It’s the big one for the three-year-old locally bred division on Sunday as the 2025 Korean Triple Crown gets underway with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) at Busan and a full field of sixteen – seven from the host track and nine who have travelled down from Seoul – will compete for the first jewel. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEWS OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN.

Trainer Baik Kwang-yeol and owner Lee Jong-hun won this race with Betelgeuse in 2023, and the pair arrive with two of the leading fancies in this edition in the shape of OASIS BLUE, who won Busan’s Classic Trial in February, along with BEOLMAUI ANGEL, who boasts the highest rating in the race.

CHAN FAMOUS won Seoul’s Classic Trial and leads the capital’s challenge in Busan in the colours of owner Shum Ho-chun. Plenty though will fancy LONG RUN BULPAE, 2^nd in that race, to overturn the form on Chan Famous.

The biggest juvenile race of last season, the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) was won by 80/1 outsider Aqua Line. He hasn’t raced since and isn’t here while that day’s runner-up Dragon Ninja, is sent to race 5 on Sunday instead. That leaves KHAN MAX, who was 3^rd, as the best finisher in that race, who goes here, and he won’t be among the favourites.

Race Shape: (1) LONG RUN BULPAE and (3) BEOLMAUI ANGEL both like to race on pace and both have drawn very well to do so (9) OASIS BLUE has been close to the speed in both his latest successes and while drawn wider this time will not want to be too far away. (11) ELDORADO NOLBU, (12) GANGNARU and (13) CHAN FAMOUS have all shown an ability to come from off the pace and given their wide draws will most likely settle back and seek to close.

Here’s who is taking part in the big race which has a local post time of 16:30 and is race 6 on the card:

1. LONG RUN BULPAE – Three wins up to class 4 and 1200M. 2^nd to Chan Famous in the Sports Seoul having been on pace and going down less than a length. Moon Se-young travels down to ride, he can be on pace here and is a chance.

2. WONDERFUL GROOM – Awarded the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy in the stewards’ room when Oasis Blue was thrown out. Well back in the Gyeongnam Shinmun Classic trial but does have a 2^nd place on his only start at this distance. Outsider.

3. BEOLMAUI ANGEL – A winner of four from eight up to class 3 level he has the highest rating of any of these. 4^th on first try at a mile last time out having shown on pace throughout. That should stand him in good stead here, he draws beautifully, and he can win. Seo Seung-un is aboard.

4. MY DREAM WAY – Just the one win but has begun this year well with a class 4 2^nd and then 3^rd in the Gyeongnam Shinmun. Others favoured but looks to be getting better with each run and can settle handy and run on and will have Alan Munro at the controls.

(more…)