Day: August 1, 2025

KRA Cup Classic Sunday Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (August 3)

It’s the main domestic prep race for September’s international Korea Cup on Sunday as Global Hit defends his KRA Cup Classic crown against 10 rivals. Seoul is the only track racing on Sunday with 14 races from 10:35 to 18:00. We’ll have a full preview of the big race shortly, for now here is the race-by-race:

Global Hit won this race last year (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (2) DAEHAN POWER beat a couple of these rivals on debut over 1000M on June 21st, settling just behind the speed and running on for 3rd. That day’s second place getter has gone on to win and from a good draw, Daehan Powers can do the same. (4) REVERENCE also ran 3rd on debut, in his case on July 5th, also beating a pair of today’s rivals. Moon Se-young stays on and that’s enough to mean he will probably begin as favourite. Among the newcomers, (3) BLACK PEPE was a trial winner in a good time and if he brings that form to the races, he will be close (10) STORM TROOPER and (11) MASTER PLAN can improve from their respective debuts.

Selections(2) Daehan Power (4) Reverence (3) Black Pepe (10) Storm Trooper
Next Best11, 9
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden. (4) APATEU ran a solid 3rd on debut over 1000M on July 12th, running through the line well. She should have come on for that run, the step up in trip can suit, and she should have too much for this set of opponents. (2) GHOST GALE led for much of the way around 1300M on July 19th, ultimately registering a best to date of 4th. That was her first start since last November and she can strip fitter here and be on pace again. (1) TRIPLE JENNY has made progress across her three starts so far, culminating in 2nd place in a similar race to this over 1400M on June 29th. She can sit behind the speed and run into some money here. (6) GIDAEHARA and (5) HYEWONYONGMA are others to consider on a place line.

Selections(4) Apateu (2) Ghost Gale (1) Triple Jenny (6) Gidaehara
Next Best5, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) HERO CHICE is yet to finish in the top two but has five top five finishes from eight starts, including his latest on July 13th when he overcame gate eleven to race handy and beat three of today’s rivals on his way to 3rd place at this distance. He draws much better for an easier run to the lead and he is the one to beat. (8) GLOBAL GISANG was a solid 3rd on debut over 1200M at the end of May, starting slowly and running on. She should have come on for that run, CC climbs on, and she can be a danger. (1) GRAND PARK enters off an improved 2nd at this distance on June 28th and from the inside gate can be in the mix again. (11) CHEONGHAE STAR and (3) RAON THE BELMONT others who have shown ability and can compete.

Selections(2) Hero Choice (8) Global Gisang (1) Grand Park (11) Cheonghae Star
Next Best3, 9
Fast Start2, 6, 10, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) QUANTUM K has a win and two 2nd places across his five starts so far, most recently when runner-up over 1400M at this class on June 28th. He got shuffled back a bit further than usual that day before running on but in this company should get a straightforward run to the front and can win. (1) CHOEGANG SPEED is the danger. He can get a bit far back in his races but has a nice turn of foot and has run 2nd and 4th in his two starts at this level since his maiden win, most recently on July 5th when he led in the closing stages over 1400M. Moon Se-young is on for the first time. He will need to overturn the form on (8) MINT PLAY, who beat him when 3rd in that July 5th race. The veteran enters in consistent form and should be there or thereabouts again. (10) GLOBAL HAMSEONG and (4) SEOBU SKY others in the hunt.

Selections(2) Quantum K (1) Choegang Speed (8) Mint Play (10) Global Hamseong
Next Best4, 8
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 8

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Small but competitive field. (7) MENI WIN enters off a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, both at this distance and both times racing on pace. He can lead here, and he can win. (6) DAEWONYONGMA remains a maiden after sixteen attempts, but he has gone close plenty of times with seven top five finishes. He comes in following a 4th and a 3rd from his first two tries at this class and continuing under a light weight, today could be his day. (4) SAENAE CLASSIC got a win and a 3rd in three starts last year. He returns from almost eight months off here and having looked well in a July trial, he can be competitive first up. (5) MENI SHARK and (8) CANVASEN GO the other main chances.

