3 minute read

Juvenile fillies had their big day at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday afternoon and while hot favourite Baekduui Kkum produced a professional performance to take the honours on the south coast, there was a surprise in the capital as 23/1 chance Geoljak One came home on top.

Having gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Lala K and Nice Time in the Rookie Stakes and Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, Eclipse Berry was sent off as the even-money favourite in Seoul's Gwacheon Mayor's Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed). From a wide gate, Eclipse Berry jumped out well and Moon Se-young was happy to sit wide and handy on the favourite throughout the early exchanges, entering the home straight a few lengths back but with clear track ahead.

Early front-runners Gibunjoeunmal, Starter and Uwaryung saw their challenges falter but there were still plenty in the frame as the field entered the final furlong. Ultimately, while Eclipse Berry was motoring, there was one who was quicker. Geoljak One had been settled midfield by jockey Lee Hyeok and he unleashed his filly at the right time to score by half a length from Eclipse Berry with 30/1 chance Wonpyeong List a close 3rd.

Geoljak One is by Cowboy Cal and out of the Vicar mare Joy Lucky. Joy Lucky did her racing in Korea winning ten of her twenty starts, including the G3 Gyeonggi Governor's Cup over 2000M in 2013. She was campaigned by Geokjak One's owner Park Deok-hui and trained by Geoljak One's trainer Park Youn-gu.

At Busan, the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) was slightly more straightforward. Baekduui Kkum  had been a good winner of both the Rookie and Areumdaun Jilju Stakes against the boys before running 3rd in the Gimhae Mayor's Trophy a month ago. That was a CV superior to any of her nine rivals and it was proved.

Sent off as the 1.3 favourite, Baekduui Kkum staled the lead under Franco Da Silva throughout the early stages before cruising by in the home straight to win by three-lengths. 18/1 chance Perfect Action was 2nd with 50/1 outsider Road Star a further four-lengths adrift in 3rd.

Baekduui Kkum concludes her juvenile campaign with four wins from six starts. She is from the first Korean crop of new KRA stallion Uncaptured and is out of the Discreet Cat mare Baekdu Cat. She is owned by owner/breeder Hong Kyung-pyo and is trained by lee Sang-young.

While they do take the best fillies away from the Breeders' Cup race, which takes place at Busan next Sunday, both the Gwacheon and the Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Trophies are, unlike next week's overall juvenile championship, open to imported foreign bred fillies as well as the locals. Ultimately this year there was only one import in the Busan race and three in the Seoul one where Gwanaksan Tiger in 6th, was the best of them.

Next Sunday the juvenile colts will have their chance to shine. Lala K and the rest are set to assemble at Busan for the Breeders' Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G3). They are joined for a new feature race by some of the best local fillies and mares in the Breeders Cup Queen (1800M KOR-Listed). Group winners Raon The Spurt, Jeulgeounyeojeong and Wondeful Slew are among the early entries.

Race Videos:

Gwacheon Mayor's Trophy: https://youtu.be/AXJfWygOTvc?si=RWpMfyO_btmLoVmF

Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Trophy: https://youtu.be/fPTBWMCpGmI?si=LF8PbP7zU_bJ3-hx