raon The Point led home fellow four-year-old Something Lost as the new generation of sprinters thoroughly vanquished the old in the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. 2022 winner and pre-race favourite Eoma Eoma, briefly touched the front with a furlong to run, but succumbed to the youngsters and could only manage 5th.
30/1 chance Doctor Caesar took full advantage of drawing gate one and set the early pace with Raon The Point, Eoma Eoma, Something Lost and Ssonsal all in close attendance. The five of them would fan across the track as they entered the home straight and with 300M to go it was anyone’s race with Black Musk and Daemangui Gil also looming withing striking distance.
Just as Eoma Eoma looked set to go on, the younger horses struck. Raon The Point and Something Lost came surging down the outside to pull clear and would dispute the finish all the way to the line, Raon The Point ultimately prevailing by an official margin of a neck – a very small neck.
Something Lost was strong in 2nd place while there was only a length-and-a half back to the very game Doctor Caesar in 3rd place, who at five-years-old, falls into the younger category by age, if not by experience – he has only raced two times fewer than Eoma Eoma. Daemangui Gil closed for 4th ahead of Eoma Eoma.
Choi Bum-hyun rode Raon The Point, who is trained by Park Jong-kon and is owned by Raon Land.
Raon The Point is by I’m Your Father (by Tiznow), who did his racing in Korea and won the 2017 Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G3) for New Zealand trainer David Miller. Raon The Point is from his first crop to hit the track and his first Group level winner. He stands at Cheongma Farm. Raon The Point’s dam is Australian bred Raffiner (by Bel Danoro). She won one of eight starts in Korea and is also the dam of Choegang Ssonsal, a winner of eight.
As for Eoma Eoma, despite winning a trial in fast fashion just over a week ago, he looked slightly flat when it mattered. All being well, he will be back for a rematch with the younder sprinters in the remaining legs of the series where they are likely to be joined by last year’s Korea Sprint runner-up Beolmaui Star, who has returned from a poor showing in Dubai.
The Sprint Series moves to Seoul for its concluding two legs. They are the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on April 14th and the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on May 19th. Both races have recently been awarded International Part 2 Listed status for the first time.
The road to the Korea Sprint begins on Sunday afternoon as Busan plays host to the first leg of the 2024 Sprint Series, the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). But while it may be a new year, it’s a familiar name heading the field as Eoma Eoma, who won this race in 2022 before going on to claim the Korea Sprint itself, remains the leader of the division.Click here for full race-by-race guide to Sunday’s meetings at both Busan and Seoul.
Eoma Eoma races for the first time since winning last November’s Kookje Shinmun Trophy (Pic: KRA)
Now seven-years-old, EOMA EOMA came of age in the Covid-affected seasons of 2020 and 2021 but it was in 2022 when the son of Algorithms got his reward, scoring by three-lengths in the Busan Ilbo Sprint, before passing Japan-trained Raptus, to win the International Korea Sprint in September. He then rounded out the year by returning to Busan to take a last gaps victory in the Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy over 1400M.
2023 would prove a more challenging year for Eoma Eoma, with Raon The Fighter winning the Busan Ilbo and the SBS Sports Sprint while Ssonsal took out the final leg of the regular series, the SROA Chairman’s Sprint. Eoma Eoma would then run 5th when defending his Korea Sprint crown under a very conservative ride. He did though round out the year with a repeat in the Kookje Shinmun at Busan in November.
With Raon The Fighter on the long-term injured list and Korea Cup runner-up Beolmaui Star having only just returned from Dubai, Eoma Eoma kicks off the 2024 Sprint Series as one to beat again. He hasn’t raced since November’s Kookje Shinmun but the Song Moon-gil trainee went through a trial at Seoul on February 29th, and looked in imperious form, cracking one minute for the five-furlongs without breaking a sweat (although fellow class 1 horse The Gumpu went with him every stride and looked even less fussed.
