Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 20 April

Sunday April 20, 2025

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

After thirteen starts, (4) DAEWONYONGMA looks to have finally figured it out and comes in off his best finish to date when 2^nd over this distance on March 16^th when he led almost the entire way. He draws nicely to lead again and today should finally be the day. (8) JISAN FRIEND was an improved 4^th at start number two on March 22^nd over this distance, settling just behind the speed and finishing well. It was a slow race, but he finished ahead of a couple of today’s rivals, and he can continue to make progress here. (11) CHEONGRYONG GIUN was a fair 5^th of eight on debut a month ago. He should have come on for that run and go closer. (5) SEMYEONG GHOST and (9) FLYING CONCORD, the latter looking well in a March trial, are others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden. (4) AWESOME QUEEN ran 2^nd on debut in January before following up with 4^th at this distance on March 15^th. She has been doing her best work late so can sit behind the leaders here and she will be a short-price favourite to be too good. (3) BULGUKSIDAE enters off an improved 4^th place at this distance on March 23^rd. Well drawn in this company she should be among the pacesetters and can be in this a long way. (9) GEOLJAK HAPPY has a 3^rd place on her record and against limited opposition, that’s enough to put her in with a chance of a place. (7) KIA ORA and first-time starter (1) CHARMING QUEEN are others to consider, the latter having hinted at ability in a decent trial earlier this month.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) QUANTUM K ran a fair 5^th on debut and followed up with an improved 2^nd place at 1300M on March 15^th. He has run through the line well suggesting that the slight step up in trip can be in his favour and he will be odds-on to go one better. (6) MASTER KWAIGON similarly made progress at start number two on March 15^th when 2^nd at 1300M, coming from well off the pace. He too should go well at the 1400M and shapes as the main danger. The form falls off rapidly after that pair but (1) BLACK SMILE has been knocking on the door of the places in her latest few and can so similar here. (3) PURGE RUBY and (7) NAEGILUIYEONGGWANG are others who can challenge for the minors.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(11) CHOEGANG TRIPLE has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in 2^nd place over this distance on March 2^nd when close to the pace throughout and posting a time half a second faster than any of these have managed over 1200M. He has the challenge of a wider than ideal gate, but he won’t need much improvement to win this. Second-favourite will be (2) LION MAGIC. After running-on too late on debut he was ridden much closer at start two on March 21^st, ultimately running 2^nd, well beaten by a good winner. Expect similar tactics today and he shouldn’t be far away. (1) DIA KNIGHT ran twice without distinction last year, most recently in October. He looked well in a March trial and can make a fresh start here (although do note he trialed well last year too. Debut-makers (3) GREAT UP and (8) WIND ROSE showed well in their respective trials and can be considered on a place line first up.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) USEUNG JINLI was a winner at start two last autumn before straining a ligament on his first try at this class in early December. He returned to action on March 9^th at this class and distance and led a long way and ultimately ran 2^nd. He comes up 2.5kg in weight but should have come on for that run and he can win here. (5) HAKSAN CAIRO remains a maiden after eight attempts but he has been ultra consistent with seven top five finishes. That includes his latest when 2^nd over 1300M on March 29^th and while he may once again find one too quick, he can be a danger late on for his first try at 1400M. (8) TAEGISAN KING comes up in class having scored over 1300M on March 8^th, coming from midfield. He is down slightly in weight, and he can measure up. (1) ECLIPSE EDGE and (10) BULGEUN POKPUNG other place chances.

