Day: January 16, 2026

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 18)

Sunday’s racing is at Seoul (10 races from 10:35 to 17:55) and Busan (7 races from 11:25 to 16:55). Here are the previews:

Ziggurat returns to action having won last September’s Listed Ilgan Sports (Pic: KRA)

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

(3) YUKWAEHAN SEUNGJA has raced three times for three 4th place finishes at 1000M and 1200M, settling back and running on each time. She draws nicely here, Kozzi gets on for the first time, and in this company, she can be winning. (6) NOBLE MATCH was a fair 6th on debut over this distance on December 12th having shown on pace throughout. She’ll be on pace again and can be in this for longer. (11) EODIGADO was an improved 4th at start number three over this distance on December 13th when coming from well off the pace. Maia stays on and they can get even closer today. (1) NIGHT CAPTAIN and sole debut-maker (7) CHRYSOL HEELS are others to look out for on a place line.

Selections(3) Yukwaehan Seungja (6) Noble Match (11) Eodigado (1) Night Captain
Next Best7, 10
Fast Start4, 6, 8, 9

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

(3) LOVE IN SEOUL was ordinary on debut but was a much-improved 4th at start number two over this distance on December 6th when she showed on pace throughout. Third up she can be peaking fitness-wise, and she looks to be the one to beat. (4) RAON FLARE raced on pace for the first time on December 6th over this distance and she stayed on well to run 2nd. The time wasn’t quick but expect similar tactics today and she can be in this a long way. (9) MR.CREDIT enters off a 3rd place at 1200M when settling midfield and running on and Maia climbing up today can be a plus. (6) CHEONGSAN MUSA and (2) FANTASTIC BRO others in the hunt.

Selections(3) Love In Seoul (4) Raon Flare (9) Mr.Credit (6) Cheongsan Musa
Next Best2, 10
Fast Start3, 4, 6, 10

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

(3) BORYEONG ULTRA MAN put in a disappointing effort when favourite over 1300M on January 4th when jumping inward and then getting caught in kickback which he seemed to resent. Prior to that, he had a 3rd and a 2nd and from a good draw and with Seo Seung-un booked, today can be the day. (5) QUEEN THE GOLD hasn’t finished in the top two in sixteen starts but she comes in following a 3rd and a 4th in her latest two and in this company should be aiming for career best finish. (1) STRONG WINNER trialed well and while he only managed 7th of ten on debut, he beat two of today’s rivals and comes into a much better gate this time. (2) CHOEGANG HAPPY and (10) SEOGWI CHOWON are the others in the hunt.

Selections(3) Boryeong Ultra Man (5) Queen The Gold (1) Strong Winner (2) Choegang Happy
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start3, 4, 7, 9

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

(5) POWER BEST has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place at this distance on December 28th when racing much further forward than in previous efforts. Expect similar tactics today, and he can go one better. (8) BLACK PEPE has a 3rd and two 4th places from his latest three. He too should be on pace and can be in this a long way. (2) PNS WORK and (7) WADALBI both improved to 3rd place on their respective latest outings and both can be there or thereabouts again. (4) JEJU PRINCESS came from off the pace to run 7th on debut over 1200M. She comes into a better gate today, and she should have come on for the run.

Selections(5) Power Best (8) Black Pepe (2) PNS Work (7) Wadalbi
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(8) OASIS ADELE will be a short price favourite here. Across his four starts to date he has been working towards a win with a 3rd place and a 2nd place from his latest two at a mile and at 1400M and both times beating some of today’s rivals. In this company, he should be on or close to the pace and he won’t need to improve much, if at all, to win. (2) VORTEX stepped up to the mile for the first time on December 12th and recorded his best finish to date with 2nd place, coming from midfield. He can build on that here and be in the finish again. (11) MOTHER WONDERFUL was 6th behind Oasis Adele last time out but prior to that was 2nd over 1400M and while she has the widest gate, she also gets a 4kg apprentice claim here. (6) TOP OF THE RANK and (7) YURIM SPECIAL are the other place chances.

Selections(8) Oasis Adele (2) Vortex (11) Mother Wonderful (6) Top Of The Rank
Next Best7, 5
Fast Start2, 7, 8, 11

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

(1) STUNNING PEARL returns to action for the first time since running 3rd at this class over 1200M in August, prior to which she was a very narrow 2nd. She trialed up nicely just before Christmas, and with Maia aboard, if she brings that form to the races, she can go very well first up. (10) GEOLJAK TIARA got her maiden win at start number four over 1300M on December 6th when on pace throughout. She comes up in class and slightly up in trip here but can be equal to both and under a light weight, she has every chance. (11) CHRYSOL STEP is yet to win but is up in class following back-to-back runner-up finishes at 1200M, beaten by the favourite on both occasions. He comes down 3kg in weight and can measure up in this company. (6) ECLIPSE TANGO and (8) GRAND KWAEMA are the other main chances.

