NEWS PREVIEW

Juveniles To Kick Off Late-Season Stakes Bonanza At Seoul And Busan On Sunday October 2, 2021

A bumper year end of thirteen consecutive weekends of Listed or Graded racing kicks off in Korea on Sunday as the racing season seeks to catch up on its pandemic-ravaged schedule.

It starts with big Listed races for Juveniles at both Seoul and Busan this Sunday. It then moves through a Triple Crown as well as both Sprint and Staying Series for older horses before culminating in the traditional season-ending Grand Prix Stakes on Boxing Day.

While this year's three-year-old crop haven't yet had a crack at a Triple Crown – the first race in that series is the KRA Cup Mile at Busan on Sunday October 10 – their juniors in the Juvenile ranks get a chance to race for a big prize in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul and the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes at Busan (both Korean Listed) and in doing so stake their claim for a shot at becoming Champion Juvenile in the Korean Breeders' Cup at Busan in December.

In the Munhwa Ilbo Cup, (Seoul Race 8, 6 f) September's "Rookie Stakes at Seoul" winner Complete Value is the one to beat. He is unbeaten in three appearances and although in the Rookie Stakes a month ago, he was badly away and then found trouble in the straight, he fought his way through the field and was pulling away at the end for a super victory. Filly Bencal Princess was a fast-finishing 2nd in that race having bolted up on debut and will be one of the main rivals to the favourite in the ten-strong field. Bulbangul and Wonpyeong Gasok are others expected to be on punters' radar.

There was also a "Rookie Stakes at Busan" in September but only one juvenile who took part that day, Yeongwanguilegend, returns to contest the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes (Busan Race 5, 6 f). The race is a new one on Busan's program named after Areumdaun Jilju ("Beautiful Gallop"), who won nineteen races at the southern track in a five-year-career between 2006 and 2011.

Yeongwanguilegend didn't go well in that race but that aside, his prior form stands up well against his nine rivals and he will have supporters. The favourite though will be Clifton King, a Menifee colt from the stable of perennial Busan Champion Trainer Kim Young-kwan. He has only raced once before but hacked up over 5 f and is the one to beat. Hwarang Best and Doctor Pharaoh are others who are expected to be backed.

Once the juveniles are done on Sunday, the champion elder statesman of Korean racing, Cheongdam Dokki, will take to the track at Seoul to tackle the Class 1 finale (Seoul Race 9, 1 1⁄8 m) in his first outing since moving to the stable of trainer Tony Castenheira. He carries 132lbs but should be competitive at set weights with his major dangers likely to champion mare Dia Road, the progressive Meni Hero and the solid Jjang Kong. That race will be a tune-up ahead of potential Stakes targets for Cheongdam Dokki being the KRA Cup Classic on October 24th and of course, that season ending Grand Prix.


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