Korea: Sunday, 1st June 2025

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only. (4) BISANG BELL was a much-improved 2nd and only very narrowly beaten at 1200M when coming from off the pace on May 3rd. She draws well here and that can help her to go one better today. (8) EXCELLENT HANSEN has been showing consistent form recently with a 2nd, 4th and 3rd from her latest three, each time racing on pace. She is likely to be on pace again and will have plenty of supporters to go all the way. (2) NAMSAN MINYEO is the solitary debut-maker. She was 2nd in her trial showing on pace and posting a good time. If she brings that form to the races, she can be in this. (5) YONGAM SARANG will be on the speed too. She did weaken last time out but going on her runner-up two outings back, warrants another chance. (6) CLUB Q, 3rd on debut, another to consider in a competitive opener.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) BLACK SATANG came from off the pace to run 3rd on debut over 1300M on May 10th. She should have come on for that run, the step up to two turns can suit, and she can win here. (6) HEEMANGBAND has been getting closer across his nine starts so far, culminating in 2nd place when tried at this distance for the first time on April 27th when he finished strongly with three of today's rivals behind him. A similar effort will see him in the finish again. (2) STREET RUBY was 3rd in that race, a big improvement on her first try at two tuns. She led that day and from a good draw similar will be expected here. (3) BEST KINGDOM and (4) SAVANA CHARLIE others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Not the strongest of races for the level so we'll take a chance on (7) RAON NOTHERN DANCE. He is still a maiden after seven attempts but got promoted to this class after too many near-misses and he has continued to hold his form at this level. He was 5th last time out at this class and distance but the margins weren't huge, and, in this company, he can be on pace, and it may be his day. (1) SONE SONJABGO and (2) JOSE came home 3rd and 6th respectively when they raced one another at this class and distance on May 3rd. The former will come from off the pace while the latter will be on the speed and both can play a part in the finish today. (4) GOOD FIGHTER has only been ordinary in his latest couple, but he is a two-time winner at this distance and is a chance in this company. (6) BREEDO KING STAR another who can compete for the minors.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only and it is wide open. (8) SUN LIGHT was an improved 3rd at start number three over 1300M on May 2nd coming from well off the pace. Leving herself too much to do has been a trend but she may be ready for another crack at 1400M and has as good a chance as any here. (4) ALL THE WAY has a 3rd and a 5th in two outings to date, most recently behind Sun Light in that May 2nd race. She has been doing her best work late and is another who the 1400M can suit. (7) GRACE CAL enters off a 3rd place when tried at this distance for the first time on May 4th and she should be there or thereabouts again. (10) WONDERFUL TEAM and (11) DIA MATE others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) WONDERFUL FAPPY took a couple of goes to get accustomed to this class but has a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, both times having led. From a good draw, he surely leads again here and may take some beating. (6) MORNING WONDER is up in class having registered his maiden win at start five over 1200M on May 4th when on pace. He finished no worse than 4th at class 6 and under a light weight, he can measure up here. (7) MR.STORM was 3rd at this class over 1200M on April 26th, racing handy throughout. His win came over this trip and while he has his fair share of weight, he can be in the mix again. (10) GANDAGO also has weight to deal with following a last start win at this class over 1400M but should be competitive. (9) CANVASEN GO another place chance.

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) FLY TO THE MOON will be one of the shortest price favourites of the day. Yet to win, she is also yet to finish any worse than 5th in seven starts and enters off a very narrow reverse in a quick time at this class and distance on May 2nd. She will be on pace here and will take some beating. (8) OH FANTASTIC led all the way to get her maiden win at start number three over this distance on May 2nd. It's worth noting she was reluctant to parade that day to the extent that she got sent back to trial, but she came through that well, and is she behaves she can measure up at this class. (1) TAEYANG EUTTEUM was 3rd behind Fly To The Moon in 2nd last time out and the now veteran five-year-old can be there or thereabouts again. (4) TAMNA FIRST and (2) HANEUL SINHWA others in the market for at least the minors.

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

(8) ARCH DAY got her maiden win two starts back in a filly only race at this class and distance on March 29th when she led all the way. She couldn't quite find a position from a wide draw when a long way back in 3rd place on her latest outing on April 26th but she comes into a marginally better gate this time and can be given another chance. (7) ROYAL BEST has won just once, but is rarely far away, and has a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two. He has the best start in the field so should be on pace and can be in this a long way. (6) WONDERFUL WELLS ran 3rd at class and distance on Paril 27th on what was her forst start since December. She should strip fitter for that run and be in the mix here. (5) EUMSEONG POWER and (1) CRAZE CHANG others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

After running 5th on debut, (4) SHOOT FOR THE MOON was a winner at start two over this distance on May 2nd, settling handy and proving too strong. He comes up in class, but is down in weight, Seo Seung-un stays on, and he can win again. (5) WHO IS NEXT returned from seven months off to run a solid 4th place at this class and distance on April 25th, settling back and running on. He should strip fitter for that run and can be a danger here. (6) MAGIC ELEVEN was a class and distance winner three starts back. In this company, he can be on the speed and may offer some interest at a probable each-way price. (7) GREAT TOP and the veteran (11) DAEHOMA are others to consider.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(6) SPECIALTIME has been working back towards another win and comes in following a close 3rd place at this class and distance on April 19th when handy throughout. She remains under a light weight, she draws very well, and she can win here. (4) EUNBIT DOLPUNG has a win and four placings at this distance and while his latest couple have been only average, he looks nicely in here from a good gate and with Ruan Maia climbing up for the first time. (5) CHOWON DOLPUNG is up in class and up to 1400M for the first time, but he is down 4kg in weight and could measure up. (1) RAON THE DAESE and (7) BEOLGYO CHADOL others to consider in a race in which the recent form is not hugely confidence inducing.

