Month: March 2026

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 7)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:

Roshe won last week’s Listed Sports Seoul Trophy at Seoul (Pic: KRA)

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

Maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (7) FLYING HONOR took a few trials to get to the races but ran a good 4th on debut over this distance on January 17th, settling midfield and running on. He should have learned plenty from that and can win today. Among the debut-makers, (3) NAOL AURORA took two trials to qualify and improved significantly in the second of them, showing on pace. From a good draw if she can bring that form to the races, she will be close. (10) GOLDEN MATCH was also on pace in debut and while he weakened late for a midfield finish, he can have come on for the run. (5) METAL INVADER and (1) AREUMDAUN BIT can also improve from their respective debuts.

Selections(7) Flying Honor (3) Naol Aurora (10) Golden Match (5) Metal Invader
Next Best1, 12
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 10

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

(8) IKKEULIM raced twice without distinction last summer before going lame. He returned to action, gelded, on January 24th and ran a solid 2nd place over 1200M. He should have come on for that run, and he can go one better here. After winning a trial, (5) RAPID THUNDER was a smart 2nd on debut in December when he led for much of the way over 1200M. He’s had eleven weeks out since but can build on that here. (1) TWOTWO MAGIC came from a long way back to run 5th on debut over 1200M on January 31st. He should have come on for the run and the slight step up in trip can suit. (6) GOD SPEED and (2) STUNNING CALIBER others who can improve.  

Selections(8) Ikkeulim (5) Rapid Thunder (1) Twotwo Magic (6) God Speed
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start5, 7, 8, 9

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

After an ordinary debut, (5) CHRYSOL POSH was an improved 2nd at start number two over 1400M on January 4th, coming from off the pace. Expect similar here and third up he can be peaking fitness wise. (8) SMART RISE enters off 3rd place over this distance on January 31st when settling midfield and running on smartly. That was just his fourth start, and he shapes as the main danger. The rest will need to pick up in form. (6) AMOS STAR has shown a couple of glimpses but has tended to get a bit far back. With a central gate and not much speed on his inside, he may be further forward today and can be aiming for a better result (10) BEST FREEDOM and (2) B.K. VIVACE are other potential improvers.

Selections(5) Chrysol Posh (8) Smart Rise (6) Amos Star (10) Best Freedom
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start1, 6, 10, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) CRAZY MANGO had been working towards a second win, and it arrived at this class and distance on February 7th when he led for most of the way.  An apprentice claiming 3kg means he comes in under the same weight and from the inside gate, he can be on pace again and can win again. (11) COMEBACK HOLYMOELY remains a maiden but is up in class following back-to-back 2nd place finishes at 1300M. He has the challenge of the widest gate but is down significantly in weight, and he can be a threat. (9) CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG was the beaten favourite behind Crazy Mango on February 7th, not really becoming involved having settled back. He previously had three 2nd places from four starts and is worth another chance here. (2) AFLEET RUN and (6) HEART KING others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Crazy Mango (11) Comeback Holymoely (9) Cheongsan Dolpung (2) Afleet Run
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 11

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

Fillies and mares only here. It’s been a while since (5) I AM GO got her solitary win but she showed signs of coming back into form with a 3rd place at this class and distance on February 8th when settling just behind the speed and finishing well in a quick time. She is up 2kg in weight but in this company, she can be on pace, and it can be her day. (8) COWBOY SOCKS broke through at start number three over this distance on January 31st, racing on pace throughout. She is up in class and while she only comes down 1kg in weight, she can measure up. (11) UNJU TIME has finished in midfield in all three tries at this class, but her maiden win came at this distance and against this set of opponents, she should be close. (7) RAPTURE and (6) WONDERFUL SPIRIT are others in the hunt.

Selections(5) I Am Go (8) Cowboy Socks (11) Unju Time (7) Rapture
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start5, 7, 8, 9

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

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 6)

The first Group race of the year takes place on Sunday at Busan with the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint, and it’s on the south coast where the week’s action gets underway on Friday with an 9-race card from 11:15 to 17:55. Here are the previews:

Clutch Winner won Busan’s Listed Sports Seoul Trophy last Sunday (Pic: KRA)

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

Maiden fillies with seven of the ten racing for the first time. (2) SUCCESS QUEEN was 7th on debut last October, but a much-improved 2nd at start number two over this distance on January 16th when handy throughout. From a great draw, she will be on pace and won’t need to improve much, if at all, to win this. (5) NINETEEN NINE WON raced handy on debut to finish in 3rd place in a similar filly maiden to this one. She should have come on for the run and can be in the finish again. (1) DEMETER made all to win her trial in a fair time and she looks to be the pick of the debut-makers. (10) DREAM BIG and (7) HUNTRIX others who hinted at ability in their heats.

Selections(2) Success Queen (5) Nineteen Nine Won (10) Dream Big
Next Best7, 6
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 7

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

(11) JEONGMUN SKIP has been getting closer, most recently running 2nd in a slow race over this distance on February 8th. The wide draw won’t be a problem, Franco knows her well, and she is the one to beat. (7) NONSTOP HUG hasn’t shown much in the way of speed so far, but she was a fair 3rd at start number two over 1300M on Boxing Day. She hasn’t raced since but the step up in trip can suit and she can be a danger. (5) QUEEN WIND has mixed her form over three starts so far but does have a 2nd place to her name and that’s enough to have her in the numbers here. Solitary debut-maker (3) DOCTOR HUNTER, along with (1) THEMIS are others in the frame.