Selections(7) Meni Win (6) Daewonyongma (4) Saenae Classic (5) Meni Shark
Next Best8, 3
Fast Start4, 6, 7, 8

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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Seoul & Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 2)

With Jeju off this weekend we have a rare Saturday where both Seoul and Busan will be in operation. Seoul has 9 races from 10:35 to 18:00, which will be interspersed with 5 races from Busan between 11:35 to 16:15. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Eleven previously unraced juveniles. (8) AGAIN GOOD MAN was quickest in trials, finishing in 3rd place in his heat on July 10th showing on pace throughout. Expect similar tactics here and he will probably start as favourite. (11) GOOD MORNING COME came from off the pace to run a close 3rd in his heat. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he can go well. (2) UNICA was 4th behind Good Morning Come, settling midfield and running on. His stable is in good form and he can keep that going here. Plenty of others hinted at ability in the morning with (7) LIGHT WING and (6) YEONGWONHAN STAR, who both finished 3rd in their respective trials, will be the other main ones in the market.

Selections(8) Again Good Man (11) Good Morning Come (2) Unica (7) Light Wing
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) MANI NODAGI returned from almost six months out to run a much-improved 2nd over this distance on July 6th. He should strip fitter for that run and from a good gate, he can lead all the way here. (2) GAYA STAR similarly enters off a best to date runner-up finish over this distance on July 13th He is third-up this preparation so may be peaking fitness wise and can be a danger late. The rest of the form is patchy, so we’ll give a chance to debut-maker (6) POWERFUL IMPACT. His trial wasn’t quick, but he did make up so ground so the 1200M, as well as this limited set if opponents, may suit first up. (5) MUNHAK DANCE and (4) SPICE BAND others who can improve.

Selections(3) Mani Nodagi (2) Gaya Star (6) Powerful Impact (5) Munhak Dance
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 9

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

(9) DOCTOR CENTUM has a 2nd and a 3rd from his two starts so far, both over 1000M. He finished off well both times so the step up in trip can suit and third-up he can be hard to beat. (6) GUREUM BIT didn’t do much on debut in April but was significantly improved when 3rd at start number two over this distance on June 29th when she raced on pace. She can lead again here and be in things a long way. (3) SEINE GANG was only ordinary at start number two over 1300M in June but if we go on her debut 4th back in May at this distance, she can be in the mix in this company. (4) DAEBAK NANTA and (7) WIND SWORD are others who can improve.

Selections(9) Doctor Centum (6) Gureum Bit (3) Seine Gang (4) Daebak Nanta
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start6, 7, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (3) SONEULNAEMILEO got her maiden win over this distance in March and has since run 3rd and 2nd in two tries at this class. She draws beautifully to get the lead here and she can make all the running. (2) TEUKGEUP PARTY is yet to finish outside of the top five and got her maiden win at 1300M in May. She too showed she can measure up at this level with a very narrow reverse when 2nd at 1300M on July 20th and, making a quick return here, she can be in the finish again. (11) LUCKY A ONE won at start two in May over this distance. She hasn’t raced since but she has worked every day since July 18th and should have more to offer. (9) STUNNING PEARL, and the veteran (1) GROW, are other place chances.

Selections(3) Soneulnaemileo (2) Teukgeup Party (11) Lucky A One (9) Stunning Pearl
Next Best1, 5
Fast Start3, 7, 8, 11

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

(2) WIND ROSE enters off a 2nd place last time out, albeit ten-lengths behind Stuka, over 1400M on June 27th when on pace. From a great draw, she can lead again and in the absence of any other standouts, she should go all the way. (3) BEOLMA WINNER ran twice last autumn, finishing 4th on both occasions. He returns for the first time since last October and having looked well in a July trial, can be competitive first up. (4) LIKE DRAGON was 5th behind Wind Rose in that June 27th race but two starts back ran 2nd at 1200M and cab be in the mix again. The form drops off precipitously after those three with (1) ULFBERHT and (9) SPEED BOY perhaps the best of a limited rest.

Selections(2) Wind Rose (3) Beolma Winner (4) Like Dragon (1) Ulfbehrt
Next Best9, 11
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 11

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

Competitive race. (3) HIGH FOLLY comes back to the distance at which he has done his best work so far with a win and two 3rd places among five attempts. He likes to race on pace so is very nicely drawn and he has every chance here. (7) KYLIE got her maiden breakthrough at the eighteenth time of asking on July 13th when leading for most of the way at this class and distance. She is up 3kg in weight, but that win had been coming, and she could be so lucky again. (2) MG FIRST is yet to finish in the first two in nine attempts but has four 3rd place finishes including on his first try at this class. He comes in fresh after eight weeks off and is another who should be competing for the lead from the start. (5) PINE PINK and (9) EUNPA MUSIC other contenders for at least the minors.

Selections(3) High Folly (7) Kylie (2) MG First (5) Pine Pink
Next Best9, 1
Fast Start 1, 2, 3, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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