Eoma Eoma cruises to a trial win in a fast time. The Gumpu looking very well (and even easier) in 2nd pic.twitter.com/97EgT44mDy
Song Jae-chul, who rode Eoma Eoma in his very first races before losing the ride first to Moon Se-young and then to Yoo Seung-wan and finally Antonio Davielson, is restored to the mount for the first time since September 2021 and from an excellent draw in gate five, they can win.
SOMETHING LOST is the new hope. He made it four wins from four when winning the Sports Seoul Trophy, the capital’s Classic trial, last April but came up short in all three of the Triple Crown races themselves. He then didn’t race again until this February 3rd, but his return was sensational, blitzing a class 2 field over 1400M. Now a winner of five from eight, a statement run will be expected although jockey Lee Hyeok will have to contend with a wide draw on the Hong Dae-you trained galloper.
Another up and comer is RAON THE POINT. A winner of six from eight, he has posted some super times at distances up to a mile although he came up short both times when tested by strong opposition, first in the Gold Circle last September, and then on his first try at class 1 at the end of January.
Then there are the usual suspects. DAEMANGUI GIL and SSONSAL shouldn’t be too far away while multiple Stakes winner MORFHIS kicks of his nine-year-old campaign. Eoma Eoma remains very much the one to beat though.
The Busan Ilbo Sprint is race 5 on the 6 race Sunday card at Busan with a post time of 15:15 Korean Standard Time.
Selections
(5) Eoma Eoma (12) Something Lost (4) Ssonsal (14) Daemangui Gil
Spring is starting. The football season got underway last weekend and the baseball pre-season this weekend. It’s not long until the cherry blossoms come out but what really marks Spring being firmly on the agenda is the start of the Sprint Series and it duly kicks off with the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. Eoma Eoma headlines the big race which is race 5 on a 6-race Sunday card at Busan which runs from 11:25 to 16:05. There are also 11 Sunday races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Eoma Eome didn’t win this race last year when Raon Teh Fighter was around, but does have a good record on the South Coast with two Kookje Shinmun Trophy wins (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) STAR CHANGER is the one to beat in the opener. She comes in having run 3rd in both her latest two, both over this distance and most recently in a quick time on February 18th when close to the pace throughout. She’ll be on the speed again here and will take some beating. (2) BUNDANG TSUNAMI has actually recorded a just as quick time for the distance as Star Changer. That came when running 4th back last October. We need to draw a line through his latest when he had a hard time from a wide gate, and from a much better draw, he shapes as the main danger. (9) JEONGSEONG VICE will also need a line drawn through his latest, but he is the only one in the field to have a runner-up finish to his name and that’s enough to put him in the numbers here. First time starter (1) BLACK SIDAE along with (6) ALL EYES ON ME are others to consider.
Selections
(7) Star Changer (2) Bundang Tsunami (9) Jeongseong Vice (1) Black Sidae
Next Best
6, 10
Fast Start
2, 6, 7, 9
Seoul Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD got his maiden win at start number three on February 4th when making all over this distance. He comes up in class but is slightly down in the weights, he draws nicely, and he can win again. (9) LONDON VICTORY has near identical form, winning at the third time of asking having made progress from his debut. In his case, his victory came on January 21st over 1200M when settling handy and running on and similarly there is no reason why he can’t measure up in this company. (10) SSEULMO is yet to win in ten attempts but has six top-four finishes including a very narrow 2nd at this class over 1200M two starts back. That was followed by a 3rd place at this distance, and he should be there or thereabouts again. (8) HERO JEONSA and (1) KOREA GOLD other placing chances.
