Day: February 14, 2026

Segye Ilbo Trophy: Preview & Form Comments

It’s been more than two months since the Grand Prix Stakes rounded off the 2025 Korean black type calendar, but big races are finally back as the 2026 season gets underway in earnest at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday with the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed).   

SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON SUNDAY

Crown Hamseong bids to defend the Segye Ilbo Trophy (Pic: KRA)

Remarkably a horse who ran in that Grand Prix which, at 2300M, is Korea’s longest race, is back to sprinting in the Segye Ilbo. And it’s none other than reigning Horse of the Year SPEED YOUNG. He may have won the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) and then been 3rd in the Grand Prix but he started last year with 3rd place in this very same race. Known as the “Swiss Army Knife horse”, such is his versatility that he may well be sent off as favourite.

To win though, Speed Young will have to get past last year’s winner, CROWN HAMSEONG. The filly is first-up after almost three months off and has a lot of early speed. If CC Wong can get her into the lead, she may well go all the way. Kookje Shinmun (1400M KOR-G3) winner MUNHAK BOY has won his latest six and will be on pace too with strong claims.

SUPER FINISH was the best locally placed finisher in the Korea Sprint (1200 G3) last September and is not to be discounted while BEST RACE is an up and comer who has won his latest four and tests elite waters for the first time. Impressive last start winner YEONGGWANGUI WORLD rounds out those likely to be at the top of the market.

While the race is restricted to Korean-bred runners, there is plenty of ability – not to mention speed – among the fifteen-strong field:

1. SUPER FINISH – 3rd to Self Improvement and Chikappa in last year’s International Korea Sprint, he was most recently 3rd to Yeonggwangui World in a very quick class 1 over this trip in December. If he gets to the lead, he is a chance.

2. SPEED YOUNG – The reigning Horse of the Year was 3rd in this race a year ago before spending the rest of 2025 in the very best distance races, running 4th in the Korea Cup, winning the President’s Cup and then 3rd in the Grand Prix. He has never won at 1200M, but he is competent over any distance and will probably start as favourite.
3. MUNHAK BOY – Enters having won his last six, most recently the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M at Busan. That distance and a mile would appear to be his go and if the pace is on, this may prove too sharp, but there is no doubting his quality and he is a big chance.

4. YEONGGWANGUI WORLD – 6th in this race last year but struggled in the opening leg of the Sprint Series. Ended 2025 in strong fashion with a blistering class 1 win at this distance in a Korea Sprint time. Races on pace and if he brings that form, he can win.

5. HAKSAN SPEED – Five-time winner at this distance although only up to class 2 level. Races on pace and while he will need to go much quicker here, he still has plenty more scope for development.

6. CROWN HAMSEONG – Last year’s winner, she followed up with 2nd places in two Queens’ Tour legs and behind Vincero Cavallo in the G2 SROA at this distance. Last raced 4th at class 1 level over a mile in November and trialed well last month. Another who likes to lead and a repeat isn’t impossible if she does.

7. TOUGH MAN – The veteran has been well back in his latest two, a Trophy race on international weekend, and then the KRA Sprint at Seoul on Grand Prix day. Big outsider.

8. MIRACLE HANGANG – 5th in the KRA Sprint at Seoul on Grand Prix day, and 4th behind Haksan Speed in his latest on January 17th. Solid class 2 horse but likely overmatched here.

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Segye Ilbo Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (February 15)

The final day’s racing before the Lunar New Year’s holiday sees the first Stakes race of 2026 with the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy at Seoul. There are 10 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55 and 7 at Busan from 11:25 to 16:55. Here are the previews:

Horse Of The Year Speed Young goes in the Segye Ilbo Trophy (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Competitive maiden opener with four of the ten racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on a newcomer in the shape of (2) THE CLASSIC. He’s a “full” brother to KRA Cup Mile winner Betelgeuse and went through two trials, just doing enough in the first of them before winning the second with an on pace showing. He should be nice and fit and can win on debut. (1) GANGHAN GAMMA ran a fair 5th on debut on January 17th, settling back and running on. She should have come on for that, and the additional half furlong can suit. (6) NOBLE MATCH has raced twice, improving to 3rd at start number two. She’ll be on pace and can be in the finish. (5) PASA ACE and debut maker (9) SKYLOR TAEHA are others in the mix.

