Day: August 22, 2025

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 24)

Sunday sees 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 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (5) CHAM BBAREUN MAL was a very close 2nd on debut over 1000M on July 27th, racing handy throughout and almost getting up. He finished off very well so should have no problem with the extended trip, and he can win. (2) MY RUNNER was beaten by a bigger margin when 2nd on his debut at 1000M on July 5th, but he came from well off the pace to run on well. He too should have benefitted from the run and 1200M can suit. (9) KING MASTER beat a couple of these on his way to 3rd place when debuting at this distance on July 20th, overcoming a wide draw to get to the speed. He will need to do similar here but should be in the finish. Of the debut-makers, (1) AMOS STAR and (12) COMEBACK HOLYMOELY look the best at this stage.

Selections(5) Cham Bbareun Mal (2) My Runner (9) King Master (1) Amos Star
Next Best12, 3
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 9

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

Maiden fillies. (6) UNJU TIME has four top four finishes from five starts so far and enters off her best to date when 2nd in a very similar race to this on July 19th when close to the pace throughout. She won’t need to improve very much at all to win this. (4) TRIPLE PALMETTO has made steady progress across her four appearances, culminating in a last start 4th at 1200M. She has come from well off the pace every time and the slight step up in trip can suit. (9) TIGER ROAR also finished well on debut with her performance being better than the 7th of twelve finish suggests. She should have come on for that run and can go closer this time. (5) SMART MINK and (1) DAEHAN COCOS are other place chances.

Selections(6) Unju Time (4) Triple Palmetto (9) Tiger Roar (5) Smart Mink
Next Best1, 10
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 10

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

(7) ECLIPSE TANGO has been getting closer across his five starts and enters having run 3rd at this distance on July 12th when he led for most of the way around. Moon Se-young stays on, they should lead again in this company and this time they can go all the way. It isn’t a strong set of rivals. (1) X-FACTOR was only ordinary last time out but draws better this time around and with a good start, should be in this a long way. (3) GANGCHEOL POWER got his best finish in eighteen attempts when 2nd at this distance on July 27th, settling back and running on, and that’s enough for him to be in contention here. (5) SUN GALLANT and the returning (3) HANMADIMALDO are others to consider.

Selections(7) Eclipse Tango (1) X-Factor (3) Gangcheol Power (5) Sun Gallant
Next Best3, 11
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 7

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

After running 7th on debut (5) CHAMP SIDAE was a much-improved 2nd in an all-filly maiden over this distance on July 18th, racing further forward and beating a couple of today’s rivals. Franco stays on, third-up she can be peaking, and she is the one to beat. (3) WONDERFUL WIND has made progress across each of her four starts so far with 4th behind Champ Sidae in that July 18th race being her latest and best. She has a bit to find on the favourite but can get closer. (11) META V was 5th in that same race in what for her was her racing debut and she can have come on for the experience. (10) SPEED BUMP and (6) BREEDO GALLANT others who can improve.

Selections(5) Champui Sidae (3) Wonderful Wind (11) Meta V (10) Speed Bump
Next Best6, 2
Fast Start2, 8, 10, 11

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

(2) GOLD CATCHER won back-to-back races in June and early July before running 3rd at this class and distance on July 26th when she raced more forward than in previous starts. Johan knows her well, they draw well, and they can return to winning ways. (9) CLAIR BIG BANG was only ordinary on debut back in January but since coming back in June, has been excellent, winning twice from off the pace at 1300M and at this distance. She has a very quick final furlong on her compared to her rivals here and so long as she is withing striking distance, she will be a big threat late on. (6) WANGCHOEGO will need a lone drawn through his latest at 1200M on July 26th, but he has placed on both tries at this distance and can at least do so again. (4) JOY CHOENHA and up in class (11) BULGEUNTAEYANG are other chances.

Selections(2) Gold Catcher (9) Clair Big Bang (6) Wangchoego (4) Joy Cheonha
Next Best11, 7
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

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

It’s hard to go past (4) NICE BUDDY here. She got her win at start two over 1200M in June and has since run 2nd and 3rd in two tries at this class, both times racing on pace. She draws well to lead again, and she will be expected to go all the way. (2) ROSE DRAGON returned from six months off to run 2nd at this class and distance in June. She has had a further eleven weeks off since then, but she should be fitter, and she can be close. (8) OASIS WICKY won on debut back in January but hasn’t been seen since. He appears to have been gelded in his spell away from the track and he looked well enough in a trial two weeks ago to suggest he be a danger first-up. (11) PLUTO and the up in class (3) LION MAGIC others in the frame.

