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KOREA RACING REPORT: MARCH 27-29

THE PRINCIPAL ACTION IN KOREA ON SUNDAY WAS ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST BUT SEOUL STILL HAD A GOOD PROGRAM AND A VERY STRONG CLASS 1 CONTEST WAS WON BY VICS GO who made it two consecutive wins over the course, distance and grade in race 9, writes Luke Humphreys.  

Vics Go (Vics) was ridden exactly the same by Woo In-cheol as at the start of the month, going towards the rear and then hugging the rail to go on and score by two-and-a-half lengths over Ziggurat and Pepper X who ran very honourable races in 2nd and 3rd places.

The last horse home was last year’s G3 Kookje Shinmun Cup winner Munhak Boy who with 58kg was beaten 17 lengths. He was on pace early but lost the plot from the halfway stage onwards.

No Problem was coming into the race on four consecutive victories but his first run at class 1 level was one to forget as he got upset in the gate as the race began and dumped Song Jae-chul who was conveyed to hospital for x-rays.

KING MASTER (The King) ran out a strong winner of race 8 (1800M Class 4) when defeating Mr. Taeyang by four-lengths. King Master had chased home the smart Chrysol Stone at his previous start and could potentially be a Derby horse, as could Mr. Taeyang who lost no admirers in second.

King Master gave jockey Jo Jae-ro two of the last three winners on the card as the ever consistent TIARA SUA (Audible) led throughout to win the concluding 1400M class 3.

SLAM DRAGON (Power Blade) took race 7 (1600M Class 4) for Kozzi Asano and Tony Castanheira defeating his co-favourites Myeong Power and Geosen Daero.

HWASAN POKPAL (Smokem) broke through at the seventh time of asking when winning race 6 (1300M Class 4) as the third market elect at 5.9. He had never placed from six runs, but the best two runs of his career were his two previous outings, so he is obviously heading in the right direction. The race saw the two favourites in Jjarithan Haengbok, 2.6, and Hero Cheetah, 3.6, proved disappointing.

Hwasan Pokpal completed a riding double on the program for Jeong Jeong-hee as he won race 4 (1200M Class 5) on board 24/1 chance SMART MARU (Revolutionary) with only a nose, a head and a nose separating the first four home.

The victory of Smart Maru completed a race-to-race training double for Park Jae-woo who 68 minutes earlier landed a 1700M Class 6 thanks to the four-length victory of the 2.7 favourite LUCKY JOY (Gemologist).

FLYING THUNDER (Preservationist) was an impressive seven-length winner of race 5 (1400M Class 5) and in doing so completed back-to-back front-running victories and looks destined for more victories in his career.

BEOLGYO EMPEROR (Rock Your World) was the best of the maiden winners in race 2 winning the 1300M contest by two-lengths at odds of 1.5.

DOWN AT BUSAN ON THE SAME DAY FUNNY WILD LANDED THE KOREAN 2000 GUINEAS BUT THE LAST OF THE TWO CLASS 3 HANDICAPS WAS WON BY NEVER GIVE UP who lived up to his name as he was winning for the first time at the grade at attempt five.

Never Give Up (Peace Rules) won three races in a row last summer over the Busan 1800M and once again won over the distance when landing the concluding contest of the day as a 5.7 third pick in the betting. The 3.1 second favourite Max The Cat, who beat Funny Wild at his prior start, was a two-and-a-half-length 2nd whilst the 2.6 favourite Storm Fighter was an eight-and-a-half-length fourth.

The race saw Choi Eun-gyeong get dumped at the start when Sekwang Choegang knuckled on leaving the stalls. Choi, who only last week had returned to riding after four months out with a pelvic injury walked back to the jockey’s room but will have to pass concussion protocols.

The victory of Never Give Up completed a riding double for Jo In-kwon after 60/1 outsider BEOLGYO MABEOPSA (Revolutionary) came from miles back to win race 2 (1400M Class 6). 