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (10) THE NOMINATE was a winner maiden winner at this distance at start four on March 14^th, racing close to the pace throughout. She comes up in class here but is down in weight and while she has a wide draw, she has a strong finish and has every chance of backing up. (7) WORLD LIST CAT won on debut at this distance in December, leading all the way and then, after a hard time on her first try at this class in February, was a close 2^nd on March 7^th, just getting caught late. She comes up 2.5kg in weight but can be on pace here and potentially go all the way. (3) MAGIC ELEVEN needs a line drawn through her latest but she was a class and distance winner in January and with an apprentice keeping her weight down, she can be given another chance. (8) DEUMULEO and (6) MARIA’S CALL others to consider.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(4) WE GO HIGH won a trial in January and then led every step of the way on his racing debut on March 1^st over this distance. He comes up in class but is down in weight, he draws well, and he can make it two from two. (11) HANEUL GAMDONG got his maiden win at start three on March 23^rd leading all the way. It had been coming and up in class but down in weight and with Maia staying on, he can overcome the widest gate and can measure up here. (3) ROYAL PLUS led all the way to win at this class and distance on March 16^th with a couple of today’s rivals behind. She is up 2.5kg in weight but that’s balanced by a good draw, and she can be close again. (8) SOLAIRE and (6) CAPTURE others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(8) BEOLGYO MASULSA was a winner at start two at this distance in February before running 2^nd on his first try at this class on March 7^th when breaking fairly and then being ridden handy. He is up 2kg in weight, but Munro is on for the first time, and he can go one better. (12) GOOGLE CAR was sent off as favourite over 1300M on March 16^th but started badly and was never a factor. He has completed a starting test since then and if we go on his effort two starts back when a class and distance 2^nd from a similarly wide draw to this and beating three of today’s rivals, he has to be given a chance. (2) BLACK SPEED comes back in trip having run 2^nd at this class over a mile on March 16^th. He has won at 1400M and should be on pace from a good draw. (7) DOCTOR CASTLE and (5) ONE WAY other place chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) LUCKY FAMOUS was a close 2^nd and this class and distance on March 2^nd when settling just behind the early leaders and running on well. CC knows him well having ridden him in each of his latest four, including his sole victory, and from a good gate they look ready to win again. (5) ELDORADO HEUNGBU is yet to win in nine attempts but has no fewer than seven top four finishes. That includes his latest on March 23^rd when he almost led from gate to wire over this distance, ultimately coming home in 2^nd place. He comes up 2.5kg in weight but should lead again and it’s not impossible that he can break through. (10) ECLIPSE BLACK is up in class following an all the way score over 1700M on March 16^th and can measure up here. (6) SEMYEONG LADY and (4) BLACK SIDAE other place chances.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) NONSTOP DUTY won back-to-back races in December and January, both at 1290M and the latter at this class. At her latest on March 7^th, she ran a fair 4^th from gate ten at this class and distance. She can be a bit further forward a bit earlier today and is very much the one to beat. (2) ARION KING CAR is a winner of two from four and is up in class following the latest of those which came at this distance on March 9^th when handy throughout. He is down in weight, draws very nicely, and can measure up at this level. (8) B.K. ZENA beat three of today’s rivals on her way to 2^nd place at this class and distance on March 21^st, settling midfield and running on. She has the fastest time in the field for the distance and can be close again. (11) FABULOUS BEATER and (5) WIN WIN others in the frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Weight for Age / YTN Cup (KOR-G3) / KRW 500 Million

