Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy

THREE-YEAR-OLD REPUTATIONS ON THE LINE IN SUNDAY CLASSIC TRIALS

SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL & BUSAN

(Luke Humphreys) On Sunday from both Seoul and Busan we see the running of the first two Stakes races of the season for three-year-olds in the Sports Seoul Trophy (1400M-KOR-Listed) at 3:40PM Korean time followed by the Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy (1400M-KOR-Listed) at 4:05PM.

Whilst these races are traditionally considered “classic trials”, for the first time this year, overseas-bred horses – who remain ineligible for the actual Classics – are permitted to participate. Accordingly, seven of the nine runners in the Seoul trial are foreign bred, one Australian and six American, however, five locally bred horses will get to put their Triple Crown/Tiara reputations on the line in the Busan trial.

The Seoul trial looks the most enthralling of the two as it sees three very impressive types race each other for the first time in Roshe, My Empire and Di Ne.

ROSHE is unbeaten from three starts with a two and a half-length victory on debut followed by a soft 10 length victory and then a victory by one- and three-quarter lengths last start but it could have been a lot more.

MY EMPIRE was a late closing third to Geudaemaniddamyeon in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy prior to winning his next two starts at class three level by six and five lengths respectively.

DI NE has been most impressive since a sixth in the Listed Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy with victories by 11, 10 and eight lengths.

GAMSAUI HIM was also impressive last start winning by seven lengths.

1. ROSHE – The only unbeaten horse in the line-up following three victories by two and a half lengths, 10 lengths and a very soft one- and three-quarter lengths. This is clearly his toughest test to date but there is no reason why he won’t be up to it.

2. FREE THE ONE – Last start winner over the course and distance on January 24 by a length and a half when racing on pace throughout. This is clearly the hardest race he has run in, but he does come from the stables of Moon Byeong-ki.

3. MY EMPIRE – The second highest rated three-year-old in the country and he has been ultra impressive of late with two recent class three victories by six and five lengths, the latter after making a mess of the start. He made up a lot of ground in his only black type run to date when third in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy to Geudaemaniddamyeon and Wonpyeong Sket. There are big wraps on him, and it will be interesting to see how he performs.

4. CAROLCHAT – Has been behind My Empire in three of his past four with a second four runs back followed by a late closing fifth in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy before finishing behind My Empire again. He struck a winnable class four last time and made most of that to lead for most of the contest and score by four lengths. He has some ground to make up on some of these but at least got a confidence boost last time.

5. BEST PITCH – The first of the two Korean bred runners who is unbeaten bar one. Last time was his biggest win yet when scoring by four lengths at class four level over 1200 metres. Could be the forgotten horse.

6. SAMJOGO – Finished midfield on debut but came out and won impressively from the front at attempt two when scoring by six lengths. Clearly his hardest task today but he is obviously improving.

7. GAMSAUI HIM – It took him a few runs to break through, but he was impressive when doing so last start when scoring by seven lengths from the front over 1700 metres. He obviously stays so it will be interesting to see how he goes back in trip by 300 metres as he was behind My Empire and Carolchat in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy last November.

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Chan Famous & Oasis Blue Win Classic Trials as CC Wong Claims Another Listed Victory

CC Wong rode his second Listed winner in a week as Chan Famous came from a long way back to stake his claim for a spot in the starting gate when the Triple Crown kicks off in April by winning the Sports Seoul Trophy (1400M KOR-L) on Sunday afternoon. At Busan, Oasis Blue did the same, with a comfortable score in the Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-L), the pair of races the respective main Classic trials of the two tracks.

Jockey CC Wong and Trainer Kenny Seo share…a moment (Pic: KRA)

Having debuted nondescriptly last November, Chan Famous won his next two before kicking off his three-year-old campaign with a 4th place at class 4 over this distance. That adequate but by no means amazing record led him to be sent off at 38.1 on the local tote as One Punch Dragon, entering the race on a three-race winning streak, jumped as the favourite.

Another outsider, Silver Rain, set the pace along with the fancied Long Run Bulpae, who entered as the only horse to have raced at class 3 level. Silver Rain would fade in the straight leaving Long Run Bulpae and Lee Dong-ha alone out in front and seemingly home and hosed.

Chan Famous downs Long Run Bulpae (Pic: KRA)

That would be to reckon with Chan Famous as having sat towards the rear of midfield, CC launched his mount and he relentlessly eroded a big deficit in the final furlong, reeling in and passing a tiring Long Run Bulpae to win by just under a length. Best Race was 3rd and Captain P.K., Seoul’s best juvenile of 2024, was 4th.

Chan Famous is by Hansen and out of Intouchable (by Elusive Quality). Trained by Seo Bum-seok, he was a 94 Million Won purchase as a two-year-old by his owner, Hong Kong based Shum Ho Chun.

