Fantastic Value steals the show in Korean Oaks
Michael Lee
Exciting filly Fantastic Value is one win short of completing the Triple Tiara clean sweep.
After winning the first leg in the Luna Stakes (1,600m) on March 30, Fantastic Value has now added the second jewel of the Triple Tiara.
As an odds-on chance, she put on a bold show as she eased to victory in the 700 million won (S$648,000) Group 2 Korean Oaks (1,800m) at Busan Racecourse on May 4.
However, for Singapore racing fans, the main draw was arguably the presence of former Kranji jockey Wong Chin Chuen on the horse billed as the only threat to Fantastic Value, Oneuldo Smile.
Remarkably, the Seoul-based daughter of Federalist was never ridden by Wong at her hitherto unbeaten record of four-from-four, with Lee Young-ho doing the honours throughout.
But trainer Moon Byeong-ki and owner Sun Hyung-jo booked the Malaysian jockey, who travelled the 350km to Busan for just that one ride, a pointer to the stable confidence.
The only query was the trip as Oneuldo Smile's winning distances ranged from 1,000m to 1,200m, but Wong took luck out of the equation by giving her the kindest possible ride in the lead, saving every penny he could over that uncharted territory.
With regular partner Seo Sung-un in the plate, Fantastic Value was always within striking distance, stalking up the speed from the word go.
She even took closer order as the field turned into the backstraight, and stayed on Oneuldo Smile's girth all the way to the home turn.
As the expected duelling duo straightened up, they were the only two who would not need a thorough hose-down back at the stables.
For having jointly dictated terms for most of the way, both horses were spick and span and jockeys' colours were as bright as when they sprang the gates.
The same could not be said of the beaten brigade, who, besides already toiling away behind, had copped all the sand kickback.
Though suspect at the trip, Oneuldo Smile ended up putting up a brave fight to Fantastic Value, but with 200m to go, finally gave in to her rival's onslaught and superior stamina.
Just as in the Luna Stakes, Fantastic Value scored by a winning margin of five lengths.
Oneuldo Smile managed to hold off Boryeonglightqueen (You Hyun-myung) and Lime Tree (Jin Kyum) for a gallant second.
Interestingly, the latter pair reproduced their Luna finishes of third and fourth respectively, to give further evidence of the consistency in the form among 3YO fillies this season.
Only Rising Mo (Johan Victoire), the Luna Stakes runner-up, bucked the trend, as she could only beat one home, probably found out by the extra 200m.
A daughter of Afleet Express out of Union Bell, Fantastic Value is trained in Busan by Lim Keum-man.
She now holds the record of five wins and two seconds from 10 starts and more than 662 million won in stakes earnings for her owner, Moojigae Rentcar.
If she wins the final leg, the Group 3 Gyeonggi Governor's Cup (2,000m) at Seoul on June 8, she will emulate Golden Power in 2022 and Jeulgeounyeojeong in 2023 in claiming all three jewels in the Tiara.
The other mouth-watering challenge ahead of Fantastic Value will be her much-anticipated face-off against the likes of Jeulgeounyeojeong in the Queens' Tour in the latter part of the year.
On May 11, it will be the three-year-old colts' turn to battle it out with first-leg KRA Cup Mile winner Oasis Blue the favourite to win the Group 1 Korean Derby (1,800m) at Seoul racecourse.
The third leg, the Group 2 Minister's Cup will be run in Seoul on June 15.
manyan@sph.com.sg
