By Alan Carasso
Entries were taken and barriers were assigned Thursday for Sunday's Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) and Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m) at Seoul Racecourse, with full fields expected for the two valuable events.
Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir), a dual Grade I winner in the U.S., but now trained in Ireland by Mick Halford, is the meet's top-rated horse and landed gate 10 for the Sprint. Formerly conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 6-year-old was last seen annexing the GII Kona Gold S. at Santa Anita May 21. Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap), runner-up in the 2015 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, is the lone horse to travel to South Korea from Hong Kong and could take some beating. Karis Teetan pilots from gate two. The 7-year-old Florida-bred mare Gamdonguibada (Werblin) is one of the most accomplished runners in either of Sunday's two races, with 15 wins from 36 starts and earnings in excess of K¥2.5 billion. Choegang Schiller (Artie Schiller), another of the eight American-bred entrants in the Sprint, is not without his chances as he looks to defend his title in this race from 2015, when it was contested as the Asia Challenge Cup.
Japanese raider Chrysolite (Jpn), a 6-year-old entire by Sunday Silence's accomplished dirt horse Gold Allure (Jpn), is the highest-rated runner in the Cup, having annexed the 2013 Japan Dirt Derby and back-to-back runnings of the Diolite Kinen in 2015-2016. Chrysolite will depart from gate three Sunday afternoon. Given the very deep surface at Seoul, the locals carry a built-in home-field advantage. Power Blade (Kor) (Menifee) created some history last time, becoming the first horse in modern history to complete the Korean Triple Crown with a barnstorming seven-length success in the 2000-metre Minister's Cup July 17 (video). Winner of seven of his nine career appearances, Power Blade will have to deal with the widest gate in the field of 16. Bridlewood Farm-bred Beolmaui Kkum (Put It Back), a 16-time winner of better than K¥1.3 billion, looms another threat from the home team and ships into Seoul from Busan off a five-length defeat of Triple Nine (Kor) (Ecton Park) in the 1800-metre Mayor's Cup July 3.
Click here for the Keeneland Korea Cup and Keeneland Korea Sprint fields.
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