Selections
(3) Yeonggwangui World (9) London Victory (10) Sseulmo (8) Hero Jeonsa
Next Best
1, 11
Fast Start
2, 3, 4, 10
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden and while it isn’t strong that does make for plenty of chances. (12) SEOGWI STAR has hinted at ability across three starts so far and has the fastest time among those who have tackled this distance before. She has the challenge of the widest gate but with a bit of luck at the start, she can find a forward position and she can win. (4) SAVAGE GIRL has shown steady progress over her latest few including back-to-back 4th places in her most recent appearances. She can be a touch one-paced, but she is nicely drawn to sit prominently in the field and can shake plenty off. (5) RAID HIT has a 5th and a 4th in tow starts so far and while her times haven’t been quick that’s enough to put her in contention here. (7) DIA GRIT and (8) ARA NURI others in the hunt.
Selections
(12) Seogwi Star (4) Savage Girl (5) Raid Hit (7) Dia Grit
Next Best
8, 2
Fast Start
3, 8, 9, 12
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (7) GOLDBERG got her maiden win two starts back over 1200M racing handily before getting caught back on her first try at this level on February 3rd, ultimately running on for 5th. She tackles the 1400M for the first time, but given her running style it can suit, and she can spear the field here. The main danger is (5) BEOLGYO CHADOL. She was an emphatic all the way winner over 1200M on December 17th, despite veering badly towards the stand side in the closing stages and getting sent back to trial. She didn’t run on when tried at this class for the first time on January 27th, but evidently has talent and is worth another chance here. (10) MYUNGJINBULLPAI similarly had a very ordinary day at the office on her first try at this class on February 3rd but had shown plenty of ability when winning over 1300M in December and should be closer today. (3) VELVETY and (4) DONGHAENG FIRST others who can enter the calculations.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After an indifferent debut, (3) HUNTER DRAGON stepped quickly up to a mile at start number two on February 23rd and seemed to immediately thrive at it, running an improved 2nd having led for most of the way. He draws nicely here and won’t need to improve much at all to win here. (5) MOUNTAIN DADDY overcame gate ten to run 3rd over 1300M on February 18th at what was start number four for him. A previous effort at a mile saw him lead before going back through the field in the closing stages but he should be ready for another crack at it with a better gate and Seo Seung-un climbing on. (8) ILNYEOM SINHWA and (4) ILCHUL GOLD came home 5th and 6th respectively when they raced each other at class and distance on February 16th and both should be aiming to get a bit closer this time. (7) DORAON ZETTA another in the hunt for the places.
Seoul Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) BRIGHT HANSEN is two for two having picked up two front-running wins over 1200M to come up rapidly in class. The latest of those was back on December 17th so she comes in off a twelve-week layoff but despite that, and that it was in all-filly company, the manner of the nine-length score suggests that she has to go on top again. (10) STAR TREK was a good winner over 1300M on January 21st when leading all the way. He comes up in class but is down in the weights and should be able to measure up. Another up and comer is (8) CITY KING. He didn’t win at class 5 but comes up following a 3rd and a 2nd place, both at this distance in fair times. He comes down significantly in the weights and should be challenging on the speed here. As for the more experienced ones, (11) TEN BAGGER is rarely far away and Moon Se-young climbing on will tempt plenty. (4) RAON THE CHARLIE another in the frame.
Raon The Fighter made a high-class field, including the reigning Korea Sprint champion Eoma Eoma, look very ordinary as he ran out a dominant winner of the first Group race of the season, the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Busan on Sunday afternoon.
Raon The Fighter and Lim Gi-won go clear in the Busan Ilbo Sprint: (Pic: KRA)
Widely acknowledged as Korea’s best middle-distance runner, Raon The Fighter had been runner-up to Winner’s Man in both the Korea Cup over 1800M and Grand Prix Stakes at 2300M in 2022.
With a Group 1 win the target for him in 2023, instead of facing Winner’s Man over that horse’s preferred 2000M in the Herald Business Trophy at Seoul later this month, Raon The Fighter was dropped back to the sprinting ranks for the first time since finishing runner-up in the first two legs of last year’s Sprint series.
