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
(4) SPARTAN got his maiden win at start eight over this distance on February 16th racing on pace throughout. He only gets a 1kg weight drop, but he draws well to lead again, and he can measure up in this company. It’s been a long time since (1) ROYAL PLUS got her sole victory but she comes in off a smart 3rd place at this class and distance on February 8th and under the same light weight a similar showing will put her in the finish here. (9) STUNNING PEARL had a poor day at the office last time out but prior to that was 2nd at this class over 1300M, and on that form is a real danger here especially with Maia climbing on for the first time. (7) CHAMP HAMSEONG and (10) ELITE PEACE others in the hunt.
| Selections | (4) Spartan (1) Royal Plus (9) Stunning Pearl (7) Champ Hamseong |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) BLACK EQUUS got her maiden win at start two over 1400M before running a fair 4th at that same distance on his first try at this class on February 21st. She steps up to a mile for the first time but draws well and under a light weight, she can be very competitive. (2) GEUMA BRISK enters off back-to-back 3rd places at this class and distance both times overcoming very wide draws. He comes into a much better gate this time around and will be a big threat. (6) SEONGSIL CHEONHA beat Geuma Brisk when pulling off a shock class and distance win on February 16th having led for most of the way. He comes up 3.5kg in weight but is not to be dismissed. (4) TOHAMSAN TIGER and (8) BLACK SPEED are the other place chances.
| Selections | (3) Black Equus (2) Geuma Brisk (6) Seongsil Cheonha (4) Tohamsan Tiger |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) DREAMER WHIZ led for much of the way around over 1400M on January 25th before ultimately weakening badly late on. He has been back to trial since, which he came through well, and coming back to a trip at which he places twice, he is the one to beat. (1) SPECIALTIME has won at this trip and enters with recent form reading fairly after a 4th and a 5th from her latest two. From the inside gate, she can be on or close to the pace and be in this a long way. The wildcard is (4) MOONHAK CROWN. He has done precisely nothing in four outings to date but looked very well when an on pace 2nd in a quick trial in February. He hasn’t raced on pace in any of his races so if he can do that here, he may be much better. (6) SFORZA and (11) HANGANG GLORY both need passes on their respective latest efforts but can do better in this company.
| Selections | (8) Dreamer Whiz (1) Specialtime (4) Moonhak Crown (6) Sforza |
| Next Best | 11, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) BEOLMA KING is a winner of two from four, most recently over this distance on February 21st when coming from well off the pace. He comes up in class today but is down 3.5kg in weight, and he looks very nicely in to win again. (12) BUSAN TODAY has been a touch disappointing in her latest two, but she is a class and distance winner as recently as last October. She may need a touch of luck from the widest gate but don’t rule out a return to form here. (7) CHEONGHO BOSS enters off a 3rd and a 4th in her latest two, both at this class and distance. She remains under a light weight and could make for some appeal at an each-way price. (1) BINNANEUNGIL and (3) BRIGHT MARINE among others who can compete for the places.
| Selections | (4) Beolma King (12) Busan Today (7) Cheongho Boss (1) Binnaneungil |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 9, 12 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(11) MUSKET DAY is a winner of two from three most recently over 1400M on February 15th when handy throughout. He comes up in class and in trip today – and even slightly in weight – but none of those should be an issue and he can continue the very promising start to his career here. (3) MK LEE is a model of consistency having placed in each of his last five outings, all of them at this distance. That brings him up in class here, but he comes down in weight, he draws well, and he can measure up in this company. (9) HERO JEONSA is a non-winner from fifteen but is another regular placer. He tackled this class for the first time on January 11th when 3rd at this distance and while he is up 3.5kg in weight, he should be there or thereabouts again. (10) BRIGHT KAI and (5) ACRO MARINE others in the frame.
