The Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer headlines on Sunday with its second leg, the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) attracting a full field of sixteen fillies and mares at Seoul Racecourse. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSSS SEOUL AND BUSAN.
Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-Listed) winner GLADIUS returns, and she is likely to be a warm favourite, but she will have to account for the speedy Segye Ilbo winner Crown Hamseong as well as last year’s big rivals JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG and WONDERFUL SLEW.
The Ttukseom Cup is race 8 on an 11-race Sunday program at Seoul. Here is a rundown of the field in full:
1. GLOBAL TAEYANG – 2nd in last year’s Korean Oaks but hasn’t really kicked on. Solid at class 2 but has been found wanting in this company in the Breeders’ Cup Queen and most recently the Donga Ilbo. Has won at the distance.
2. GLADIUS – Winner of her latest three, two at class 2 level and then the Donga Ilbo when handy throughout. Two-time winner at this distance, beautifully drawn to sit handy and is a big chance. She will start as favourite.
3. SAENAE QUEEN – More renowned at 1200M though she did struggle in the Segye Ilbo at that distance behind Crown Hamseong. She does have a class 1 3rd place at 1400M, and she will be on pace.
4. QUEEN TOP – 4th at big odds in the Breeders’ Cup Queen and 3rd at big odds in the Donga Ilbo, both times from well off the pace. She has won at this distance and while not a top-line favourite, she warrants respect here.
5. WONDERFUL SLEW – Twice a Group winner in similar company last season rounding it off with 3rd place in the Breeders’ Cup Queen. Only appearance this year was when well back behind the boys in the Herald Business last month. Prefers further but big chance in this company.
6. PERFECT ACTION – An also-ran in the first two legs of last year’s Tiara, she gets her chance with a smart class 2 win over this distance on April 4th, racing on pace. Could challenge for a place.
7. RAON FOREST – 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Queen last November and 4th in the Donga Ilbo. Latest effort at 1400M didn’t go well but she has won at the distance. Likes to come from off the pace and could run into a place.
8. GANGSEO GIANT – Won the Listed Kookje Shinmun at this distance in Busan last November ahead of the likes of Vincero Cavallo but has underwhelmed in three starts since and was 9th in the Donga Ilbo. Talented but hard to have on current form.
9. BAEKDUUI KKUM – A winner of five from eleven but races for the first time since winning at class 3 level last August. Trialed up in the same heat and in an identical time to Jeulgeounyeojeong, but this is a hard ask first up. Races on pace.
10. TAEPYEONG FIGHTER – Two wins and a 3rd in three tries at this distance but only up to class 3 level. Untried in this company and will need to lift to compete.
11. BARO DANAEUN – Won four in a row between October and February up to class 3 level before running 2nd at a mile last time. Proven able to run well on pace or from behind but this is hard.
12. BLUE LEMON – Backs up fast having won a valuable Trophy race over 1800M just two weeks ago. Two wins from three at this distance and a better prospect than when 8th in the Breeders’ Cup Queen last November. Still more to find though.
13. CROWN HAMSEONG – Won the Listed Segye Ilbo over 1200M in February ahead of Speed Young, making all and has won three times at 1400M. 2nd in the Donag Ilbo having led. May need a touch of luck from the wide draw but if she can find the lead, she can win.
14. JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG – Triple Tiara winner in 2023 and won this race last year. Ended 2024 disappointingly when found to have bled in the Breeders’ Cup Queen. Hasn’t raced since but won two trials in quick fashion and her quality sees her in the mix first up.
15. FLYING STAR – Won the Breeders’ Cup Queen from on the pace last November having been 2nd to Wonderful Slew in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup. Momentum was interrupted when 7th in the Donga Ilbo. Not to be dismissed.
16. MIGHTY LOOK – 4th in this race last year but then didn’t reappear until this February. Has a 6th and a 4th in two starts back, both at class 1. Third up can be fit and on ratings is right in this but will be an outsider.
VERDICT: (13) CROWN HAMSEONG is a winner of eight from twelve, including the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over 1200M in February, which she led from gate to wire. She tried to repeat the trick in the first leg of this series, the Donga Ilbo on March 23rd, ultimately finishing 2nd. The drop back to 1400M can suit, Moon Se-young has won on her six times, and the only concern is the wide draw. That wide draw may be enough to send off (2) GLADIUS as favourite. She’s been a reverlastion in winning two class 2 races across the turn of the year and then winning the Donga Ilbo, racing handy and cruising past Crown Hamseong late. The 1400M is no problem as she has two wins and a 2nd from three goes at it, and it would ne surprise were she to win again. (14) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG is the defending champion and while she hasn’t run since finishing off last year in disappointing fashion, well back in the Breeders’ Cup Queen having been found to have bled, she looked well in winning two trials in March and her quality can see her close. Her rival from last year (5) WONDERFUL SLEW struggled against the boys in the Herald Business last month but will find this more to her liking. (7) RAON FOREST another who is rarely far away.
| Selections | (13) Crown Hamseong (2) Gladius (14) Jeulgeounyeojeong (5) Wonderful Slew |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 9, 11, 13 |
Horse Racing in Korea 