Selections(2) The Classic (1) Ganghan Gamma (6) Noble Match (5) Pasa Ace
Next Best9, 10
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 10

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

(8) YEONGWONHAN STAR has shown steady improvement across her four starts to date, culminating in 2nd place at 1200M on December 13th. She comes in fresh following nine weeks off, in this company she can be on the speed, and she rates as a big chance. (7) BLAZING ENGINE was slow away and never a factor at start two in January but if we go on his 2nd place on debut over 1200M at the end of December, he warrants another chance here. (11) X-TEN was a close 4th over this distance on January 25th and while she has the challenge of the widest gate here, she has finished off her races well and can be threatening late. (5) CHEONJI JACKAL and (9) BEST URBANE other place chances.

Selections(8) Yeongwonhan Star (7) Blazing Engine (11) X-Ten (5) Cheonji Jackal
Next Best9, 1
Fast Start2, 6, 8, 11

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here and while there is only one debut-maker, she goes on top. (11) RUSH WILD led every step of the way to comfortably win her trial in a decent time, working through the line well. If she brings that form to the races, the Hansen filly has every chance first up. (7) VICTORIA CHUKJE has a 2nd and a 5th from two starts so far, beating several of today’s rivals in the process, and she looks like the best of the experienced ones. (2) TAEYANGUIYEOLJEONG was 4th behind Victoria Chukje on the latter’s debut but has a runner-up finish to her name too at this distance and that’s enough to have her in the mix as well. (4) NORTHERN QUEEN and (3) DUBAI CANDY others in the frame.

Selections(11) Rush Wild (7) Victoria Chukje (2) Taeyanguiyeoljeong (4) Northern Queen
Next Best3, 1
Fast Start2, 6, 11, 12

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

Since returning from five months out, (3) PNS GONGJA has finished 3rd twice, first at 1200M in December and then at 1400M on January 10th when he led for most of the way and beat a couple of today’s rivals. Third-up he can be peaking, Maia climbs on for the first time, and he can win (10) MADE ran twice last summer for a 4th and a 3rd and while he hasn’t raced since, he looked well in a January trial and can put in a good effort first-up. (6) MIGHTY CRIS was a much-improved 3rd over 1300M on January 18th, doing his best work late, and the slight increase in distance can suit. (9) PRIMERO and (4) HWANGGEUM MASK are others to consider on a place line.

Selections(3) PNS Gongja (10) Made (6) Mighty Cris (9) Primero
Next Best4, 11
Fast Start3, 4, 8, 11

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

(10) FLASH TO ME comes in having beaten three of today’s rivals on his way to 3rd place over 1400M on January 16rg, settling fairly before being ridden up to be handy. The mile can suit, Franco rides for the first time, and he will be a short price to win. (8) MAGIC MIRROR was the second longest shot on the board last time out but defied that to run 3rd on his first try at 1400M. The further extended trip today can be in his favour and he can be in the finish again. (6) MUJEOK BIHAENG did beat Flash To Me when the pair ran 4th and 5th back in early December and she can offer some each-way interest. (3) TAEPYEONG FLEX and (9) BREEDO CAPTAIN are the other main chances.

Selections(10) Flash To Me (8) Magic Mirror (6) Mujeok Bihaeng (3) Taepyeong Flex
Next Best9, 4
Fast Start4, 7, 8, 10

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

(11) VALID YOUNG was a winner on debut over 1200M before running 4th on his first try at this class and distance on January 10th, settling midfield from a wide draw and running on. He can run on again here and he can win. The danger is on his immediate inside. (10) GENERAL WIND overcame the widest gate to win on debut over 1000M and then ran a very close 2nd at 1200M on December 21st at this level. He comes up to 1400M for the first time but if he can get a touch of luck at the start to help him lead, he has every chance. (2) TAEGISAN KING was 2nd at this class and distance on January 17th, coming from off the pace, and he can be in the mix again. (7) ROAD TO STAR and veteran (1) SSANG OK RU other minor money chances.

Selections(11) Valid Young (10) General Wind (2) Taegisan King (7) Road To Star
Next Best1, 5
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 10

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

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