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The final leg of the 2017 Korean Triple Crown takes place on Sunday at Seoul Racecourse with the winners of the Cup Mile, Derby and Oaks all taking their chance in the Minister’s Cup.

Derby winner Final Boss is the favourite. He was Champion Juvenile last year but arrived at the first leg of the Triple Crown, the KRA Cup Mile (Korean Guineas) in Busan in April looking anything but himself. He still ran 5th as Indian King took the honours ahead of Royal Ruby and American Power.

Back home in Seoul in the Derby in May, Final Boss once more didn’t make things easy for himself. He dawdled at the back of the field in the early stages of the race and once he launched his late challenge, veered violently across to the stands-side rail. Regardless, he hit the front in the final furlong and raced on to win by an easy three lengths. Royal Ruby and American Power once more came home in 2nd and 3rd.

So to Sunday and stretching out to 2000M in the Minister’s Cup, a distance none of the 12 runners have tackled before. That surely won’t be a problem for Final Boss who looked ready to go round again after the Derby. Nor should it be for Royal Ruby and American Power who could well end up filling out the places in all three legs of the Triple Crown.

Across the first two legs of the Crown, only one filly took her chance. This time there are four and they’re the top four place-getters from last month’s Oaks. That race produced a record breaking trifecta dividend as longshot JejuiHaneul enabled Kim Hye Sun to make history as the first Korean female jockey to win a Classic. She goes again, however, it is the runner-up that day, Bright Star who could turn out to be the best of them.

All in all though, the race looks set up for Final Boss to confirm his position as the standout of his crop.

Seoul Sunday Selections

Big Race Form Comments:

Race 8: Class Open (2000M) The Minister’s Cup (KOR G2) / Allowance / KRW 600 Million

1. DAEHO SIDAE – 4th in Cup Mile and 7th in the Derby, he shouldn’t be too far away again but others are favoured.

2. BRIGHT STAR –2nd in the Oaks last month, just beaten a head on just her third career start, this may just be a little too soon but she looks a really good prospect. Could be a pacesetter.

3. JEJUI HANEUL – The shock 50/1 winner of the Oaks flying home from off the pace. Distance should be fine but the competition is stiffer today.

4. UJU STAR – 4th in the Oaks, she’s a stablemate of American Power. Good potential but tough ask. Should be close to early speed.

5. WILD THUNDER – Didn’t run in Cup Mile of Derby but won over 1700M at class 4 in May. First start since, he has a strong finish but most likely an outsider.

6. CHOEGANG JEOLLYEOK – Didn’t run in Cup Mile of Derby but was a nine-length winner over 1300M at Busan last month. Bit of a wildcard.

7. ROYAL RUBY – 2nd in both Cup Mile and Derby, he trialled up last week looking well. Distance no problem and he’ll surely be involved. May have to settle for a Triple Crown of 2nd places though.

8. FINAL BOSS – Came from last to 1st to win the Derby by three lengths and if he runs anything like his best, he will win. The nagging doubt is that at Busan in the Cup Mile, he didn’t run his best but here at Seoul, he has to be favourite.

9. INDIAN KING –Cup Mile winner was 4th in the Derby and last month put in a fairly nondescript performance running 4th over 1400M in a class 2 handicap. Close to early speed, he should run on well enough but others may be quicker.

10. YEONGGWANGUIHUNTER – Comes in off a useful 3rd place over 1800M at class 3. He’ll get the distance but has plenty to find in this company.

11. AMERICAN POWER – 3rd in both Cup Mile and the Derby, this could be his day. He’ll settle behind the early speed and has a strong finish.

12. TEUKBYEOL STAR – Longest shot on the board in the Korean Oaks she ran a huge race to finish 3rd. She’s still a maiden and still will be after this but she’ll stay on.

Verdict: So far (8) FINAL BOSS has been the only real stand-out among this crop. He looked woeful at Busan in the Cup Mile yet rallied to finish 5th before messing about in the early stages of the Derby, then ducking across to the stand-side in the home straight and still managing to win by three lengths. If he behaves, he wins. That could leave (7) ROYAL RUBY and (11) AMERICAN POWER with a hat-trick of 2nd and 3rd places respectively but Cup Mile winner (9) INDIAN KING and the always well-backed (1) DAEHO SIDAE can’t be ruled out. The fillies have joined in too and while it will be a big ask for Oaks winner (3) JEJUI HANEUL to repeat what she pulled off in Busan last month, she’ll see out the trip as will the one she narrowly beat that day, (2) BRIGHT STAR, who looks a serious prospect but is this still just a little soon for her?