The move paid off in spectacular fashion. Despite being drawn in the widest gate, Raon The Fighter was sent off as the slight betting favourite – but at odds against – ahead of Eoma Eoma. In the event, it was a race that Eoma Eoma, the defending champion, never got to grips with this time around.
Coming out of gate seven, Eoma Eoma was unable to match the opening speed of Beolmaui Star who under Jung Do-yun, raced into an early lead leaving the Moon Se-young ridden second favourite to dispute 2nd and 3rd up the short back straight with Daehan Jilju, who has so nearly beaten him in last autumn’s Kookje Shinmun. Aboard Raon The Fighter meanwhile, Lim Gi-won had the luxury of sitting wide just off the speed, allowing the rest to get on with it, clearly in the knowledge he had an awful lot of horse underneath him.
Just how much horse Lim had at his disposal became clear once into the home straight. First Raon The Fighter blew past Eoma Eoma as if he wasn’t there and then set off in pursuit of Beolmaui Star, who was still out in front to the tune of two and a half lengths with two furlongs remaining. By the three-hundred-metre mark, the lead was gone and by the furlong pole, the race was over.
As they crossed the finish line, Raon The Fighter was five lengths in front and pulling away. Beolmaui Star held on comfortably for 2nd in what was a breakout performance, while Ssonsal emerged up the rail under Franco Da Silva to snatch 3rd. Eoma Eoma finished back in 6th, eight-lengths behind the winner.
The build-up to the race had been overshadowed by the untimely death of Dolkong, after a trackwork accident on Thursday. While Raon The Fighter’s performance did little to mitigate the sadness of that event, the manner of his victory was reminiscent of some of Dolkong’s best.
Raon The Fighter is by Bayern and out of Clarinda (by Empire Maker). He is trained at Seoul by Park Jong-kon and is owned by Son Chun-soo. He moves onto fourteen wins from eighteen starts. It was his fourth Group victory and while a Group 1 remains elusive – especially with such limited opportunities to secure one – he is now the early favourite for this September’s international Korea Sprint. Last year he held entries for both the Cup and Sprint before ultimately being sent to the Cup.
The Sprint Series will continue at Seoul on May 14th with the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3).
Next weekend, Son Chun-soo’s Raon machine grinds on. Raon First and her younger sister Raon Pink are both among the entries in the Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M Listed), the first Queens’ Tour series race of the year for fillies and mares. Raon First will be the hot favourite.
Son Chun-soo then has Raon The Spurt scheduled to take on Winner’s Man in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul on April 16th, followed by Raon Giant taking her chance in the Luna Stakes (1600M Listed) at Busan on April 23rd, the first leg of the Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies.
Busan hosts the first real heavyweight clash of 2023 on Sunday, and it really doesn’t get much bigger as Korea Cup and Grand Prix Stakes runner-up Raon The Fighter drops back in trip to renew hostilities with Korea Sprint winner Eoma Eoma in the Busan Ilbo Sprint (Sunday April 2: Race 6 G3-1200M).
Eoma Eoma (Pic: KRA)
Raon The Fighter was mightily impressive in smoking a Class 1 field over 1800M in early March and seemed set for a rematch with Winner’s Man, who downed him in the closing stages of both the Korea Cup and Grand Prix Stakes last season, in the Herald Business at Seoul later this month. Instead, he returns to the sprinting ranks and a rematch with the horse he made his name by beating, Eoma Eoma.
That was all the way back in late 2021 during that year’s late season crowded Stakes schedule when RAON THE FIGHTER downed the odds-on Eoma Eoma by a remarkable six-lengths to maintain what was then an unbeaten record in style. Eoma Eoma returned the favour in this race last April, but the pair have not met since.
EOMA EOMA himself has come a long way since then, winning the Korea Sprint on international day last September, famously downing Japan-trained Raptus to win the Korea Sprint (G1-1200M) at Seoul last September before rounding out his season at Busan with a narrow win over Dauhan Jilju in the Kookje Shinmun (Listed-1400M). His only start of 2023 so far, saw him comfortably see off a class 1 field under handicap conditions at Seoul in February.