| Selections | (11) Musket Day (3) MK Lee (9) Hero Jeonsa (10) Bright Kai |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Competitive race. (3) SOLEDAD enters off a solid 3rd place over this distance on her first try at this class on February 9th, running on from midfield. Both her wins have come at this distance, she is nicely weighted and drawn and with Munro staying on, she can win. (2) BIG MUSICAL STAR will probably be the favourite. A winner over this distance at class 4 level in January, he followed up with a runner-up finish on February 9th, when he led for most of the way. That brings him up in class, but he is down 3.5kg in weight and from a good gate he can be on pace and in this a long way. (8) YEONGGWANGUIFIRST has twelve top four finishes from fourteen starts and comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class and distance. That brings him up 4kg in weight, but he should be there or thereabouts again here. (7) VEREUDA and (9) SEOGWI FLASH are others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Soledad (2) Big Musical Star (8) Yeonggwanguifirst (7) Vereuda |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1800M) Weight for Age / Herald Business Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million
The first leg of the Stayer Series and one of the most competitive races seen here at elite level for a long time with a case able to be made for almost the entire sixteen-strong field. Without much confidence, we’ll side with (12) SUCCESS BAEKPA. 4th place in the President’s Cup and 3rd in the Grand Prix Stakes to round off a three-year-old campaign that also included two legs of the Triple Crown marks him out as an exciting prospect and he can have a big year ahead of him, starting here. He will need to overturn the form on (4) MIRACLE MARINE. Another four-year-old, he emerged from under the radar to win his last three, two at class 1 level over this distance. Level weights in elite company will be a test but one he can be equal to. (13) TUHONUI BANSEOK is a proven Group winner and races for the first time since running 2nd to Global Hit in December’s Grand Prix. He looked well in a February trial and first-up is no problem for him. His class can put him in the finish. Unbeaten US import (1) WONPYEONG STORM faces by far his toughest assignment to date. A huge prospect, this may be a little too much too soon, but a place isn’t out of the question. (2) SPEED YOUNG and (3) NUT PLAY among many others who can be in the finish.
| Selections | (12) Succes Baekpa (4) Miracle Marine (13) Tuhonui Banseok (1) Wonpyeong Storm |
| Next Best | 2, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 13, 15 |
Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(2) DAEJI CHOICE was a winner at this class over 1200M on February 9th with three of today’s rivals down the track behind him. He is a three-time winner at this distance including at class 1 and while he has the steadier of 59kg to carry, he can win again. (5) JEONGMUN COBIT was 4th behind Daeji Choice in that February 9th race, having come from a long way back. He gets a full 7kg from his rival today and has won two of his three starts at the distance. (3) GALAXY ROAD’s last few efforts have been in the very best races, with the Korea Cup, President’s Cup and Grand Prix his latest three, scoring superb 5th places in the first two of those. Back in shallower waters and back at one turn, he is to be respected. (8) BEOLGYOUI KKUM and (1) SKY MORE others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Daeji Choice (5) Jeongmun Cobit (3) Galaxy Road (8) Beolgyoui Kkum |
| Next Best | 1, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) ECLIPSE HONOR returned in January from six months out and has recorded a 2nd place and a win in his two starts back so far. The victory came on his first spin around two turns over 1700M on February 16th and while that does bring him up in class, he draws very well to be on the speed here and can go back-to-back. (11) POWER ETCHED was a class and distance winner on February 15th, settling handy and proving too strong. He comes up 1.5kg in weight and has the challenge of the widest gate, but he can be in the mix again. (10) TIZ ENERGY was only ordinary in slightly tougher company than this on February 9th but he was a class and distance winner as recently as November and while he has his fair chare of weight, he can be a danger. (6) TAEPUNGCHEOREOM and (2) GLOBAL LUCKY others who may have a say.
| Selections | (1) Eclipse Honor (11) Power Etched (10) Tiz Energy (6) Taepungcheoreom |
| Next Best | 2, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) WALTZUI YEOWANG returned from eleven months out to win at this distance at the end of December, before running a fair 5th of ten on her first try at this class on February 8th. She remains under a light weight, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can win here. After a similarly lengthy absence, (1) DOKKI DRAGON has been working his way back into form with 4th over 1200M on February 16th his latest when coming from well back. The step up in trip today can suit and he can be a danger late. (6) NANOMETA is yet to winin seventeen starts and that may not change here, but this is the kind of race he knows how to pick up and cheque in and he shouldn’t be far away. (2) GANGCHEOL YEOGEOL and (9) MYUNGJINBULLPAI others in the hunt.
| Selections | (10) Waltzui Yeowang (1) Dokki Dragon (6) Nanometa (2) Gangcheol Yeogeol |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) PEPPER X rounded out his juvenile campaign with a maiden win at start four, leading all the way over 1400M. He stepped up to this class for his first three-year-old appearance and was a similarly front-running 2nd, again at this trip, on January 11th. He comes in fresh after nine weeks off, Moon Se-young climbs on for the first time, and he will be favourite to win. (6) HERO SOCKS took a few goes to work things out but has a win and two runner-up finishes from his latest three. That brings him up in class today, but he comes down a full 5kg in the weights, his win came at this trip, and he can measure up. (1) FAIR SKIES has hinted at a return to form in his latest two woth back-to-back 4th places and can match or better that here. (7) DRAGON BULPAE and (10) A PURE GOOD WOMAN are others in the frame.
| Selections | (5) Pepper X (6) Hero Socks (1) Fair Skies (7) Dragon Bulpae |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 