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

(1) DUSTIN MARINE has been the beaten favourite in both his last two starts, both at this class at a mile and last time at 1800M on May 2nd when racing close to the pace throughout. He draws the inside gate again and should be forward from the start again and we'll give him another chance. (11) MR.WOLF got his solitary win to date over 1300M at class 5 level three starts back and was a close 2nd at a mile last time out. He comes up to 1800M for the first time and has to contend with the widest gate, but shapes as the main danger here. (5) GONJOHARI stepped up to this distance for the first time on May 2nd and was a winner, making almost all the running. He comes up in class this time but should be a factor. (8) STEALTH MODE and (4) BEST CHAMP, 2nd and 4th respectively when racing each other last time, others to consider.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(10) FINAL GO has just the one win but has finished no worse than 4th in his latest six outings and most recently was 3rd over 1200M on April 26th when coming from off the pace. He is marginally down in weight here, Maia has placed three times on him, and the widest gate should be no problem. (1) MUNHAK BOY got his two wins in the first three starts of his career and got a run in Seoul's Classic Trial. He was well back in that but looks nicely in here and could make for some value. (4) SMART SOCKS enters with recent form reading well and under a light weight and from a good gate can be on pace and in this a long way. (2) SEONGSIL YEONGUNG and (7) NANOMETA other place contenders.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

After doing nothing for his first four, (7) WONDAEHAN KKUM has won both starts since being gelded, both times coming from off the pace over a mile. That brings him up in class, but he is down 3kg in weight and he can make it three in a row. (2) CARDINAL FORCE got his maiden win all the way back on debut, but he has had plenty of near misses in the eight starts since with a 2nd and a 3rd from his two tries at this level. He'll be on the speed and is the main danger. (4) BEOLMAUI ACE has plenty of experience at this class, and while he has never tackled the mile before, he has placed at 1800M so shouldn't have any difficulties. (10) AREUMDAUN INYEON and (8) GLORY CROWN others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) GANGNARU had a miserable time in the KRA Cup Mile at Busan in March, using up a lot of energy to get on speed from gate twelve and then knocking up just as quick in the home straight. Prior to that he was a winner here over a mile at class 4 and under a light weight and in more amenable company, he can return to form. (8) TRAUM KING won back-to-back races in February and March, the latter at a mile and followed up with 2nd place, also over the mile, which brings him up in class here. He comes down a full 4kg in weight and that should be enough to make him competitive. (4) MIGHTY TAP has three consecutive 2nd places coming into today, all at this class and 1800M. He is up 3kg in weight but can be there or thereabouts again. (3) G MOTION and (5) SAENAE POWERFUL others in line for the minors.

Busan Race 6: Class Open (1600M) Special Weight A / KNN Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million

The final leg of the Queens' Tour Spring/Summer for fillies and mares and while (9) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG missed the first leg, she roared back into form in the Ttukseom Cup at 1400M at Seoul on April 27th. She should strip fitter for what was her first run since she bled last November, and she will be odds-on to strike again. Last year's winner (7) WONDERFUL SLEW returns. She had a hard time against the boys in the Herald Business in March but returned to form with 3rd in the Ttukseom Cup at a distance too short for her to be at her best. This should be more suitable. (6) RAON FOREST was 4th in both of the first two legs (Crown Hamseong, 2nd in both doesn't go having run in the SROA Chairman's Sprint two weeks ago) and can be a danger again. (14) GLADIUS won the Donga Ilbo Trophy, the first leg of the Series over 1800M. She has a win and three placings over a mile and can be running on strong late. (11) BANG BANG BANG could provide some each way interest.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Small but tricky contest. (1) ACRO MARINE hasn't been far away in his latest, most recently 4th at this class and distance on April 27th when coming from off the pace. He remains nicely weighted and drawn well, has as good a chance as any. (2) TRISTAN WANGJA needs a line drawn through his latest when using up a lot of energy to get to the lead from the widest gate. He is a class and distance winner as recently as January and drawn better and with an apprentice taking the edge off what would otherwise be a big weight, he is worth another chance. (4) MAX WEEK weakened late last time at 1800M but was a class and distance winner in April, leading all the way. Je carries 2.5kg more than he won under but the step back in trip can help. (8) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA and (6) THUNDER HORSE others to consider.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) GLORY CITY has mixed his form across his eight starts at this level, but he does have two 3rd places, including last time out over a mile on May 3rd when coming from well back. CC Wong gets aboard for the first time and the step up to 1800M may be what he needs to break through. (7) SUPER THUNDER got his sole win at 1700M two starts back before running a solid 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on May 4th. He stays under a light weight and is the main danger. (8) PEARL POINT was 4th in a filly and mare race at class and distance on April 26th when racing handy. With similar tactics today she can be close. (4) TIZ ENERGY and (9) GWANAKSAN LEO the other place chances.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(3) GANGPUNGMA was a class and distance winner on April 27th, coming from off the pace to beat plenty of today's rivals. The presence of a couple of horses at the top of the wight band here means that he actually carries even less weight this time around, and he can win again. (7) BLACK BELT found himself a touch overmatched in the first two legs of the Stayer Series but he is a two-time winner at this distance and should find today's company more amenable. (5) SPEED ONE made all to win over this distance at class 2 level in January. His only outing since was a strong 2nd place in a Trophy race over a mile on April 13th and under a light weight, he is a big chance here. (8) MEGA DRAGON and (9) MONEY CROWN are the other top chances.