One of two major international races on Sunday (the Keeneland Korea Cup being the other), the inaugural Keeneland Korea Sprint is set to take place at Seoul racetrack this Sunday.

The Sprint, which will be run over 1200m on the sand, will be run for a gross prize of 700 Million Korean Won (or approximately US$ 608 000).

No fewer than six different countries have entered sprinters in this exciting new sprint, with all of Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UAE set to challenge local Korean speedsters.

The sixteen horses entered for the Korea Sprint include former outstanding US galloper Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir), who was formerly with US trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Subsequently sold to Zhang Yueshang, and now in the care of Mick Halford, Wild Dude was purchased as a potential stallion prospect.

The talented six-year-old is a winner of eight races, with his victories including the 2015 Gr1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship and Gr1 Bing Crosby Stakes. He is the highest rated entry in the race, with his 113 rating just 1lb clear of the Singapore hope Super Winner (Kaphero) – who has won 11 of his 18 Singapore starts. The consistent Super Winner has won three of his last four outings, and has not been out of the money in his last nine outings.

Wild Dude’s 15 rivals are likely to include the useful UAE gallopers Art Wave (who reeled off a hatrick of wins last season, Beachy Head (Shamardal), high class Hong Kong representative Super Jockey (Sandtrap) –who was runner up in last year’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and Japan’s multiple Gr1 winner Grape Brandy (Manhattan Cafe).

Korea’s representatives include Choegang Schiller (Artie Schiller)- currently the fourth top rated horse in Seoul, Gambonguibada (Werblin) –who has won no fewer than 15 races, and Perdido Pomeroy (Pomeroy), who is rated just one lb inferior to Choegang Schiller.