EPHPHATHA (Instagrand) made it three wins from as many starts when leading for the majority of the contest to win race 5 (1400M Class 3) by two-and-a-half lengths. The US import looks progressive and is one to continue following.

4.3 second favourite SUNRISE (Gemologist) proved too good for the 2.4 popular pick Lampyojeonggeenie when pulling away to win race 4 (1300M Class 5) by one-and-a-half lengths. She has now won her last two races, which gives her a 50% winning strike rate.

Kim Hyo-jung was down at Busan to ride Flutter in the Korean 2000 and whilst he only beat two home her trip was still worth it as she picked up multiple rides on the card for Baik Kwang-yeol and DOCTOR HUNTER (Race Day) was a decent five-length winner for that combination in the opening 1200M class 6 as a 3.5 second pick defeating 2.1 favourite Global One Pick.

AT SEOUL ON SATURDAY DAESEONG STAR bounced back from a disappointing effort last start to land the 2000M class 2 by one-length.

Daeseong Star (Concord Point) had won the start prior over course, distance and grade and made it two wins from his last three starts and in doing so defeated the ever consistent Choegang Gold, who ran a fine race at his first run at the grade, Musket Day, who had the perfect run and presented as the winner early in the home straight but only managed third as a 2.3 favourite, and the 2024 Derby winner Eunpa Sarang, who for the second consecutive start ran a much better race. Brown Gold, the 4.1 second market choice, was home in fifth but was only beaten by two-lengths.

WONPYEONG SKET (Musket Man) was written off by some after her incredibly basic performance against similar rivals at the start of the month, but punters kept the faith sending her off a 2.2 favourite in the closing 1200M class 3 and she justified their support with a diminishing neck victory. 

The two worst runs of her career, obviously including her previous run, had been the only two times where she hadn’t led so naturally from gate one Ruan Maia was very keen to hold the top in the early stages and she was a clear leader for the majority of the contest before getting very tired in the closing stages, but she had enough of a break to hold off the late challenge of Cosmo One in a solid time of 1:13.5 considering the slow track. 

Cosmo Run ran the equal quickest final furlong of the race, 13.1 seconds, whilst the fourth placed Free The One, who was the 3.7 second favourite, also ran the same time for his last 200 metres coming from last after getting way too far out of his ground in the early stages.

The disappointment of the race was Gwanaksan Storm who won the form-line race for this event on March 1 when leading Wonpyeong Sket but today the roles were reversed in the run and also in regard to the result and he was the one that was vehemently disappointing.

The victory of Wonpyeong Sket completed a double on the program for trainer Jung Ho-ik who prepared SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA (Overanalyze) to win race 9 (1800M Class 3).

Songdang Hwangtaeja was having his first run over both the distance and grade but proved more than up to the task after sitting midfield off a strong pace to win by two-and-a-half lengths. 

It was Malaysia against Brazil in the first half of the race with CC Wong on the 2.5 favourite Dragon Killer and Ruan Maia on the 2.8 second choice Perfect Danaeun both very keen to lead and they set up a decent break on their rivals, which obviously was eventually reduced, and a quick time of 1:57.1. Dragon Killer was second whilst Perfect Danaeun, at his first run at the trip, ended up a tired fourth. MK Lee and BS Storm were the two disappointments of the race finishing sixth and ninth respectively.

The very consistent CLUB Q (Revolutionary) won her fourth race, they have all been over 1400M, when winning race 7 and making it two wins from her past three starts, both at class 4 level. She was sent off the 3.2 favourite and won by two-and-a-half lengths over the third and fourth picks in the market in Tohomarket and Geunyang Gara whilst the big disappointment was the 3.2 favourite Jiljuui Yeowang who has now produced two very good performances and two very bad performances from four runs.

