SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES AT SEOUL AND BUSAN
1. NEW DOLKONG (USA) [Accelerate – Swear By It (Broken Vow)] C 4 – 19(4/3/2) O: Lee Tae-in T: Seo In-seok J: Jang Chu-youl – Has slowly worked his way up the grades and has established himself at class 2 with three placings, two at 2000M. Has been racing closer to the pace recently although his wins have come from further back. Can stay the trip but may struggle with the tempo his rivals will set here.
2. YEONGGWANGUIFIRST (KOR) [Boys At Tosconova – Yeonggwangui Kiss (Hansen)] C 4 – 20(6/8/1) O: Byun Chang-deok T: Kang Eun-seok J: Song Kyeong-yun – Only managed 9th of eleven behind plenty of these in the KRA Cup Classic in August but gets his chance having won at class 1 level over 1800M on September 21st when settling back and running on. That race had rating cap of 100 though and at level weights against the elite, it may be hard again.
3. BLACK BELT (KOR) [Speightster – Lovin Empire (Empire Maker)] H 4 – 26(7/4/6) O: Lee Kang-woon T: Luigi Riccardi J: Jeong Jeong-hee – Joined the field at the late entry stage, he finished 8th of fourteen in this race a year ago as a three-year-old. He has one class 1 win in ten 2025 starts which came at 2000M in June, beating Gangpungma, and enters off a 3rd at 2300M and 4th at 1800M from his last two. He can race on pace or behind the speed and while he doesn’t shape as one of the leading contenders, he will get the trip.
4. YONGAM SESANG (KOR) [To Honor And Serve – Chalanhanyeonmeoung (Pure Prize)] G 4 – 11(6/2/1) O: Kim Hak-rok T: Bae Hou-jun J: Lee Hyeok – Won at Listed level over 2000M in May but only managed a midfield finish in similar company to this in the President’s Cup. A winner of six from eleven who is tactically versatile, the extended trip may suit but this is a very tough ask.
5. WONPYEONG STORM (USA) [Tale Of Verve – Ready For Chianti (More Than Ready)]C 3 – 10(7/0/0) O: Kim Young-jae T: Jung Ho-ik J: Ruan Maia – Won his first five but had a chastening experience in two Group races, the G3 Herald Business and G3 Busan Owners’. He returned to winning ways with Ruan Maia in the saddle at class 1 over 1800M on September 28th when he looked a much more serious operator. If he stays, he has the talent. Gets a 2kg weight allowance as a three-year-old.
6. GANGPUNGMA (KOR) [Peace Rules – Wonder Dreamer (Hawk Wing)]H 5 – 23(9/5/3) O: Park Nam-sung T: Kim Dong-chul J: Jo Jae-ro – The new big local hope who is showing the best form of his career at five. He won back-to-back class 1 races over 2000M in June and August and then was 2nd to Speed Young in the President’s Cup, finishing the best of the field. Settles back and runs on and it could well be the 2300M can be the making of him.
7. NAOL SNIPER (KOR) [To Honor And Serve – Garnisheed Wages (Scat Daddy)] H 5 – 26(9/5/1) O: Lee Kyoung-ho T: Song Moon-gil J: Moon Se-young – Ran 6th in this race a year ago and finished no better than that in five outings in the first half of this year, albeit all in Graded Stakes company. Hasn’t raced since June and while he looked in excellent condition when winning a November 13th trial and has champion jockey Moon on board, he is hard to recommend first-up.
8. SUCCESS BAEKPA (KOR) [Purge – Baekpa (Revere)] C 4 – 19(7/1/2) O: Lee Jong-hun T: Min Jang-gi J: Jin Kyum – Won the G3 Herald Business in March and the G2 KRA Cup Classic in August but can mix his form. Behind Speed Young and Yumeno Honoo in the YTN Cup and most recently Speed Young and Gangpungma in the President’s Cup. 3rd in this race last year and at his best a chance. Likely to be ridden forward early.
