By Alan Carasso
A total of 16 entries from abroad have been received for the K¥1-billion (US$830,000) Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) and the K¥700-million (US$600,000) Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m), to be held at Seoul Racecourse Sunday, Sept. 11.
Eight horses representing six jurisdictions have been entered from overseas for the Cup, including the talented Hong Kong dirt horse Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), who proved he could match it with some of the top internationals on the main track when runner-up in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge-R3 at Meydan Racecourse last March. Trained by Caspar Fownes, Gun Pit, a perfect seven-from-seven over the Sha Tin all-weather track, has been training forwardly at home and turned in a sharp 800m gallop in :48.3 (:25.1, :23.2) Aug. 13. Singapore is represented by a pair of nominees, including the Desmond Koh-conditioned Order of the Sun (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). The 6-year-old has run the exacta in six of his 16 starts at Kranji, his most important victory coming via a dead-heat score in the Colonial Chief S. (1700m AWT) last December. Japan fields a live threat in the form of Chrysolite (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), who counts the the 2013 Japan Dirt Derby and back-to-back scores in the Diolite Kinen among his seven career successes. One of the more intriguing entries for the Cup is Franklin D (Medaglia d'Oro), victorious over the Lingfield all-weather last November and winner of turf handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood in his last two runs for trainer Michael Bell.
Hong Kong runners also feature prominently among eight nominations received for the Sprint. Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) brings international Grade I form into the race, having famously become the first Hong Kong-based horse to take out a top-level race in the US in the 2014 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The bay is still going strong at age eight, as he led throughout to win this year's G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in Dubai. Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) nearly caused a massive boilover in the 2015 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, missing by a head to Secret Circle (Eddington). American-bred Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir) could be the one they all have to beat with a repeat of any of his US victories. Upset winner of the 2015 GI Bing Crosby S. when trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the Florida-bred exits a latest tally in the GII Kona Gold S. at Santa Anita. Now owned by Zhang Yue Sheng, Wild Dude is under the care of Mick Halford.
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