Selections(11) Jeongmun Skip (7) Nonstop Hug (5) Queen Wind (3) Doctor Hunter
Next Best1, 8
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 10

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

(1) ENCORE has been on pace in his latest outings before weakening slightly on each occasion. He cuts back in trip today, he draws nicely to be on pace again, and he can return to winning ways. (11) YOUNGYOUNG BRAVO has won his latest two, most recently at this class on January 30th over 1400M. He is up 3kg in weight but should be firmly in the finish again. (3) TRIPLE J beat Encore when the pair came home 1st and 3rd over a mile at this class in December and with Seo Seung-un climbing on today, he is sure to have plenty of backers. (4) OASIS STAR is up in class following a maiden win and can measure up, while (12) GWANGSOKMA is another in the placing frame.

Selections(1) Encore (11) Youngyoung Bravo (3) Triple J (4) Oasis Star
Next Best12, 7
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) SUN LIGHT is yet to win in twelve attempts but has nine top five finishes and enters having beaten three of these on her way to 2nd place at this class and distance on January 25th. She does tend to get a bit far back in her races but today can be her day. (4) PORT MORE comes in having registered his maiden win at start six over a mile on February 1st when he led from gate to wire. He is up in class and in trip today, but he’s down 3kg in weight and can measure up. (5) UNJU MAGIC was 2nd to Sun Light’s 5th when they raced one another at this class and distance in January. He struggled on his re-appearance at a mile in February but is worth another chance today. (2) BARBELL TROFEO and (9) TAEPYEONG FLEX others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Sun Light (4) Port More (5) Unju Magic (2) Barbell Trofeo
Next Best9, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 8, 12

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (6) GOLDEN EMPIRE has won two of her latest three, most recently at 1300M on January 23rd when making all. She is up in class here and while she doesn’t get a weight break as she only had 52kg that day, she looks to have potential for more progress. (4) CRYSTAL MULGYEOL is similarly up in class having led all the way to score at 1300M on January 30th. She has placed at this distance too and can lead again and be in this a long way. (7) FLYING MENACE came home 2nd at this class and distance at a big price on February 8th and warrants more respect today. (10) QUEEN OF DRAGON and (5) FLASH RUN are the other main chances in a competitive race.

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Seoul Holiday Monday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 2)

There’s a rare Monday meeting this week to mark the Memorial Day weekend holiday. The races are at Seoul with 10 from 10:35 to 17:55 (there is also pony racing on Jeju Island). Here are the previews:

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

(5) EVER LOVELY did nothing on debut in December but was a much-improved 2nd at odds of 60/1 over this distance on February 1st, racing handy and while well beaten by Super Ttangkong, showed enough to suggest she can win this. (2) WEAK PLAY was similarly underwhelming on debut when 9th of twelve on January 17th, but he had previously looked good in a trial and may be better second-up. (6) JEJU BLUE was 6th on debut in that same January 17th race and with some natural improvement, she can get closer here. (10) GIANT THUNDER was slow on debut but has since been back to trial and looked much better, so is worth another chance today. (8) GRAND COURAGE was the best of the debut-makers in trials.

Selections(5) Ever Lovely (2) Weak Play (6) Jeju Blue (10) Giant Thunder
Next Best8, 9
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Very weak race but that’s by design as it’s for maidens who have made at least five starts and recorded no placings. Someone’s going to Hollywood, but who? Perhaps (7) STORM CHASER. She’s recorded some fair times across six starts and has the least slowest speed out of the gate among these. That suggests she can lead and stay there. (4) M J VET has the quickest time among these for the 1300M, the second quickest average first furlong time, and the quickest average final furlong time. That will probably be enough to make him favourite. (8) DUSON LIFE scores well on those same metrics and can be in the mix. (1) WHIZ GOLD and (5) NEW COWBOY others who can compete in a race that while quite fascinating from a punting angle, will probably need an asterisk next to it in form guides going forward.

Selections(7) Storm Chaser (4) M J Vet (8) Duson Life (1) Whiz Gold
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 8

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

(9) SU BU TAI has been making progress across his six starts to date comes in following back-to-back 3rd places over 1400M. That means that any top three finish will see him with a rating and up in class and it could well be a win. (8) QUERENCIA has mixed his form over five appearances but does have a couple of 4th places to his name. He has finished off his races well enough and today’s slight step up in trip can suit. (2) SUNGANUI FIGHTER is another who is getting closer and was most recently 4th at 1200M on January 17th. He draws better today and is another for whom the 1400M can be a benefit. (1) AGAIN GOOD MAN and (7) SAHARA ROSE are other place chances.

Selections(9) Su Bu Tai (8) Querencia (2) Sunganui Fighter (1) Again Good Man
Next Best7, 6
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 9

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

Fillies and mares only here. (4) RAON FINALLE had been working towards a maiden win, and it arrived on her first try at this class over this distance on January 11th when handy throughout and proving too strong. She comes up 4kg in weight, but that’s balanced by coming back into filly and mare company and from a good draw, she can win again. (2) COSMO LONG registered her maiden win at this distance on January 31st on what was start number four. She comes up in class but carries a light weight and from a good gate, she can be competitive. (9) LOVE IN SEOUL is similarly up in class following a maiden victory, in her case over 1300M leading all the way. She can be on pace again and in this a long way. (8) STUNNING PEARL and (6) SMART SOCKS other place chances.

Selections(4) Raon Finalle (2) Cosmo Long (9) Love In Seoul (8) Stunning Pearl
Next Best6, 7
Fast Start3, 7, 9, 10

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

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