Lone Sailor Among U.S. Runners Entered in Korean Races

South Korea's annual international races drew some welcome foreign competitors for the Sept. 8 renewal and one unwanted visitor—Typhoon Lingling.

The storm was forecast to pass by the peninsula the day before the Sept. 8 Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, both local group 1 events (Part II), leaving the sand track at the Seoul racecourse more compacted and faster than usual. That could play to the feet of the visitors, including American-trained runners Harvey Wallbanger and Lone Sailor, who will not have to cope with the normal loose, deep and tiring surface.

The raiders will, however, have to deal with rapidly developing local talent in both the 1,800-meter (about 9 furlongs) Korea Cup and the 1,200-meter (about 6 furlongs) Korea Sprint.

The big deal for locals in the Cup is Dolkong, who won the Curlin Handicap during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, then finished third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III (G1). That performance got the now 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of Afleet Alex  a spot in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airlines (G1), where he reported 11th, 15 1/2 lengths adrift of Thunder Snow.

Despite the World Cup defeat, Dolkong's overall performance in Dubai was a major boost for the burgeoning Korean racing industry. He won his only local start since returning from the Middle East, the Busan Mayor's Cup in June.

Dolkong's chief local rival is Moonhak Chief, second in the Mayor's Cup. The international contingent, however, may pose more of a challenge.

Lone Sailor, a Majestic Warrior 4-year-old conditioned by Tom Amoss, boasts only two wins but finished second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and third in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) earlier this season. Harvey Wallbanger has regressed since upsetting the Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 2. But his trainer, Kenny McPeek, finished fourth in the 2017 Korea Sprint with The Truth or Else and the colt could benefit from his trainer's familiarity with the course.

Jane Chappel-Hyam also is a repeat visitor to Korea's biggest day of racing, this time with Ambassadorial. And Glorious Artist has been in the mix in handicaps on both turf and the all-weather at Sha Tin in Hong Kong for trainer Frankie Lor.

Lor attended the barrier draw and reported all well, pending the weather. "The track, we still don't know about," Lor said. "There is meant to by a typhoon coming, which will bring rain. So that will make it even softer."

The initial running of the Sprint went to Hong Kong's Super Jockey and Japanese runners took out the 2017 and 2018 editions. This time around, the raiders may have a tougher task on their hands in the form of local hope Blue Chipper, winner by 10 lengths of the Owners Cup in July. The Kentucky-bred Tiznow  gelding is lightly raced but developing, winning all four starts since a lengthy absence.

Blue Chipper drew the No. 13 gate for the Sprint but Lee Ju-hyeon, assistant to trainer Kim Young-kwan, seemed unconcerned.

"It is what it is, really," Lee said after the pick. "If we've got the best horse, then it doesn't really matter what gate we have, we can overcome it."

There are no Japanese contenders this year but the 16-horse field does boast American, British and Hong Kong presence.

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV brings Holy Legal, a Brazilian-bred mare by Holy Roman Emperor. She was a group 2 winner in Uruguay before shipping north, where she finished second in both her starts at Arlington International Racecourse.

Fast Pass, a Successful Appeal gelding, finished third in the Smile Sprint Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park in June. And Heartwood, a son of Tapit  trained by James Chapman, captured the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February.

Pass the Vino was a winner on both turf and all-weather surfaces in England early in the year and New Zealand-bred Ugly Warrior has been laboring in the handicap ranks over both types of track in Hong Kong for trainer Me Tsui, whose Fight Hero finished second in last year's Sprint after being assigned the outside gate because of a reputation as a rough loader. 

"I think Ugly Warrior will be able to get a better position than Fight Hero," Tsui said at the barrier draw. "That part should be easier for him. Fight Hero always needed to sit behind but Ugly Warrior can race in a forward position, or even midfield, and he can still do it."