3 minute read
When the four-year-old pair of Raon The Point and Something Lost flashed to the front in the final furlong of the Busan Ilbo Sprint a month ago, it seemed to show a generational change was finally taking place among the one turn elite.
At Seoul on Sunday, they have to opportunity to confirm it as a full field of sixteen line up for the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Sprint Series.
At this point it is fair to acknowledge that part of the reason for the generational change is because of the absence of the biggest older star. Raon The Fighter won this race last year before suffering an injury that was confirmed this past to week, to have ended his racing career. But the new set are exciting, nonetheless.
Raon The Point and Something Lost have raced just nine times apiece. The former has won seven and the latter five, but they won't necessarily come home in the same order as in the Busan Ilbo, when Raon The Point got the better of their late duel by a neck. Something Lost comes into a much better gate this time around, and he will probably start as the market leader.
Don't rule out the old order striking back. Chief among those of course, is Eoma Eoma, who won this race in 2021 and then went on to claim the big one, the international Korea Sprint in 2022. He had an ordinary 2023 for the most part but came back into form when winning the Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy over 1400M at Busan last November and that provides some hope that he can bounce back from his 5th place in the Busan Ilbo last month.
The wildcard is Beolmaui Star. He temporarily shot to the top of the sprinting ranks by leading the 2023 Korea Sprint, only being passed by eventual winner, the world class Remake. It's all gone a bit wrong since though. He missed the start in the Kookje Shinmun and then travelled to the Dubai Carnival where he scarcely featured in two disappointing efforts. He won a trial in fine fashion in March and if the Beolmaui Star of last year's S print shows up, he can win.
1. PREEMAX – Has long since lost his form. 9th over 1400M on season reappearance in February and is a big outsider here.
2. DOCTOR CAESAR – An excellent 3rd place in the Busan Ilbo having led from gate 1. Draws well again to be on pace and can be in this a long way, although others favoured.
3. SSONSAL – Won the G3 SROA Chairman's Trophy at this distance here last June but has shown patchy form in three starts since. 6th in the Busan Ilbo and that would be par here. Regular jockey Da Silva staying in Busan may be a clue.
4. SOMETHING LOST – Lightly raced and an also-ran on the Triple Crown trial last year. Won at 1400M at class 2 level in February and then beaten just a neck by Raon The Point in the Busan Ilbo. Draws much better today and seems to have scope for more. The one to beat.
5. COMPLETE VALUE – Returned from six months out to win well at class 1 level on February, racing handy and running on. A winner of nine from sixteen he is unbeaten in three at this distance, albeit at much lower levels. Not impossible.
6. EOMA EOMA – The 2022 Korea Sprint winner bounced back from a couple of reverses to win the Kookje Shinmun Trophy over 1400M last November. He was favourite for the Busan Ilbo but was only 5th, never looking a winner. His class can see him through though and if the pace is hot, don't rule him out. Won this race in 2021.
7. MIGHTY GO – Enters off back-to-back 2nd places at class 1 over 1400M and this distance most recently behind Legend Day and coming from off the pace both times. Not among the favourites but has CC Wong up.
8. EAST JET – Won the G3 SROA Chairman's Trophy all the way back in the Covid affected 2020 season. Still only seven his best days seem behind him, and he was well down the field in the Busan Ilbo.
9. RAON THE POINT – A winner of seven from nine, he roared into the big time in the Busan Ilbo, stalking leader Doctor Caesar before going past in the final furlong. Draws the same gate today and still potential to get better. A big chance.
10. KING OF GLORY – The veteran nine-year-old can still hold his own at this level as was shown with a midfield finish in the Busan Ilbo. A similar result would be par today.
11. DAEHAN JILJU – 3rd in last November's Kookje Shinmun and began this year with 2nd place in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy behind Vics Go over this distance in February, racing handy and running on. Place chance here.
12. BEOLMAUI STAR – Ran 2nd to Remake in last September's Korea Sprint in a time quicker than any of the others have managed for 1200M. Then missed the start in the Kookje Shinmun before running poorly twice in Dubai. Loads of talent and looked well trialling on March 16th at Busan. If he gets a good start, he can be right in this.
13. MORFHIS – One of the Grand Gallopers of the track, he won this race in 2020 and 2022. It has been a while since we saw him at his best though and he was 10th in the Busan Ilbo. From wide he will settle back and run on and should pass a few, but probably not enough.
14. DAEMANGUI GIL – Always a bit of a wild card, he is a solid class 1 competitor but tends to come up short in the elite. He was though 4th in the Busan Ilbo from the same wide gate he draws today and will be working home well at the business end.
15. LEGEND DAY – Returned to form with a super win at class 1 level over this distance in January over Mighty Go when racing on pace. Comes in fresh after twelve weeks off, he has the challenge of a wide draw but wouldn't be a huge surprise if he was close.
16. HAPPY FEVER – Ran 3rd here in the Listed Segye Ilbo in January but was well back in the Busan Ilbo. Posted a super time in a trial last week and so long as he didn't leave his race there, he is a minor money chance.
Selections (4) Something Lost (9) Raon The Point (6) Eoma Eoma (12) Beolmaui Star
Next Best 5, 2
Fast Start 3, 4, 8, 9, 15
1 Minute Preview: https://youtube.com/shorts/DdmAP3-KeQE?si=g91cTc2ygWoFNc7z