Raon The Fighter (Pic: KRA)
The draw favours Eoma Eoma. He has gate seven while Raon The Fighter has to contend with the widest gate (fifteen, although in reality fourteen following the scratching of Dolkong) but such is the brilliance of Raon The Fighter that at his best, he may well have the beating of Eoma Eoma again. At this stage it is hard to say who punters will even make favourite, let alone who will actually win.
The others are not necessarily just racing for 3rd place although the betting market will certainly reflect that. YES PERFECT hauls himself into the reckoning after a super win at the distance in March and of the favourites do over-race, he will be coming back to them late on. SSONSAL, DAMANGUI GIL and DAEHAN JILJU look the best of the rest.
Not among the starters is Dolkong with the nine-year-old having suffered a recurrence of his sesamoid injury during trackwork on Thursday. All hopes are now that he can be saved and finally retired.
1. DAEMANGUI GIL – 3rd in last October’s Kookje Shinmun (Listed-1400M) he has since scored three consecutive runner-up finishes at Class 1 level at distances between 1200M and a mile, being beaten by Ssonsal and Yes Perfect. Likes to settle back and run on, he will be finishing strongly and is a place chance.
2. BEOLMAUI STAR – Ended his three-year-old campaign in fine style with back-to-back class 1 scores over 1200M and 1400M before being slowly away then ridden up hard and wide before weakening over a mile on his only start this term in January. He hasn’t raced since then but looked very quick when winning a trial in early March. Can be on or close to the pace from a nice draw and in this a long way.
3. DAEHAN JILJU – An excellent 4th in the Korea Sprint (G1-1200M) was followed up with 2nd to Eoma Eoma here in the Kookje Shinmun (Listed-1400M) with the latter needing every yard to catch and pass him. Failed to fire from the widest gate in the Segye Ilbo (Listed-1200M) in January but draws better today and with a better start can get closer.
After a two-year enforced hiatus, the Korea International races are to return in September and the local contenders take their first step towards the first weekend in September as ten of the nation’s fastest gallopers line up for the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M – KORG3) on Sunday afternoon, the first leg of the three-race series that concludes with the International Korea Sprint.
The winner of the last Korea Sprint to be held in 2019, Blue Chipper, takes his place in the gate. But it is a sign of the strength of the race that the six-year-old, who went on to run 3rd in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita, won’t be in the top two of the betting, despite a bullet trial at the end of last month.
Instead, most eyes will be on Raon The Fighter, the brilliant Bayern four-year-old, who is yet to be tested in ten starts, all of which he has won effortlessly. He has usurped Eoma Eoma, who had the misfortune to emerge on the scene just as racing was closing down in early 2020 and he dominated when racing for the reduced prize money on offer in behind-closed-doors racing. He did though win last October’s SBS Sports Sprint and at five, still has plenty to offer.
East Jet is a Graded Stakes winner at sprint distances too and will be another at the head of the market, while along with Blue Chipper, the up-and-coming Yeongung Louis heads Busan’s challenge. Here is a run-down of the field.
1. EAST JET (KOR) [Strike Again – Lend (Coronado’s Quest)] – A Group winner, he began the year running 2nd to Raon First in the Segye Ilbo Cup, having led for much of the way around. He then stepped up to 1400M when he, alongside Eoma Eoma, had a testing day at the office.
The 1200M suits him better, he draws the inside gate and while a place chance might be realistic, he will be in this a long way.