Selections(4) Nice Buddy (2) Rose Dragon (8) Oasis Wicky (11) Pluto
Next Best3, 10
Fast Start1, 4, 10, 11

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

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 23)

There are 10 Saturday races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

After 10 months out injured, jockey Lim Gi-won makes a welcome return to Seoul on Saturday (Pic: KRA)

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

Juvenile fillies only with all but two racing for the first time. We will favour the experience. (5) STEEPLE ran a solid 4th on debut over this distance on July 12th, settling midfield and running on. She should have come on for that run and is the one to beat here. (1) DREAM DIA ran 6th debuting in that same July 12th race. Drawing the inside and with Moon Se-young, who rode her in trials but not on debut, will give her plenty of backers. (11) GEOLJAK TIARA looked marginally the best of the newcomers in trials, settling handy and crossing the line a close 2nd. Maia booked is a plus. (7) CATCH RACE and (10) ILLUSION FORCE are other first-timers who can make an impression.

Selections(5) Steeple (1) Dream Dia (11) Geoljak Tiara (7) Catch Race
Next Best10, 8
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 9

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

(8) JIJON BULPAE ran a fair 5th on debut over this distance on July 20th, settling back and running on. He should have come on for that run and he can win here. (10) SILLAUI FIGHTER has run twice, finishing in 4th and 5th at 1300M and at 1200M, racing on pace both times. He has the challenge of a wider draw this time but with a bit of luck at the start, he can find a forward position and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness wise. (5) YONGBI STORM ran 5th on debut over 1000M on July 27th. He was doing his best work late so with the step up in trip and some natural improvement from his debut, he can get closer. (1) BEST DREAM and (9) ACE MATCH are others who can improve.

Selections(8) Jijon Bulpae (10) Sillaui Fighter (5) Yongbi Storm (1) Best Dream
Next Best9, 3
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 10

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

(6) THUNDER FIGHTER has a 4th and a 2nd from his two starts to date, both at 1200M, most recently on July 12th when he led for much of the way around. He should lead again and this time he can go all the way. (10) THE EXCELLENT ran 5th on debut and then 4th at start number two over 1200M  on July 20th when coming from well off the pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. The slight step up in trip should suit and he can be a big danger. (11) SAINT WINNER is a bit more experienced and comes in off his best finish to date when 2nd over 1400M on July 26th. He may need some early luck from out wide, but he can be in the finish. (8) SMART NOTION and (1) DDATTEUTHAN WIRO others in the frame.

Selections(6) Thunder Fighter (10) The Excellent (11) Saint Winner (8) Smart Notion
Next Best1, 3
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 11

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

(3) SONE SONJABGO comes in with recent form reading very consistently, most recently when 2nd at this class and distance on July 27th when ridden a little closer than usual. Expect similar tactics here and he can go one better. (7) KING OF DRAGON was 4th in a juvenile Listed race last autumn but hasn’t run since finishing down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie at Busan last December coming in and out of work in the intervening time. He trialed up well in July and while his match fitness must be taken on trust, he could make a winning return. (2) WHITE CARLA hasn’t yet kicked on from a debut win but second-up after a couple of months off, she may be sharper today. (6) ROYAL SOCKS and (9) J ONE POWER the other main chances.

Selections(3) Sone Sonjabgo (7) King Of Dragon (2) White Carla (6) Royal Socks
Next Best9, 11
Fast Start2, 6, 7, 8

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

(3) GANGCHEOL DRAGON returned from a six-month absence to run a strong 3rd over 1400M on August 2nd, settling midfield and running on. His sole win to date came at today’s trip and stripping fitter for that run three weeks ago, he can win. (9) RAON NORTHERN DANCE is yet to score in nine attempts, but he has seven top four finishes, including his last start 4th place at 1400M. He tackles two turns for the first time and under a light weight, it can suit. (2) BEOLGYO D Y got his maiden win three starts back at this class and distance and is much better than his subsequent two runs suggest. Drawn well again, he is worth another chance. (5) THUNDER STORM and (8) NASSAU CHAT among more in line for the minors.

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