It's Oasis Blue's Korean Derby
SEOUL - Oasis Blue has become the first horse since 2016 Korean Triple Crown winner Power Blade to make it back-to-back victories in the 1 billion won (S$920,000) Group 1 Korean Derby (1,800m) on May 11, after claiming the Group 2 KRA Cup Mile (1,600m).
Oasis Blue smashed his rivals in an effortless four-length win in that first leg of the Korean Triple Crown at Busan racecourse on April 6.
Exactly five weeks later, the Uncaptured three-year-old colt managed to repeat the feat – scoring by a comfortable two-length win at Seoul racecourse – albeit over 200m longer, and on a trip which he has won twice before.
After taking out the first and second leg, Oasis Blue is now one step away from sweeping all three legs of the Korean Triple Crown series, an achievement last attained by Power Blade – who has been retired to stud – nine years ago.
Oasis Blue will get his chance if he runs in the third leg, the Group 2 Minister’s Cup (2,000m) in Seoul on June 15.
Trained by Baik Kwang-yeol, Oasis Blue actually had odds stacked against him in the Korean Derby.
With all his previous eight races run in Busan, the chestnut galloper was tackling the Seoul sand track for the first time. He had also drawn wide in barrier 13 in the field of 16.
However, jockey Jin Kyum did not panic and was happy to stay wide throughout on Oasis Blue ($8), riding like he had the best horse under him.
Eclipse The King (Moon Se-young), who won in Class 4 over the trip in March, surged to the lead after jumping, while Chan Famous (Ruan Maia) and Oasis Red (Jung Do-yun) trailed behind in second and third respectively.
Oasis Blue sat wide in midfield before improving quickly in the back straight to sit just behind the leading pair. When the field turned for home for the final assault, Oasis Blue made his move outside of Unju Guy (You Hyun-myung) to eyeball the leader.
Eclipse The King was still holding sway at the 300m, but Oasis Blue was closing in with every stride before letting down at the 150m to score from Unju Guy, who relegated Eclipse The King into third by ¾ length.
Both Unju Guy and Eclipse The King raced on the pace on a wet track that favoured front runners. In the latter’s case, he led from the gate until Oasis Blue swept past late.
Unlike Baik, who has won the Korean Derby twice with Yeongcheon Ace in 2015 and Winner Star in 2022, it was Jin’s first Group 1 and first Korean Derby success.
To him, it was a career-defining moment, but the pressure that came with riding a favourite was overwhelming too.
“I felt a bit burdened by it (the ride), even till this morning,” Jin told KRBC.
“So now, I am going to try to enjoy the (winning) feeling as much as possible.
“I was concerned about the (wet) track condition because if you watched the earlier races, it seemed to be favouring front runners.
“I knew number three (Eclipse The King) would be fast, so I was watching (jockey) Se-young, but it wasn’t easy to find a position from gate 13.
“They came out fast and I went to the outside, and then (in the backstraight), I had the opportunity to improve, so I did.”
Jin felt that Oasis Blue’s first experience of racing beyond Busan would help him when it comes to the final leg of the Korean Triple Crown.
“I am far less nervous now that we have done this, and yes, I think it might be possible (to win again).”
Oasis Blue has now taken his record to six wins from nine starts. Besides the Korean Derby and the KRA Cup Mile, he also bagged the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy, Busan’s classic trial (1,400m) on Feb 23.
Out of Saena, a four-time winner in Korea, Oasis Blue was bred by Lee Nam-il of Pyeongdae Farm and bought for 69 million won by owner Lee Jong-hun in November 2023.
SKY RACING WORLD
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