RAON SAPPHIRE (Musket Man) made it two wins from four starts when winning race 5 (1300M Class 5) by one-and-a-half lengths over Choego Gold, 2.4 favourite, whilst CHEONJI TANK (Air Force Blue) was an impressive four-length winner of the opening 1300M class 6 as a 1.3 favourite.

Riding honours on the day clearly went to Lee Dong-ha who not only rode a double but also his 300th career winner on JILPUNGA (Tapwrit) who led throughout to score by four-lengths in race 6 as a 3.7 favourite. Lee’s earlier winner came on BEST URBANE (Uncaptured) in race 3 (1400M Class 6) which, a la Jilpunga, also led throughout.

AT BUSAN ON FRIDAY THERE WERE PLENTY OF TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS WITH MULTIPLE SUCCESS AND VANGIE completed a treble on the program for Bart Rice and a double for Seo Seung-un when winning the concluding 1200M class 2.

Vangie (Musket Man), who was having his third run at class 2 level, was having his first run at the grade over the 1200M after a third and two fourth places over 1400M but appreciated the drop back in trip by a furlong and recorded his fifth win from 15 starts with four of those coming over the six furlongs. He has never missed the top four either with six second places, a third and two fourth place finishes also. 

The favourite in the race was Beolma King who wasn’t far away but finished a never nearer sixth just the same.

The other victory for jockey Seo Seung-un on the card came courtesy of FAST MAN (Blue Pin) who justified 1.5 favouritism in race 4 (1200M Class 5) with a four-length victory, and made the form of race 5 at Busan on February 27 look very good as he finished third in that race whilst the second placed Bunker Buster has been a subsequent winner also. However, the winner of that race, Seongsil Dream, is yet to have raced again.

The other victories for trainer Bart Rice came in race 1 (1200M Class 4) with BARAM DAERO (Copper Bullet), who led throughout to deny the 1.4 favourite Vegas Jeontu, and also SKY WIN WIN (Win Win Win), who was ridden from the top for the first time, in race 6 (1800M Class 4) and held on to score by one-length in what was an outstanding frontrunning ride from Franco da Silva.

The victory of Baram Daero in the opener was the first of two winners for jockey Masa Tanaka who followed up in race 5 (1400M Class 5) on board GWANGBOKUI BANSEOK (Mendelssohn) who won by a comfortable space of four-lengths.

Jockey Lee Hyo-sik and trainer Lee Jung-pyo combined to have a double thanks to the efforts of debutante CHEONNYEONDOR (Dortmund) in race 3 (1300M Class 6) and SEKWANG LIGHT (Shackleford) in race 7 (1600M Class 4)

The biggest winner of the day was YONGBI JJANG (Gemologist) in race 2 (1600M Class 6) who won by a very cute 10 lengths as a 1.5 favourite.

The big race for next weekend is back down at Busan with the first leg of the Triple Tiara taking place for the three-year-old fillies in the Luna Stakes (KOR-Listed), the Korean equivalent of the 1000 Guineas. At Seoul it will also be the opening of the popular annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

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KRA Cup Mile: Preview & Form Comments for Triple Crown 2026 1st Leg

Sixteen colts will set out at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, bidding to be the first since Power Blade a decade ago to win the Triple Crown. The series gets underway with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2), the “Korean 2000 Guineas”.

Eight of the sixteen have travelled down from Seoul, but capital visitors do not have a good record in the race, registering only three victories since the race began in its current form in 2008 and none at all since Global Chukje scored in 2019. This time though a formidable line-up travels.

LIVE STAR has won his last three starts by a combined thirty-eight lengths, including a full eighteen last time out at class 4 over 1800M. While the robustness of the opposition he faced is debatable, he has been nothing if not impressive.

DI NE was well beaten behind Roshe in the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy on March 1st but prior to that was going very nicely and will be firmly in the market while FLUTTER and HWANG GEOM EO JJANG also travel down with solid credentials.

