Day: November 21, 2025

Breeders’ Cup Queen/Rookie Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (November 23)

Champion juvenile of 2025 will be decided at Busan on Sunday with the running of the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie over 1400M. Also on the south coast, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter for fillies and mares takes place with the Breeders’ Cup Queen (Listed-1800M). There are 6 races at Busan on from 12:05 to 16:30 and 11 at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Mujehan Geup is among the favourites for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie (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. We’ll go with a newcomer and (9) LAVITA who was 2nd in her trial in a fair time, leading most of the way before finishing  well back behind the unbeaten Mujehan Geup (who we should be seeing in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie later today) but nonetheless showing plenty of potential. If she comes on from that, she has every chance. (12) RAPTURE is the only one of the experienced horses to have raced twice. She was a quick 2nd on debut and while she could only manage a midfield finish on her first try at this distance on November 8th, she can have a fitness edge on her rivals. (11) SUNGANUI FIGHTER got a bit far back on debut and ran out of track over 1000M. Some natural improvement and a slight step up in trip can help here. (1) SURPRISE and (6) FOREVER GIL are other newcomers who hinted at ability in trials.

Selections(9) Lavita (12) Rapture (11) Sunganui Fighter (1) Surprise
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start4, 6, 9, 11

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

(1) APATEU has two 3rd place finishes from three starts, most recently in a filly only maiden over this distance on October 26th when handy throughout. She draws nicely for Luis to pick his spot and while any top three finish will see her with a rating and up in class next time, she should be bowing out of class 6 with a win. (11) RAON KINGSMAN was a fair 5th on debut over this distance on October 18th and should have some improvement in him. (8) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG has made progress across three starts so far, culminating in a close 2nd place at this distance on October 26th when close to the pace throughout. He’ll be on pace again and can be in the finish. (6) LOVERMAN and (4) BEOLGYO BONGBONG are potential improvers.

Selections(1) Apateu (11) Raon Kingsman (8) Widaehan Hamseong (6) Loverman
Next Best4, 10
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 8

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

Fillies only. It’s been nine starts since (6) SEMYEONG DIA got her maiden win but she comes in looking ready for another. On her latest she ran 3rd in a similar class and distance filly maiden, with a couple of today’s rivals behind her and with the two who beat her that day looking superior to any she faces here. She can be on pace and go all the way. (4) STEEPLE can have a line drawn through her latest when from a wide draw she never got into the race. In this company and from this gate she can get on the speed and be in this a long way. (8) JUNMA FORCE enters with recent form reading well and while 1400M hasn’t been her best distance, she looks ready for another crack here. (1) DONGJIN THUNDER and (3) YES MADAM other place chances.

Selections(6) Semyeong Dia (4) Steeple (8) Junma Force (1) Dongjin Thunder
Next Best3, 2
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 8

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

Small field of juvenile maidens with four of the eight racing for the first time. Favourite will be (7) POWER TREE who, after winning a trial, was a close 2nd on debut over this distance on November 2nd, racing on pace and posting a decent time. He won’t need to have come on much from that to win. The best of the debut-makers is (2) SEONGSIL DREAM. He led in his trial on October 25th ultimately crossing the line a very narrow 2nd in a good time. Nicely drawn to lead, if he brings that form to the races, he can be a danger. (6) B K. SPIRIT was 6th on debut and then improved to 4th at start number two on October 24th coming from off the pace. She should be nice and fit for this and can continue to get closer. (8) YONGBI SKY trialed well and (5) BULBIT GANGJA can be in the mix too.

Selections(7) Power Tree (2) Seongsil Dream (6) B K. Spirit (8) Yongbi Sky
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) REVERENCE is yet to win but has a 3rd and a 2nd on his record and comes in having run a very good 4th in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy for juveniles over 1200M on October 19th. He comes back into much shallower waters today and he should make his breakthrough. (3) RAON PARANOMA has a 2nd and a 4th from her latest two, both times racing on the pace and from a good gate and with an apprentice claim she can lead again and be in this a long way. (11) THE SUN COMING improved to 4th at start number two on October 18th. Third-up she can be better and with a slight increase in trip and with a 4kg claim, she can be in the finish. (1) ONEMO TIME and (4) THUNDER RUN others in the mix.

