HWANG GEUM EO JJANG (Nasca Prince) won the 29th Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday May 3rd. In the colors of owners and breeders Nasca, who campaigned Eoma Eoma to win the Korea Sprint in 2022, trained by Song Moon-gil and ridden by Lee Dong-ha, Hwang Geum Eo Jjang led from gate-to-wire to win the principal three-year-old Classic by a length and a half. FANTASTIC FORCE was 2nd while KRA Cup Mile winner FUNNY WILD was 3rd.
“It doesn’t feel real yet” winning jockey Lee Dong-ha told KRBC. “But it kept appearing in my dreams for the past three days. Good dreams and bad dreams, I just couldn’t wait to get to race day and fortunately it ended with a really good result. It feels so good.”
It was also a first Derby win for trainer Song Moon-gil. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win some big races, but I had never won the Derby before” he remarked to KRBC. “So it is kind of a dream come true.”
“We expected the number 1 (Doctor Chris) to go forward so the plan was to stick with him. I told the jockey to ride with confidence and without regrets; don’t’ worry about what the others are doing and we will have a good result.”
Song also revealed that he was behind Hwang Geum Eo Jjang’s unheralded sire, Nasca Prince, a horse who he trained to six wins, becoming a stallion.
“Hwang Geum Eo Jjang is by Nasca Prince, who actually won here at 2300M, leading all the way. Nasca Prince was from the final crop of Vicar, whose bloodline was disappearing from our country, so I suggested to the owner that he stand him as a stallion. Today was 1800M but I see no reason why (Hwang Geum Eo Jjang) won’t go further.”
The final leg of the 2026 Korean Triple Crown is the Minister's Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul on Sunday June 7th.
Race Video: https://youtu.be/g7M6LQDR3P8?si=pRrBwI0qYgSO389y
HWANG GEUM EO JJANG (Nasca Prince) won the 29th Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday May 3rd. In the colors of owners and breeders Nasca, who campaigned Eoma Eoma to win the Korea Sprint in 2022, trained by Song Moon-gil and ridden by Lee Dong-ha, Hwang Geum Eo Jjang led from gate-to-wire to win the principal three-year-old Classic by a length and a half. FANTASTIC FORCE was 2nd while KRA Cup Mile winner FUNNY WILD was 3rd.
“It doesn’t feel real yet” winning jockey Lee Dong-ha told KRBC. “But it kept appearing in my dreams for the past three days. Good dreams and bad dreams, I just couldn’t wait to get to race day and fortunately it ended with a really good result. It feels so good.”
It was also a first Derby win for trainer Song Moon-gil. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win some big races, but I had never won the Derby before” he remarked to KRBC. “So it is kind of a dream come true.”
“We expected the number 1 (Doctor Chris) to go forward so the plan was to stick with him. I told the jockey to ride with confidence and without regrets; don’t’ worry about what the others are doing and we will have a good result.”
Song also revealed that he was behind Hwang Geum Eo Jjang’s unheralded sire, Nasca Prince, a horse who he trained to six wins, becoming a stallion.
“Hwang Geum Eo Jjang is by Nasca Prince, who actually won here at 2300M, leading all the way. Nasca Prince was from the final crop of Vicar, whose bloodline was disappearing from our country, so I suggested to the owner that he stand him as a stallion. Today was 1800M but I see no reason why (Hwang Geum Eo Jjang) won’t go further.”
The final leg of the 2026 Korean Triple Crown is the Minister's Cup (2000M KOR-G2) at Seoul on Sunday June 7th.
Race Video: https://youtu.be/g7M6LQDR3P8?si=pRrBwI0qYgSO389y