Don’t rule out the home team though. HEY BROTHER enters with the highest rating. He was 2nd behind Clutch Winner in the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy but prior to that was an excellent winner over a mile at class 4 level in January. Jockey Choi Si-dae won the race on Betelgeuse in 2023.

Seo Seung-un won the Cup Mile on Cheongnyong Bisang, one of those three Seoul horses to triumph in the race. Now firmly Busan-based, this year he partners FUNNY WILD, who while he lost his way late on when 2nd over 1800M last time out, was very strong prior to that and from a great draw, will be on the speed.

There is sadness over the race. Champion Juvenile Supex Winner began the week set to be favourite but suffered a catastrophic ligament and sesamoid injury on Monday morning which he ultimately succumbed to on Wednesday.

The KRA Cup Mile is race 6 on the 7-race program at Busan with a 16:05 post time:

1. HEY BROTHER – The highest rated in the field and one of the most experienced with nine starts. He’s won four times up to class 4 and a mile. His most recent start saw him 2nd to Clutch Winner in the Classic Trial at 1400M on March 1st. A front-runner, the mile suits and the draw suits, and he is among the favourites.

2. BREEDO SOL – Only beat two home in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie but has begun his three-year-old campaign well with a win over 1800M at class 5 level and then 2nd at class 4 over the same distance on February 15th, beating Legend Hit. Likes to come from off the pace and can aim for some minor money.

3. FUNNY WILD – A strong winner over 1800M at class 4 level in February, he led when trying to repeat at class 3 on March 1st but ultimately weakened late on and was caught. He is one for one at the mile, he has a great draw to get on pace and with Seo Seung-un riding him from potentially several options, he will probably be the betting favourite.

4. LIVE STAR – Took a few goes to fully figure things out, but he has won his latest three, most recently at class 4 level over 1800M on February 7th when leading all the way and scoring by a full eighteen-lengths in a time that would win the Korean Derby most years. On that evidence, he has to considered a real threat here.

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Raon Forest Beats The Upstarts In Queens’ Tour 1st Leg

Changing of the guard in the filly and mare division? Not just yet, there isn’t as Raon Forest to take out the Donga Ilbo (1800M KOR-Listed), the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.  

Raon Forest in the Donga Winner’s Circle (Pic: KRA)

The only six-year-old in the race and therefore the only one who came out of what proved to be a vintage Triple Tiara class in 2023, Raon Forest, a Queens’ Tour veteran, entered the race fourth in the market behind Breeders’ Cup Queen winner Ace High with Boryeonglightqueen and Oneuldo Smile also well supported. 

There was unfortunate drama as the gates opened with Indy Ghost going up on hind legs and the going over. Fortunately, neither she nor jockey Masa Tanaka were seriously hurt.

Oneuldo Smile did lead while defending champion Gladius was also on pace, but both were beaten early as Raon Forest, under a patient ride from Jo Jae-ro, consistently made ground on the rail, striking the front a furlong out and lengthening away to win by a full six-lengths.

Boryeonglightqueen and Satang Sonyeo appeared from the back of the field with late runs for 2nd and 3rd. Pre-race favourite Ace High never landed a blow and ended in 7th.

“I had some high hopes” winning trainer Park Jong-kon told KRBC. “Not necessarily that we would win but I had some expectations. The draw was good and while Choi Bum-hyun couldn’t ride (due to suspension), Jo Jae-ro came in and did well.”

“Raon Forest has had so many near-misses, she ran well against the males last time and today she was really good. She’ll go to the Ttukseom Cup next, in the past with her start I don’t think the 1400M would suit but she is different now.”

Raon Forest [Hansen – Raon Nari (by Ecton Park)] moved onto seven wins from thirty-one starts.

The Queens’ Tour will return on April 26th with the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) also at Seoul. Next weekend, it’s the turn of the three-year-olds as the Triple Crown kicks off with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) – informally known as the Korean 2000 Guineas – on Sunday afternoon at Busan.

