SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN
The Stayer Series gets underway at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon with a who’s who of the distance ranks lining up in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3).
Defending champion SUCCESS BAEKPA is back, but he is going to have his work cut out if he is to retain his title. A two-time Classic winner at three, Success Baekpa makes his five-year-old debut racing for the first time since finishing down the field in the Grand Prix (2300M KOR-G1) at the end of November. Prior to that though, he was 3rd in the President’s Cup (2000M KOR-G1) and while that kind of form mixing has been a feature throughout his career, on his day he can mix it with the best. Jin Kyum is aboard for trainer Min Jang-gi.
The Grand Prix saw a display of domination by CLEAN ONE. The then three-year-old led early and had most of the field off the bridle, including Japanese raider Yumeno Honoo, with almost four furlongs left to run, ultimately winning by nine-lengths, the biggest margin in the race in three decades. He hasn’t raced since but he trialed well a month ago and if he gets to the lead, could run away from them again. Clean One will be partnered for the first time by Seo Seung-un.
SPEED YOUNG is the reigning Horse of the Year and won the President’s Cup. The “Swiss Army Knife” returns to the racing around two turns having taken time out to win the Listed Segye Ilbo (1200M KOR-Listed) last month and will surely be in the finish again.
Runner-up in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix was GANGPUNGMA, and he is the best chance among horses trained in the capital. He hasn’t been the most fluent coming out of the gates recently which has put him on the backfoot but he was a smart winner at class 1 handicap level to round out the year and he will have plenty of backers. He starts for the first time having moved to the stable of Choi Bong-ju.
The Herald Business is race 7 on the 10-race Sunday card at Seoul with a local post time of 16.05:
1. GLOBAL SOCKS – Well back behind Gangpungma over this trip on December 28th and then midfield over 1800M in February. A long time since he last placed and a big outsider here.
2. GANGPUNGMA – A fast finishing runner-up in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix, he registered his 5th win over this trip at class 1 level on December 28th. He has been slowly away in each of his last three which must be addressed when facing this caliber of opponent but if he gets away cleanly, he is a big chance. First start for a new trainer.
3. TUHONUI BANSEOK – The veteran was an excellent 5th in the Grand Prix and ha s 4th and a 6th in two subsequent starts. Lost a bit of pace since his peak but he is capable of running into some minor money.
4. OASIS RED – 5th in the President’s Cup he followed up with a win and a runner-up, both over 1800M at class 2 level. Possible pacesetter, this is hard – he was eleven-lengths behind 3rd place Success Baekpa in the President’s Cup – but improvement is possible.
5. YEONGGWANGUIFIRST – Came out the best in a final furlong duel with Global Hit over 1800M at class 1 level at Busan on February 13th when getting 3kg from his rival. 8th in the Grand Prix, he likes to settle back and run on and minor money isn’t impossible.
6. CLEAN ONE – Dominant all the way winner of the Grand Prix in as impressive a performance seen at Seoul in years. Hasn’t raced since but trialed well in February. Lightly raced, that was his 5th win in nine starts and if he goes to the lead, he will be difficult to catch.
7. SUCCESS BAEKPA – The defending champion, he was 6th in the Korea Cup and 3rd in the President’s Cup but was well down the field in the Grand Prix. Comes in fresh but won a February trial and on his day is as good as any but is just hard to catch.
8. NORTHERN TIME – A class 1 win over 2300M in October saw him get his chance in the Grand Prix where he ran 9th of sixteen. Didn’t offer too many clues in a February trial. Has a strong finish on him and stays well but is one of the outsiders.
9. WONPYEONG STORM – Not quite lived up to his early promise having been found out in elite company, although was a fair 6th in the Grand Prix. A well beaten 2nd to Gangpungma at the end of last year, he dropped back to 1200M for his first start this term but finished down the pack. Should beat a fair few of those but is hard to have as a winning chance unless he has had a debilitating hump removed.
10. SPEED YOUNG – The reigning Horse of the Year won the President’s Cup at this distance last October and was then 3rd in the Grand Prix. Won the Listed Segye Ilbo at 1200M here four weeks ago and his class is such, it would be no surprise if he came over the top again to win here.
11. CHOEGO BLACK – Returns to action for the first time since last November but his form wasn’t great before the layoff and while he has won at this distance and was ok in a trial, this is a very hard ask.
12. BEOLGYO MASULSA – Has won two in a row in good style over 1800M. However, they were both at class 3 level and while he is a winner of six from twelve, this is a massive step up in opposition.
| Selections | (6) Clean One (2) Gangpungma (10) Speed Young (7) Success Baekpa |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 