The first eight local horses home in September’s international Korea Sprint will reassemble on Sunday afternoon at Busan Racecourse among a full field of sixteen going a furlong further in the final big prize of the year for the speedsters, the Kookje Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-G3). While nothing could trouble Japanese star Remake in the Sprint, runner-up Beolmaui Star will take his place in the line up as will 2022 Korea Sprint winner Eoma Eoma and SROA Chairman’s Trophy victor Ssonsal.
EOMA EOMA is the defending champion, having won last year’s Kookje Shinmun shortly after his Korea Sprint win, and also holds victories in similar Group races, the SBS Sports Sprint and Busan Ilbo Sprint. He was 5th under a conservative ride when attempting to defend his Korea Sprint crown on September 10th, a full ten-lengths behind winner Remake and six behind Beolmaui Star, who he faces again. Antonio Da Silva climbs aboard for the first time and given their respective draws, plenty will be expecting Eoma Eoma to overturn the form at a distance over which he is the track record holder at Seoul.
BEOLMAUI STAR was the standout local in the Korea Sprint. Under bold tactics by jockey Seo Seung-un he overcame gate ten to lead and while there was nothing he could do to repel Remake, who went on to win by four-lengths, he held off the challenge of Goldolphin Mile and Saudi 1351 Turf Sprint winner Bathrat Leon by a comfortable margin with Hong Kong’s Duke Wai and Eoma Eoma further back down the track. He is still only four-years-old and has trialled very well since the Korea Sprint. He is done no favours by the draw as he won’t get an easy lead but heh overcame gate thirteen in the Korea Sprint, and with an additional furlong, there is plenty of time before they reach the bend for him to find position.
SSONSAL had a strong summer with 3rd places in the Busan Ilbo and SBS Sports Sprints followed by a victory in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint when as is his style, he arrived late with a last gasp burst of speed to deny Raon First and Eoma Eoma. That led him to be sent off fourth in the betting for the Korea Sprint and while he ultimately came home in 8th place, it wasn’t a bad run. A return to 1400M can suit.
Plenty of other big names fill out the field. Grand old galloper MORFHIS may have lost a yard of pace since his two SBS Sports Sprint wins, but he remains competitive and was 8th in the Korea Sprint. He is another for who the step back up to 1400M can suit and will be running on late. DAEHAN JILJU was 6th in the Korea Sprint and very nearly won this race last year before being overhauled by Eoma Eoma in the shadow of the post. He certainly loves the 1400M with six wins and two runner-up finishes from eight attempts at it.
CALM STRONG, RAON TAP MAN and BLACK MUSK finished 9th to 11th in the Korea Sprint and all return too. Calm Strong in particular followed up the Sprint with an eye-catching class 1 win over a mile in October when she came close to Blue Chipper’s track record for that distance. She draws much better than she did in the Sprint and receives the filly and mare allowance. Among the eight who didn’t go in the Sprint, the three-year-old filly GANGSEO GIANT looks the most intriguing.
The Kookje Shinmun Trophy is race 5 on the 6-race card at Busan on Sunday with a local post time of 15:45. There are also 11 races at Seoul on the day.
SELECTIONS: (3) Eoma Eoma (16) Beolmaui Star (6) Ssonsal (4) Calm Strong