Korea Racing Report: May 20-22

THE EVER CONSISTENT RAON FOREST WAS THE WINNER OF THE DONG-A ILBO TROPHY AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY BUT THE UNDERCARD WAS HEADED UP BY THE TWO CLOSING CLASS 3 CONTESTS AND ROOFTOP was an impressive winner of the second of those class 3 races over the 1200M.

Rooftop (Instagrand) completed a double on the program for jockey Kozzi Asano when knuckling down in the last 200 metres to score by one-length. Rooftop beat Geudaemaniddamyeon back on debut and is now starting to show similar form to the start of his career.

The other victory for Asano came in the opening 1300M class 6 on board VINCENT ALEX (Power Blade).

The first of the class 3 events was the second last on the program and it produced a good finish and the 1400M stoush was won by MORNING WONDER (Concord Point) who won by a neck over the late closing Sure Win with long time leader Gold Catcher a nose away third. Seobu Champ was one-length away in fourth whilst the 2.6 favourite Baro Danaeun who was resuming from 11 months away from the races could only manage fifth a further half-length away.

There were a trio of three-year-old colts on the card that produced smart performances and they included MAEUM HANA (Gaon Champ) who led throughout to win race 8 (1200M Class 4) by seven-lengths and looks yet another good classic aged horse for the trio of CC Wong, Choi Yong-geon and Woo Tae-yul.

YOUNG FIGHTER (Hansen) was a smart winner of race 5 (1300M Class 5) leading throughout to win softly by four-lengths whilst VALID YOUNG (Shackleford) was a good winner of race 4 (1700M Class 5) for Johan Victoire and Moon Byeong-ki as a 2.5 favourite. He was the only horse in the finish that was on-pace in the run in a quickly run race which saw the 2.8 second favourite The Classic falter to finish a long last.

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Donga Ilbo – Queens’ Tour 1st Leg: Form Comments

SEE HERE FOR FULL RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN

There is something of a changing of the guard in the filly and mare ranks as the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer Series kicks off with the Donga Ilbo (1800M KOR-Listed) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Gladius (Pic: KRA)

While defending champion GLADIUS returns, the likes of Jeulgeounyeojeong and Wonderful Slew, who have dominated the top of the division over the past couple of years, are not here and a new set of up and comers could be set to take over.

ACE HIGH is set to be the favourite.  She rounded out her three-year-old campaign by winning the Breeders’ Cup Queen and then began this year with a strong class 1 win at this distance and the Ha Mu-seon trained Busan raider can take some beating.

She isn’t the only four-year-old taking her chance. ONEULDO SMILE was 2nd in last year’s Korean Oaks while BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN was the fast-finishing winner of both the final leg of the Triple Tiara and also the Jeju Governor’s Cup. Meanwhile FANTASTIC VALUE won both the Luna Stakes and the Korean Oaks and hinted at a return to form with a 2nd place in her latest start at class 2 level.

A host of other up and coming four-year-old fillies also step up and with many of them front-runners, the pace could be hot.

Aside from Gladius, RAON FOREST represents the older generation. While the only six-year-old in the race is only a winner of six of her thirty starts, three of those victories have come at class 1 level against the boys and she has been a Queens’ Tour mainstay, winning the final leg of this series last June.

The Donga Ilbo is race 7 on the card at Seoul with a local post time of 15:40.

1. SATANG SONYEO –A winner of five from twelve, including twice at this distance, she has lost her way a little of late, albeit in very tough company – 10th of sixteen in the Grand Prix as a three-year-old filly isn’t bad. Interesting outsider, who can lead or come from behind.

2. RAON FOREST – 4th in this race last year, she recorded 5th, 3rd and 4th in the three legs of the Queens’ Tour Fall-Winter, so has form to overturn on a few of these. Enters off a class 1 3rd over 2000M when closer to the pace than usual. Nicely drawn and can be in the finish.

