The Stayer Series – and Road to the Korea Cup – gets underway at Seoul on Sunday with a super looking renewal of the Herald Business Cup (2000M KOR-G3). There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00, and 6 at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) POWER BAND did nothing on debut but was a significantly improved 3rd at start number two in an all-filly maiden over this distance on February 15th racing handy throughout. She’ll be on pace here and third-up, she can be peaking. (3) CRAZY MANGO similarly got better on his second start, in his case on February 16th at this distance when settling midfield and running on. He too draws well and again, third-up, can be better. (4) BLACK SMILE has hinted at ability across seven starts so far with her best being 5th. Ruan Maia stays on and in this company she can sit behind the speed and be aiming for a much better finish. (11) DIA ROOK and (9) SOMETHING DARK others who can compete for the minors.
| Selections | (5) Power Band (3) Crazy Mango (4) Black Smile (11) Dia Rook |
| Next Best | 9, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(6) WORLD JOY has made steady progress across five starts so far, culminating in a runner-up finish over this distance on February 15th when settling midfield and running on with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. Expect similar tactics here and he won’t need to improve much to go one better. (1) PURGE RUBY was 4th behind World Joy in that February 15th race, coming from well off the pace after a slow start. She comes into a better gate here and can be finishing off strong again. (9) JEULGEOUN SANGSANG has a 3rd and two 4th place finishes from three outings. In this company, he may be ridden a bit further forward a bit earlier and he should be in the finish. (2) THUNDER MARVEL and (11) WHITE ROMANCE others to consider.
| Selections | (6) World Joy (1) Purge Ruby (9) Jeulgeoun Sangsang (2) Thunder Marvel |
| Next Best | 11, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) ECLIPSE BLACK has been through two trials since parting company with his jockey on his latest start back in January. Prior to that, he had recorded his best finish to date when 2nd over 1400M at the end of December. He looked well enough in those trials and the step up to 1700M may allow him to settle into his racing a little better. (7) ILINX beat three of these on his way to 2nd on his first try at this distance on February 22nd, racing on pace throughout. He’ll be on pace again and should be in this a long way. (1) BEST KINGDOM stepped up to this trip for the first time on February 8th and ran a solid 3rd pace from off the pace and can be close once more. (3) CHAMPIONS FIELD and (2) SANBANG BOMNAL are others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (4) Eclipse Black (7) Ilinx (1) Best Kingdom (3) Champions Field |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) KKEUTPAN YEOGEOL has made steady progress across three starts with her latest her best when 2nd at 1300M on January 26th. There isn’t much speed here so he may well be ridden on pace, and he can go one better. (4) FLYING RACE has a 2nd and a 3rd from his lates two, most recently when coming from well back on February 21st. He has the fastest time among these for the distance by a considerable margin, and he shapes as the main danger. The rest will need to lift. (8) DOCTOR MATTERS will need a line drawn through her latest but if we go on her 4th place two starts back over this distance, then in this company, she has to have a chance. (1) ZETTA PRINCE and (6) SEOBU DANCING others who can compete for the minors.
| Selections | (7) Kkeutpan Yeogeol (4) Flying Race (8) Doctor Matters (1) Zetta Prince |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (8) RED DRAGON was a winner on debut in December before running 2nd on her first try at this class over 1300M on January 19th. Both times she settled back before showing strong late speed, and she should have too much for her rivals here. (2) BEOLGYO LAVA is up in class having secured her maiden win at the fourth time of asking at 1200M on February 15th. She is up in trip too but down in weight, she draws well, and with Moon Se-young riding for the first time, she can measure up here. (1) MAX TANGO is yet to win but had three runner-up finishes among six starts including last time out at this class and distance. That was at the end of November so she comes in here fresh, and she can be in the placing mix again. (11) GROW and (7) GRACE ROUTE others firmly in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Red Dragon (2) Beolgyo Lava (1) Max Tango (11) Grow |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) GOOGLE CAR got his maiden win at start three over 1200M last November and while it took him a couple of goes to get accustomed to this level, he stepped up to 1400M and ran an on-pace 2nd on February 14th. He comes up 3kg in weight from that, but he can be on pace again and can go one better. The danger is (11) MR.WOLF. He is yet to win in eight attempts, but has placed twice at this class, most recently when 3rd over 1200M on February 21st. He can run well from the front or from behind and given the lack of early speed he can defy the wide draw to get forward early. (2) MATONGNYEONG was well back behind Google Car last time out but ran 2nd at this distance in January at class 6 level and drawn well with Munro on, can get closer. (7) JET SUN and (3) SHANGHAI THUNDER other place chances.
| Selections | (9) Google Car (11) Mr.Wolf (2) Matongnyeong (7) Jet Sun |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
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