Selections(1) Stunning Pearl (10) Geoljak Tiara (11) Chrysol Step (6) Eclipse Tango
Next Best8, 7
Fast Start6, 8, 10, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 17)

There are 11 races at Seoul on Saturday from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

CC Wong (right) has a very good book of rides across Saturday and Sunday (Pic: KRA)

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

Three-year-old maidens with nine of the twelve racing for the first time. (12) FLYING HONOR qualified in November but went through another trial on December 18th running a close 2nd in a quick time. He has the challenge of the widest gate but if he brings that form to the races, he is a winning chance. The experience is quite good though. (4) ECLIPSE BOSS ran 3rd on debut over this distance on November 29th, settling midfield from the widest gate and running on. He should have come on for the experience. So too should (6) HAKSAN HENNY and (5) ONNURI BIT, who finished 4th and 5th in their respective first outings and can build on that here. Returning to the first timers (1) PEGASUS KING went through a couple of trials, improving significantly in the second of them on December 18th and he should be nice and fit for this.

Selections(12) Flying Honor (4) Eclipse Boss (6) Haksan Henny (5) Onnuri Bit
Next Best1, 11
Fast Start3, 5, 11, 12

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

Not the greatest of maidens. After winning a trial, (3) MAEUM HANA was sent off as favourite on debut over this distance on December 14th but while he showed close to the pace he ran out of steam and finished 6th. He should have derived benefit from that and can stay on this time. (11) YONGBIGYO was similarly a beaten favourite when 6th over this distance two weeks ago. She has a 3rd and a 4th on her resume already and that’s enough to make her the danger here. Solitary debut maker (1) DRAGON MIJIN trialed up fairly, showing on pace and running 4th. He can lead here and be in things a long way. (10) SUNGANUI FIGHTER and (8) AESUNI others who can improve.  

Selections(3) Maeum Hana (11) Yongbigyo (1) Dragon Mijin (10) Sunganui Fighter
Next Best8, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 8

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

(6) GLOBAL LAND was 5th on debut and then 3rd at start number two over 1200M on December 14th. Both times she has run on well from a long way back so the step up in trip can suit, and she is the one to beat here. (10) EUNPA BOOSTER enters off his best to date when 2nd at 1300M on December 20th when leading for much of the way and only being narrowly beaten. He steps up to 1400M for the first time and should be on pace. (7) BEST JOY was 6th behind Eunpa Booster in that December 20th race. That was his first start since running 4th back in June and he should strip fitter for the run. (3) K SIMON and (9) GRAY PHANTOM other place chances.

Selections(6) Global Land (10) Eunpa Booster (7) Best Joy (3) K Simon
Next Best9, 4
Fast Start4, 7, 8, 10

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

(5) HWANG GEUM EO JANG was a winner on debut over 1200M on December 6th, settling midfield and proving too strong. Je comes up in class and in trip, but he is down in weight and he can win again. (8) NUNI OLKKAYO won at start two over 1200M in November and then almost repeated the trick when leading for much of the way on his first try at this class and distance on December 13th, ultimately finishing 2nd. He only comes up 1kg in weight, can lead again, and he could go one better. (9) MIRACLE SOCKS couldn’t quite provide the fairytale ending to jockey Park Tae-jong’s career on December 21st when he got caught late on. That made for his fourth consecutive runner-up finish, and he can be in the finish again. (4) ROAD TO STAR and (2) TAEGISAN KING are the other chances.

Selections(5) Hwang Geum Eo Jang (8) Nuni Olkkayo (9) Miracle Socks (4) Road To Star
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start1, 5, 8, 9

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

(4) APATEU had a poor day at the office on second favourite over 1300M on December 21st, finding a handy but wide position from a wide draw and not running on. She comes into a better gate today and is back at the distance at which she got her sole win so far, and she can be given another chance. (10) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG is still a maiden after five starts but ran 2nd to Apateu at class 6 two starts back and was then 4th on his first try at this class over 1300M. He is the main danger here. (8) UJU JEONJAENG comes back to this trip for the first time in a while and that can bring him into contention. (1) SAEROUN GUY and (9) ROAD TO A SPUR, the latter having trialed well since his latest start, are among others to consider on a place line.

Selections(4) Apateu (10) Widaehan Hamseong (8) Uju Jeonjaeng (1) Saeroun Guy
Next Best9, 2
Fast Start2, 4, 9, 10

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

(more…)