3. CLAIR BIG BANG – Five wins from eight including two at this distance. She is though yet to win at higher than class 4 with her latest outing being 2nd place at class 3 over 1800M when on pace. This is a big step up, but she has potential.

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Korea Racing Report: March 13-15

THE REIGNING GRAND PRIX CHAMPION CLEAN ONE WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY BUT THERE WERE NINE OTHER RACES RUN AND WON ON THE CARD.

K N LIGHT (Testa Matta), as is his racing pattern, came right from the back of the field but unlike recent runs passed all of his rivals under Jeong Woo-ju landing the day at odds of 41.7 and in doing so became the second horse of the weekend at Seoul to win as the rank outsider.

The other class 3 contest on the card was the last and WE GO HIGH (Musket Man) returned from three months out to register his fifth win from eight starts by a comfortable five-lengths under Jang Chu-youl.

MUSKET CLEAVER (Musket Man) was an impressive eight-length winner of race 5 (1600M Class 4) and looks to have scope for more improvement going on the way he very easily accounted for his rivals.

The same can be said about CONCORD BLUE (Concord Point) who landed race 4 (1300M Class 5) by five-lengths under CC Wong for trainer Lee Shin-woo.

WHILST DOWN AT BUSAN ON SUNDAY UNJU GUY (Freedom Child) was an incredibly impressive winner of the concluding 1800M class 2 by an ever-extending nine-lengths. 

Unju Guy, who was second to Oasis Blue in last year’s Derby, had run into the likes of Young Skywalker and Oasis Red in recent starts, and was also sent up to Seoul for a crack at the President’s Cup in October, but appreciated not running into horses of that ability with what was visually the most impressive win of the day across the country and the style of his win surely wouldn’t have dented his confidence levels going forward.

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Herald Business – Stayer Series 1st Leg: Preview & Form Comments

SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN

The Stayer Series gets underway at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon with a who’s who of the distance ranks lining up in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3).

Clean One easily won the Grand Prix (Pic: KRA)

Defending champion SUCCESS BAEKPA is back, but he is going to have his work cut out if he is to retain his title. A two-time Classic winner at three, Success Baekpa makes his five-year-old debut racing for the first time since finishing down the field in the Grand Prix (2300M KOR-G1) at the end of November. Prior to that though, he was 3rd in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) and while that kind of form mixing has been a feature throughout his career, on his day he can mix it with the best. Jin Kyum is aboard for trainer Min Jang-gi.

The Grand Prix saw a display of domination by CLEAN ONE. The then three-year-old led early and had most of the field off the bridle, including Japanese raider Yumeno Honoo, with almost four furlongs left to run, ultimately winning by nine-lengths, the biggest margin in the race in three decades.  He hasn’t raced since but he trialed well a month ago and if he gets to the lead, could run away from them again. Clean One will be partnered for the first time by Seo Seung-un.

SPEED YOUNG is the reigning Horse of the Year and won the President’s Cup. The “Swiss Army Knife” returns to the racing around two turns having taken time out to win the Listed Segye Ilbo (1200M KOR-Listed) last month and will surely be in the finish again.

Runner-up in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix was GANGPUNGMA, and he is the best chance among horses trained in the capital. He hasn’t been the most fluent coming out of the gates recently which has put him on the backfoot but he was a smart winner at class 1 handicap level to round out the year and he will have plenty of backers. He starts for the first time having moved to the stable of Choi Bong-ju.

The Herald Business is race 7 on the 10-race Sunday card at Seoul with a local post time of 16.05:

1. GLOBAL SOCKS – Well back behind Gangpungma over this trip on December 28th and then midfield over 1800M in February. A long time since he last placed and a big outsider here.