It was a first big race win in Korea for the owner while for trainer Seo, generally known as “Kenny”, it was another big price success with a young horse – stablemate Aqua Line, won last November’s G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie at Busan at 80/1, although has been on the sidelines since. For CC Wong, it was a second Korean Listed win in as many weeks with the jockey having taken out the Segye Ilbo Trophy on Crown Hamseong last Sunday.

At Busan, Oasis Blue crossed the line in front for the second time in Listed company, having previously done so in last Octobers Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy. That day he was deemed to have been at fault for an incident early in the race that resulted in a jockey being unseated and under the local rules of racing, he got thrown out.

Since then, he had registered a 3rd place and a win at class 4 level over the Korean Derby distance, but Oasis Blue was dropped back to 1400M to scratch that Listed itch on Sunday. Close all the way under jockey Jin Kyum, taking the lead turning into the straight and once he got in front set about his task well, opening up a big lead and taking the line a full three-lengths to the good over Yongbi Paewang, with My Dream Day in 3rd.

Oasis Blue is by Uncaptured and is out of Saena (by Peace Rules). He is trained by Baik Kwang-yeol and owned by Lee Jong-hun, who has owned the likes of Success Story, Beolmaui Kkum and Beolmaui Star.

The first leg of the 2025 Triple Crown is the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) at Busan on Sunday April 6.

Classic Trials Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (February 25)

Seoul and Busan host their Classic trials on Sunday with both the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy in the capital and the Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy on the South Coast. There are 11 races in Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 in Busan from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

Hangang Class was champion juvenile last year and starts his 3yo campaign in Busan’s Classic trial (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Not the worst maiden to start with and (9) CUPID MIR will be favourite. He has made steady progress across three starts so far with his latest on January 20th being his best when an on-pace 3rd over 1300M. He should be on or close to the speed here and he can win. (12) RAON THE CLIPPER did nothing on debut last summer but was then put away for a few months. He trialled well in December and then ran a much-improved 3rd on his return over this distance on January 28th. He should strip fitter for that and can be a danger here. (3) MONEY TOUCH has shown signs of figuring things out in her latest two and should be challenging late on here. (8) GEUMAK MYEONGJANG and (4) MARU STAR others who have hinted at ability and shouldn’t be far away.

Selections(9) Cupid Mir (12) Raon The Clipper (3) Money Touch (8) Geumak Myeongjang
Next Best4, 11
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 11

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

(4) YONGAM SESANG was 2nd on debut all the way back in May of last year but didn’t re-appear again until this January 20th when he ran an on-pace 3rd over this distance. He was favourite that day but evidently needed the run and with some natural improvement, he will be the one to beat here. That will require him to overturn the form on (12) RAON THE SPRINTER. He too returned from a layoff in that January 20th race, in his case of five-months since an underwhelming debut. He won his December trial and then was a smart 2nd on his return, two-and-a-half lengths clear of Yongam Sesang. He has the challenge of the widest gate today, but he should be close. With a 2nd and a 4th over 1300M from his latest to, (10) STUNNING MONEY looks to be the logical third pick while (1) YEJIMONG and (2) CROQUIS are others who may warrant support on a place line.

Selections(4) Yongam Sesang (12) Raon The Sprinter (10) Stunning Money (1) Yejimong
Next Best2, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 12

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

It took (2) GWANGYAEUIHAMSEONG a couple of goes to figure things out but on the evidence of his latest two, he is getting there. He has recorded a 3rd and a 4th over 1300M both in fast times and running through the line well. He has by far the fastest final furlong average time and the slight step up in trip can suit. (11) BIG WILD is getting there too. She has recorded back-to-back 3rd places over this distance and while the times weren’t quick, they were in much slower conditions than those experienced by the favourite. She has the challenge of a wild draw but should be a danger. (4) WONDERFUL FEVER will also be disputing favourite status. After running 3rd on debut, he was 2nd over this distance on January 26th, settling midfield and running on. Again, his times haven’t been quick, but he will be competitive here. (12) LUCKY HIT and (5) CHRYSOL HERO other place chances.

Selections(2) Gwangyaeuihamseong (11) Big Wild (4) Wonderful Fever (12) Lucky Hit
Next Best5, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 11

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

(1) DAEMUL SOCKS comes in off a best to date 2nd place when stepped up to this distance on February 4th. He draws very nicely to be on the speed again and he can go one better this time.  (9) NARAOLA enters following a 5th and a 4th from his latest two, most recently beating a couple of these on January 28th on his way to posting the quickest (it’s all relative) time that any in this field has achieved for the 1400M. In this company, he should be able to get on to the pace from the start and will be in this a long way. (10) SHOUT KURO was away slowly and never a factor behind Naraola on January 28th. Prior to that though he had been in good form with a smart 3rd place over 1300M and he can be given another chance here. (4) SHARKTEN and (2) NEXTLEVEL among other minor money chances.

Selections(1) Daemul Socks (9) Naraola (10) Shout Kuro (4) Sharkten
Next Best2, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 9
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