Selections(5) Reverence (3) Raon Paranoma (11) The Sun Coming (1) Onemo Time
Next Best4, 8
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO was 3rd on debut over 1200M on October 17th, running on from midfield. He should have come on for that run, the step up in trip can suit, and he will be a warm favourite to prevail. (2) LIKE DRAGON is the most credible danger. She has finished between 2nd and 5th in each of her latest four and from a good gate and with Tanaka staying on, she should be there or thereabouts again. (4) FINAL HIT needs a line drawn through his latest over 1600M but back in trip and in this company, he can be given a place chance. (12) HIGH GOLD BAR and (10) DOCTOR CARRY are others who could compete for the minors among a field where the form falls off quite rapidly.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (November 22)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile filly maidens with seven of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience on top though and (4) GEUMJEOKSAN, who after a positive trial, ran 2nd on debut in a very similar race to this on October 4th. She was well beaten by a good winner, but she should have come on for the run and won’t need to improve much to win here. Among the first timers. (3) UNJU CLEAR looks the best. She came from well off the pace to run 4th in a decent time in her trial and Moon Se-young’s booking will catch the eye of plenty. (9) SMART HAESEONG is the only one in the field to have raced twice, improving to 3rd at start two and she can have a race fitness edge on her rivals here. (6) X-TEN and newcomer (2) JESEONG BLUE are others to look out for.

Selections(4) Geumjeoksan (3) Unju Clear (9) Smart Haeseong (6) X-Ten
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time. Experience gets it with (9) CHEONGSAN MUSA, who ran 2nd on debut over 1000M on October 25th, showing on pace throughout. He should have come on for that run, the additional distance should cause no problems, and he can win. (8) REFLECT shapes as the main danger. After running 5th on debut, he was an improved 3rd at start number two over this distance on October 19th, coming from well off the pace and he can challenge strongly late on here. (5) FANTASTIC BRO and (3) BLACK KINGDOM both hinted at ability on their respective debuts and can improve here. Among the first-timers, (2) ROAD TO HEAT looks the pick.

Selections(9) Cheongsan Musa (8) Reflect (5) Fantastic Bro (3) Black Kingdom
Next Best2, 1
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens with seven of the twelve racing for the first time and we’ll take a chance on a newcomer with (4) JEONGSANG HERO. The Beau Liam colt went through two trials, improving in the second of them when running 2nd in a good time and showing on pace. He draws nicely and if he can bring that form to the races, he’ll have every chance first up. (3) HIGH MOUNTAIN came from off the pace to run 4th on debut over 1000M on October 25th, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He should have come on for the run, the step up in trip can suit, and he can be a big danger. (1) JJARITHAN HAENGBOK is a Maximus Mischief colt who went through two trials, posting a quick time in both and coming from a wide gate to run 2nd in the latest of them. He is another to keep an eye on first up. (2) WHIZ FIGHTER and (12) M J CLASS both showed ability on debut and can improve.

Selections(4) Jeongsang Hero (3) High Mountain (1) Jjarithan Haengbok (2) Whiz Fighter
Next Best12, 9
Fast Start4, 6, 9, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 30 Million

Regular maiden here and (3) RAON FINALE is the one to beat. She’s run 3rd in both her starts to date at 1000M and 1200M, racing both handy and from off the pace. Third-up, she can peaking fitness-wise, the additional trip can suit, and she can win. The danger is (10) MIGHTY BEAT. He has a 6th and a pair of 4th place finishes over 1000M and 1200M, doing his best work late on all three occasions. He is another who should appreciate a bit more distance and he should be challenging late. (8) ECLIPSE TANGO has a pair of 3rd places on his record and while he weakened having led over 1700M last time out, this should suit better, and an apprentice takes 4kg off his back. (1) TRIPLE PALMOETTO has finished 4th in each of her latest three and may do so again. (7) POWERFUL IMPACT another who can compete for the minors.

Selections(3) Raon Finale (10) Mighty Beat (8) Eclipse Tango (1) Triple Palmetto
Next Best7, 11
Fast Start7, 8, 9, 11

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

(8) QUANTUM K got his maiden win over this distance and has been threatening another, most recently recording a 3rd place on October 19th when settling midfield and running on. Today can be the day. (7) SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA remains a maiden after eleven attempts but has placed on no fewer than seven occasions, five of them over this distance. In this company he can sit just behind the speed, and he should be there or thereabouts again.  (3) CHRYSOL MAJOR returns to action for the first time since April. He was going well before the layoff and while he has had an interrupted career, he has run well first-up before and looked well in a trial. (9) WANGCHOEGO and (2) LUCKY FAMOUS other placing chances.

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