Racing
Oasis Blue one race from Triple Crown after Korean Derby triumph
The so-called curse of the KRA Cup Mile is over as Oasis Blue became the first horse since Power Blade in 2016 to follow-up victory in that race by winning the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1), scoring by a comfortable two-lengths at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Having won the KRA Cup Mile in April by four-lengths, Oasis Blue was sent off as the 1.5 favourite, a price that regardless of his merits seemed short when drawn in gate thirteen in a sixteen-runner race on a wet surface at a track he never experienced before. All while trying to do what doesn't get often done.
Jockey Jin Kyum didn't panic and was seemingly content to stay wide throughout on Oasis Blue, safe in the knowledge that he had the best horse under him. They improved rapidly in the backstraight to sit just behind the leading pair in the and, once the brakes were removed after tuning for home, proved way too strong, winning by two-lengths.
Unju Guy was a 56/1 revelation in 2nd while the second-favourite Eclipse the King was 3rd. Both of those raced on pace throughout on a weekend where the wet track was favouring front runners and who in the latter's case, led from the gate until Oasis Blue swept past late.
"Yes, I felt a burdened by it even this morning" jockey Jin admitted to in-house broadcaster KRBC after the race when questioned about how he had coped with the expectation of riding the prohibitive favourite for the Derby. "So now I am going to try to enjoy the feeling as much as possible."
"I was concerned about the (wet) track condition because if you watched the previous races it seemed to be favouring front-runners. I knew number three (Eclipse The King) would be fast so I was watching (jockey Moon) Se-young, but it wasn't easy to find a position from gate thirteen. They came out fast and I went to the outside and then (in the backstraight) I had the opportunity to improve so I did."
As for the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister's Cup (2000M KOR2) back at Seoul on June 15th, Jin felt that Oasis Blue's first experience of racing outside of Busan would help him. "I am far less nervous now that we have done this, and yes, I think it might be possible (to win again)."
Oasis Blue is a colt by Uncaptured (by Lion Heart), who currently stands for the Korea Racing Authority at the mainland Jangsu Stud Farm. He is out of Saena (by Peace Rules) who was a four-time winner from sixteen starts in Korea. Oasis Blue was bred by Lee Nam-il of Pyeongdae Farm and was a 69 Million Korean Won purchase by his owner – Korea's most "winning-most" – Lee Jong-hun, in November 2023.
Next weekend attention returns to the one-turn ranks and Vincero Cavallo seeking a clean sweep of the Sprint Series in the SROA Chairman's Trophy (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul on Sunday afternoon.
Race Video: https://youtu.be/EXHb6PWockk?feature=shared
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