The second leg of the Stayer Series and there are a lot of variables here including a Japanese runner who has never raced outside his home track before and Korea’s best horse running for the first time since returning from Dubai. With that in mind we’ll take to opportunity to shy at the long shot stumps. (2) MIRACLE MARINE is a two time Class 1 winner at this distance and led the Herald Business a month ago before being passed and finishing 5^th. He can have come on for that experience, he should lead again and be available at an each-way price. (12) GLOBAL HIT is the class horse of the race and will probably start the odds-on favourite. He was a super 3^rd in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic at Meydan last time out, but this is his first run since travelling back, he draws wide, and will need to be at his best. (3) YUMENO HONOO could be anything. A winner of eighteen from twenty-three there, he has looked very well in his work on the Seoul track. On paper the Kochi times are slow, but that’s more to do with the different track surface than the horses and if he takes to the different surroundings well, he may win as easily as other Japanese horses have here. (9) SUCCESS BAEKPA won the first leg of the series a month ago. He seems to be getting better with every run and a repeat would be no real surprise. (15) SPEED YOUNG has the challenge of the widest gate but as in the Herald Business, can run on late.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) SEOBU VISION has been working back towards another win with a 4^th and a 2^nd from his latest two, both at this class and distance and the latter on March 14^th when he overcame gate eleven to sit handy and then ran on. Drawn better he can go one better here. Seobu Vision also gets a 3.5kg weight swing in his favour on that day’s winner (12) HANEUL MANJEOM, who is now a winner of three of his last five. He led all the way in that March 14^th race ultimately finishing five-lengths to the good and while in addition to an extra 5kg, he also has to overcome the widest gate, it would be no surprise were he to score again. (2) BLUE POINT got his solitary win to date at this distance and enters off 3^rd place at this class on March 23^rd. He likes to settle back and run on and will be a danger late. (6) HONORED KHAN and (9) THE WIND others who can fight for the placings.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) PURGE KING has been gradually getting closer to another win, most recently when coming from off the pace to run 2^nd at this class over 1700M on March 30^th. He can settle back and run on again and today can be the day. That will mean overturning the form on (3) THEME TANSAENG, who won that March 30^th race, showing on pace throughout. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights but isn’t to be dismissed. (6) DREAM CARD is two for two at this distance – his latest two – and has done it in contrasting styles, first from off the pace and then from the front. He is up 3kg in weight but can be in the mix again. (4) BROWN GOLD and (10) ZETTA MASTER are the other main chances.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Class 1 but with a rating cap of 95 and we’ll take a chance on the veteran making his fiftieth start (7) MACH TITAN. It’s been a long time between drinks, but his recent form reads well with back-to-back 3^rd places at 2000M, beating a few of these in the process. He is a three-time winner over the mile and today could be his day. (10) JEONGMUN COBIT comes in having beaten three of today’s rivals when 3^rd at this class over 1400M on May 16^th. He is up 2.5kg but is still fairly weighted and a return to the mile, at which he has won, can suit. (8) DESPITE WIN is seeking a third straight victory having scored is his latest two, both over a mile. He is up in class but down 3.5kg in weight and can be competitive in this company. (9) GREAT WINNER and (5) BEOLGYOUI KKUM are others who may have a say.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) DRAGON KINGDOM won his first two starts at 1400M and 1200M last year before requiring surgery for a chip fracture. He’s been back in work since the start of this year, but it was only in March that he trialed – he came through that very well and under a light weight, has an excellent chance first-up in what is not a strong race. If match fitness is an issue, then (1) NAVID will be the one to go for. He enters off a 6^th and a 5^th in his latest two, both at 1700M. He was 2^nd at this class on his only previous try at this distance and he can be a danger here. (4) KLIMT WORLD returned from three months out to run 3^rd over 1200M on March 23^rd. He should have come on for that run and be in the mix today. (5) SIDAEUI MYEONGJAK and (2) YONGBI POWER other placing chances.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(5) PEPPER X has finished in the top two in five out of six starts, only missing in a Listed juvenile event last November when still a maiden. He has since won two of his last three, most recently at this class and distance on March 16^th when leading all the way and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He comes up 2kg in weight but is favoured to win again. (1) MIGHTY SHONE was 3^rd in that March 16^th race, coming from off the pace. That was her first run for three months and she can strip fitter here. (2) NAEGILUI WINNER is ultra consistent with ten top three finishes from sixteen outings. He enters following back-to-back runner-up finishes at 1200M, coming from well off the pace both times and the step back up to 1400M can suit. (10) DOKKI DRAGON and (3) NAVY CAPTAIN are others to consider.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(4) ORION ALPHA has only finished outside of the top three on one occasion and is a winner of two of her latest three, most recently at this distance on March 23^rd when on pace throughout. She comes up in class here but is down in weight, drawn well, and she can win again. (6) BLACK MOTION has got a long way back in each of his latest two before running on for 5^th. He has placed four times at the distance and so long as he doesn’t leave himself too much to do, can go close. (5) WORLD SHANNONS enters off 3^rd place at class and distance on February 22^nd. He’s had eight weeks off since then and from a good draw, should be on pace and can be in this a long way. (3) GEOSEN GANGHO and (11) WILD SOCKS others in the frame.