9. SPEED YOUNG (KOR) [Menifee – Tapestry (Fusaichi Pegasus)] H 5 – 27(7/5/7) O: D R M City T: Bang Dong-suk J: Jung Do-yun – Ultra reliable horse who has spent most of his career overshadowed by stablemate Global Hit but got his G1 reward in the President’s Cup in November. 4th in this race last year, the distance is perhaps the only concern as Yumeno Honoo was coming back to him when they finished 2nd and 3rd at 2000M in the YTN Cup. A winning chance.
10. TUHONUI BANSEOK (USA) Verrazano – Sense Of Beauty (Street Sense)] H 7 – 31(8/6/6) O: Lim Byung-hyo T: Bart Rice J: Seo Gang-ju – Multiple Group winner but fair to say he is not at the same level he was when 2nd to Global Hit in this race a year ago. His five starts in 2025 have all been at Graded Stakes level but he hasn’t finished any better than 7th. Given the distance his class should see him beating a few here.
11. CLEAN ONE (USA) [Bernardini – No Fault (Blame)] C 3 – 8(4/1/2) O: Healing Farm T: Moon Hyeon-cheol J: Franco Da Silva – Lightly raced three-year-old with four wins from eight including his latest over 2000M at class 1 level. Prior to that he was 3rd in the G3 Owners’ Cup over a mile. He hasn’t raced since August and was scratched from an October trial so match fitness must be taken on trust, but he has been in continuous work and is the wildcard. Races on pace.
12. GLOBAL HIT (KOR) [To Honor And Serve-Tammy’s Victress (Yankee Victor)] H 5 – 23(12/4/2) O: Kim Joon-hyun T: Bang Dong-suk J: Seo Seung-un – No doubting his quality but he missed the Korea Cup with lameness only to come back in the President’s Cup where he was a game 4th. Back in work since November 7th he is the defending champion, and he can run well but there are too many fitness doubts to have him on top. Gets a new jockey following Kim Hye-sun’s abrupt retirement and it is two-time Grand Prix winner (aboard Winner’s Man) Seo Seung-un which is a big vote of confidence in him.
13. NORTHERN TIME (USA) [Not This Time – Stella Prima (El Prado)] G 7 – 38(9/2/5) O: Choi Sang-il T: Tony Castanheira J: Kozzi Asano – The veteran was 6th in the KRA Cup Classic but won at class 1 level – and crucially at this distance – on October 26th. He had an apprentice claiming 3kg that day, which he won’t here, but finished strongly and while the time wouldn’t be competitive in any Grand Prix to date, he can run on and challenge for minor money.
14. SATANG SONYEO (USA) [Girvin – Midnight Candy (Midnight Lute)] F 3 – 10(5/1/1) O: Lee Ki-sun T: Luigi Riccardi J: Furkan Yuksel – Up and coming filly takes her chance. She won three consecutive races between May and September up to 2000M and class 2 before running 4th of eight over this distance at class 1 in October. She can run well but would need to significantly improve if to challenge in this company. She gets a big weight allowance as a 3-year-old filly.
15. EAST WEST (USA) [West Coast – Arch Of Troy (Archarcharch)] G 4 – 23(3/3/3) O: Kim Young-gu T: Seo In-seok J: Kim Yong-geun – Specialised in racing out of class and picking up prizes under a low weight until a win when entered at class 3 in August stopped that. Struggled on his first go off his new mark at class 2 so went up to class 1 and ran 6th of eight over this distance on October 26th. Runs out of class here and it will probably show.
16. YUMENO HONOO (JPN) [Battle Plan – Telephotograph (Heart’s Cry)] H 5 – 24(18/3/1) O: Suda Yatsuyuki T: Tanaka Mamoru J: Yoshihara Hiroto – 3rd in the YTN Cup on his first trip to Seoul in April, five-lengths behind Global Hit and a neck behind Success Baekpa, but he was coming back. Has since won twice in Japan. He is a two-time winner of Kochi’s end of season 2400M race, and he has the stamina edge on rivals who are unfamiliar with this trip.
Horse Racing in Korea 