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Korea Racing Report: March 6th – March 8th

IT WAS A LONG WAIT FOR THE FEATURE AT SEOUL RACECOURSE ON SUNDAY A class 1 affair over the 1200M for those who didn’t make the privilege of going to the G3 at Busan to get beaten by Vincero Cavallo, was the last on the card, but it didn’t disappoint as MAGIC POTION (Competitive Edge), the winner of last November’s KRA Sprint at Seoul, beat favourite Best Race by a length and a half in a fast time. 

The US-bred five-year-old, who was ridden by Lee Yong-ho, moved on to eight wins from fourteen starts and could be under consideration for a start in the next leg of the Sprint Series on April 12th. 

STUNNING MONEY (Gyeongbudaero) completed a riding treble on the program for Panamanian jockey Luiz Quiroz when winning the preceding ninth race (1800M Class 3) by two lengths.

It was a third victory over the Seoul 1800M for Stunning Money who accounted for Dragon Gate and Ultra Dragon whilst the three favourites in Tanseongui Banseok, BS Storm and Pasa Spurt were the next trio home.

The other victories on the program for Quiroz were ONEMO TIME (Peace Rules) who was the most impressive winner of the three maiden contests at the start of the card when justifying 2.3 favoritism by nine-lengths from the front, and in race 7 with a pick-up ride on STAY BIG (Stay Thirsty) who was the rank outsider at 60/1.

SHINING ROAD (Midshipman) was considered the danger to the 1.4 popular pick Pas de Cheval in race 8 (1700M Class 4) and he duly got first run on the favourite and held him off by a half-length. Pas de Cheval, who had won his previous two starts very softly, didn’t respond when first asked for the effort but eventually picked up in the straight; however, the line came up too quickly for his backers.

RAON FLORENCE (Musket Man) continued his consistent run of form when impressively winning by six lengths at even money under apprentice Woo In-cheol in race 6 (1200M Class 4).

GWANAKSAN SKY (Concord Point) followed up his debut victory with a four-length score in race 4 (1400M Class 5) and looks like potentially a nice type going forward.

GRACE DAY (Race Day) followed up her front-running nine-length maiden victory with another front-running win, this time only by a half-length. It is likely it would have been by a bit further however if she wasn’t so green in the home straight as she hung out with 200 metres to travel before then ducking back in towards the running rail in the final 50 metres. Her victory completed a riding double for Jeong Jeong-hee who rode the opening winner FLASH JUDE (Flashback).

VINCERO CAVALLO WAS THE STAR DOWN AT BUSAN but there was plenty on the undercard too.

UNJU CHALLENGE (Revolutionary) came home two and a half lengths clear in the following 1800M Class 4. He dipped coming out of the gates but balanced up, found the lead and proved too good for Lime Tree whilst the 2.4 favourite Amazing One was a further five lengths away only managing third and never looking like getting near his two co-favourites. Son Gyeong-min was the winning rider and that apprentice completed a double after success in race 3 on board NICE GIRL (Afleet Express).

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VINCERO CAVALLO REASSERTS AUTHORITY IN SPRINT SERIES OPENER

VINCERO CAVALLO pulled off a successful and emotional defense of the first leg of the 2026 Sprint Series, winning the Busan Ilbo (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old was racing for the first time in the colours of Kim Hyun-kang, son of late owner Kim In-gyu, who passed away last month.

Two in a row for Vincero Cavallo (Pic: KRA)

Despite sweeping all three legs of the series a year ago, Vincero Cavallo didn’t get a huge amount of support form the assorted racing media prior to the race. After missing a summer prep race, he ran 6th in September’s Korea Sprint and was down the field in his only subsequent start of 2025. Punters kept faith though, sending off the defending champion a 4.8 second favourite to return to form

Return to form he did and in some style. Settling just behind the early speed, which was set by the fancied trio of Born Dia, Fantastic Kingdom and Yeonggwangui World, Vincero Cavallo was never too far away. In the straight, under Jo Jae-ro, he produced that familiar burst of speed that had been missing in the latter half of last year, to burst through the middle and go on to score by two-lengths.

