Day: April 18, 2025

YTN Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (April 20)

It’s the biggest day of the season so far as Japan’s Yumeno Honoo takes on Global Hit, Success Baekpa and the rest of the top two-turn horses in the country in the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3). It’s race 7 of an 11-race card at Seoul which runs from 10:35 to 18:00. At Busan there are 6-races from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews with full form comments for the YTN to follow:

Success Baekpa won the 1st leg of the Stayer Series but will face a bigger challenge in the 2nd (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

After thirteen starts, (4) DAEWONYONGMA looks to have finally figured it out and comes in off his best finish to date when 2nd over this distance on March 16th when he led almost the entire way. He draws nicely to lead again and today should finally be the day. (8) JISAN FRIEND was an improved 4th at start number two on March 22nd over this distance, settling just behind the speed and finishing well. It was a slow race, but he finished ahead of a couple of today’s rivals, and he can continue to make progress here. (11) CHEONGRYONG GIUN was a fair 5th of eight on debut a month ago. He should have come on for that run and go closer. (5) SEMYEONG GHOST and (9) FLYING CONCORD, the latter looking well in a March trial, are others in the hunt.

Selections(4) Daewonyongma (8) Jisan Friend (11) Cheongryong Giun (5) Semyeong Ghost
Next Best9, 2
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden. (4) AWESOME QUEEN ran 2nd on debut in January before following up with 4th at this distance on March 15th. She has been doing her best work late so can sit behind the leaders here and she will be a short-price favourite to be too good. (3) BULGUKSIDAE enters off an improved 4th place at this distance on March 23rd. Well drawn in this company she should be among the pacesetters and can be in this a long way. (9) GEOLJAK HAPPY has a 3rd place on her record and against limited opposition, that’s enough to put her in with a chance of a place. (7) KIA ORA and first-time starter (1) CHARMING QUEEN are others to consider, the latter having hinted at ability in a decent trial earlier this month.

Selections(4) Awesome Queen (3) Bulguksidae (9) Geoljak Happy (7) Kia Ora
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 7

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) QUANTUM K ran a fair 5th on debut and followed up with an improved 2nd place at 1300M on March 15th. He has run through the line well suggesting that the slight step up in trip can be in his favour and he will be odds-on to go one better. (6) MASTER KWAIGON similarly made progress at start number two on March 15th when 2nd at 1300M, coming from well off the pace. He too should go well at the 1400M and shapes as the main danger. The form falls off rapidly after that pair but (1) BLACK SMILE has been knocking on the door of the places in her latest few and can so similar here. (3) PURGE RUBY and (7) NAEGILUIYEONGGWANG are others who can challenge for the minors.

Selections(5) Quantum K (6) Master Kwaigon (1) Black Smile (3) Purge Ruby
Next Best7, 4
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(11) CHOEGANG TRIPLE has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over this distance on March 2nd when close to the pace throughout and posting a time half a second faster than any of these have managed over 1200M. He has the challenge of a wider than ideal gate, but he won’t need much improvement to win this. Second-favourite will be (2) LION MAGIC. After running-on too late on debut he was ridden much closer at start two on March 21st, ultimately running 2nd, well beaten by a good winner. Expect similar tactics today and he shouldn’t be far away. (1) DIA KNIGHT ran twice without distinction last year, most recently in October. He looked well in a March trial and can make a fresh start here (although do note he trialed well last year too. Debut-makers (3) GREAT UP and (8) WIND ROSE showed well in their respective trials and can be considered on a place line first up.

Selections(11) Choegang Triple (2) Lion Magic (1) Dia Knight (3) Great Up
Next Best8, 9
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) USEUNG JINLI was a winner at start two last autumn before straining a ligament on his first try at this class in early December. He returned to action on March 9th at this class and distance and led a long way and ultimately ran 2nd. He comes up 2.5kg in weight but should have come on for that run and he can win here. (5) HAKSAN CAIRO remains a maiden after eight attempts but he has been ultra consistent with seven top five finishes. That includes his latest when 2nd over 1300M on March 29th and while he may once again find one too quick, he can be a danger late on for his first try at 1400M. (8) TAEGISAN KING comes up in class having scored over 1300M on March 8th, coming from midfield. He is down slightly in weight, and he can measure up. (1) ECLIPSE EDGE and (10) BULGEUN POKPUNG other place chances.

Selections(9) Useung Jinli (5) Haksan Cairo (8) Taegisan King (1) Eclipse Edge
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start1, 4, 8, 9

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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