2. EOMA EOMA (USA) [Algorithms – Lignite (Run Away And Hide) – A winner of ten including the SBS Sports Sprint. Disregard his last start on March 20th, when on a very wet track he uncharacteristically settled midfield and while he did make up ground in the straight, appeared to hang in a little and was well back behind the winner, Dixie Again. The time before, on January 9th, he ran 4th behind Raon The Fighter when giving away plenty of weight, and ahead of Dixie Again. He is nicely drawn today and at level weights, things might be closer
3. YEONGUNG LOUIS (USA) [Violence – Don’t Stop To Shop (Unbridled’s Song)] – an up and comer having won his last 2 starts, the last in Class 1. He is better known as a 1400m horse but has won over 1200m at lower levels At his last start on March 27th, which was at 1400M he was an excellent five-length winner over a field that contained, Doctor Carson and the former champion sprinter Doraonpogyeongseon, both of whom go again in the Busan Ilbo. If there is too much pace up front, Yeongung Louis may be the closer and while he is very much up in class, he could measure up.
4. RAON THE FIGHTER (KOR) [Bayern – Clarinda (Empire Maker)] – The current hottest property in Korean racing. He has been flawless in ten starts so far, winning them all and is now only seven short of equaling the all-time record for consecutive wins. He has run super times at this distance, eased down and at his latest start on February 20th, he overcame gate thirteen to ease to the front and win by eight lengths from one of today’s rivals, Dixie Again. The time before on January 9th, he comfortably beat a field containing Eoma Eoma and Dixie Again. He likes to race forward so and will be very hard to beat from a nice draw.
5. MIRACLE DREAMING (KOR) [Federalist – Miracle Worker (Menifee)] – Not a prolific winner but he has fifteen top-three finishes from twenty starts. Enters off a good 3rd place at this distance at class 1 level in February behind Daemangui Gil and Heat Yegam when on pace throughout. He has run solid times, but it is hard to see him being able to run the kind of time that would be needed to beat some of today’s rivals.
6. DORAONPOGYEONGSEON (USA) [Kantharos – Smartybegone (Smarty Jones)] – A two-time SBS Sports Sprint winner, the nine-year-old perhaps has his best days behind him but he is still able to run a good race, as evidenced by his 3rd place over 1400M at class 1 in January. He settles midfield or further back and runs home strong, but he will probably find himself with far too much to do against this kind of speed.
7. SINGSING MARY (USA) [With Distinction – Amylimehouse (Limehouse)] – The probable longest shot on the board and the only mare in the race. She is still at class 2 but there is space in the race, and she takes her chance here. It is a very slim chance. Does get a 2kg allowance on the rest of the field.
8. DIXIE AGAIN (KOR) [Ecton Park – Wild Dixie Gal (Wild Event)] – A winner of eight from sixteen, he took a while to get to grips with class 1 level but ran (a distance) 2nd to Raon The Fighter at this distance in February, before upsetting Eoma Eoma and East Jet on a wet track over 1400M on March 20th. He was getting plenty of weight in those races and today will ne harder. Half-brother to multiple Korean Graded winners Beolmaui Kkum and Kkakjaengi.
9. DOCTOR CARSON (KOR) [Hansen – Carson’s Cat (Mountain Cat)] – He came to prominence in a series of wins over Blue Chipper when well weighted in handicaps throughout last spring and summer during the reduced prize-money racing season but has just come up a little short in the biggest races at level. At his last start, he was 4th behind Yeongung Louis at 1700M. He has run fast times for the distance and can be competitive but minor money would be a good result.
10. BLUE CHIPPER (USA) [Tiznow – Dixie City (Dixie Union)] – The 2019 Korea Sprint winner and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 3rd placegetter has had his setbacks over the past couple of years but showed he remains a force on his day with victory at 2000M at class 1 level in January. He hasn’t raced since but stormed home in a trial on a wet track on March 26th. The draw is unkind, but the quality is there and at level weights, don’t rule out a good run.
Selections: (4) Raon The Fighter (2) Eoma Eoma (1) East Jet (3) Yeongung Louis
The Busan Ilbo Sprint is race 5 on the six-race card at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon and has a post time of 15:55 local time.
Horse Racing in Korea 