Pre-race favourite Winner Clear was 2nd with Fantastic Kingdom in 3rd.

“When he won the Sprint Series last year, (Vincero Cavallo) was running once a month, and it was difficult to maintain that. I had really been looking forward to the Korea Sprint, but he wasn’t able to show his ability – he was basically telling us he needed a holiday” winning trainer Seo In-seok told KRBC.

“Today he was back to himself, and I think he has a good chance of matching his achievement (of sweeping the Sprint Series) from last year.”

“Born Dia bolted from the gate. If the race had been at Seoul, I might have hurried up to go with her but the Busan track is a little different and I knew I could be patient and just trust Vincero Cavallo” jockey Jo Jae-ro explained.

“I’ve been a jockey for about ten years now and I always dreamed of riding a horse like Vincero Cavallo. I think I need to work to improve my own ability to be worthy of riding horses like him.”

“Last year I came onto that podium for the first time and (owner) Kim In-gyu was there. This time when I went up there, I felt sad. I am sure that somehow he knows that we won again.”

Vincero Cavallo [Cowboy Cal – City Lass (by City Zip)] was purchased by Kim In-gyu for 30 Million Won at the December Yearling Sale on Jeju in 2022. With his latest victory, he moves on to eleven wins from twenty-four starts and prize money in excess of 1.7 Billion Won.

The Sprint Series moves on to Seoul on Sunday April 12th with the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). Next weekend, attention shifts to the first leg of the Stayer Series and the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul. Emphatic Grand Prix winner Clean One makes his first appearance as a four-year-old and is set to face off with Horse of the Year Speed Young.

Sprint Series 1st Leg: Busan Ilbo Preview & Form Comments

SEE HERE FOR RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN

Not since Success Story in 2017 has a Busan-trained horse provided a home winner for its leg of the Sprint Series as Seoul has dominated the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). In that time visitors such as Silver Wolf, Eoma Eoma, Raon The Fighter and most recently Vincero Cavallo have been the most notable winners.  This year may be different though as the home track provides most of the probable favourites among the twelve-strong field.

Vincero Cavallo swept all three legs of last year’s Sprint Series (Pic: KRA)

The defending champion is back though. VINCERO CAVALLO swept all three legs of the Sprint Series last year, but he didn’t hold his form for the rest of the year, missing a summer prep before running 6th in the Korea Sprint (1200M IG3) but was well back in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-G3) in October, and hasn’t raced since. He did though win a February trial.

Busan is dangerous this year. WINNER CLEAR and YEONGGWANGUI WORLD enter as the in-form horses. The former won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam in November and edged out BORN DIA at class 1 level in January. Yeonggwangui World meanwhile looked set to won the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) at Seoul three weeks ago before Speed Young, who skips this race in order to go to the opening leg of the Stayer Series next week, ran him down late on.

GANGSEO GIANT is another Busan trained horse who will be firmly in the market while FANTASTIC KINGDOM and veteran BLACK MUSK are others who may play a role in the finish. The Busan Ilbo Sprint, kicking off the Sprint Series, gets underway at 16:05 local time on Sunday:

1. BORN DIA – Class 2 winner at this distance in October and then led on January 11th only to be denied by Winner Clear in the final strides by a neck. Good draw and a 2kg mare allowance which brings her right in contention. Chance.

2. GANGSEO GIANT – Won the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M in 2024 and was 3rd in the same race in 2025. Won at class 1 over 1200M in November and hasn’t raced since but looked well in a February trial. Likes to come from off the pace, Seo Seung-un is on, and she will be among the favourites.

3. WINNER CLEAR – Dueled with Clean One as a juvenile but has found his niche at 1200M where all seven of his wins have come. He won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam on Grand Prix weekend in emphatic fashion before just getting up to beat Born Dia on January. Comes from off the pace and has a fiendish turn of foot. He will be favourite.

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