A week ago, Funny Wild snared the first jewel in the Triple Crown, the three-year-old fillies start their own bid for glory with the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed) – the “Korean 1000 Guineas” – the first leg of the 2026 Triple Tiara, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL.
Chief Star (KRA)
The Tiara is a relatively new series, with the Luna – named after the mare who ran at Busan shortly after the track’s opening – only becoming part of the calendar in 2020. However, in that short time two fillies, Golden Power and Jeulgeounyeojeong, have won the race and then gone on to also capture both the Korean Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup.
Who can join them this year? A full field of sixteen will line up, with six traveling down from Seoul and unlike the KRA Cup Mile, where Seoul wins are a rarity, precisely half of the Luna Stakes to date have been won by fillies trained in the capital.
Among the visitors is CHIEF STAR. She’s the highest rated in the race after four wins including at juvenile Listed level but her previous trip to Busan did not go well as she went over in the gate prior to the start of the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie and had to be scratched. She draws concerningly wide here and while her ability is not in doubt, her temperament issues are a concern.
Kim Hye-sun has made a fair start to her training career with six winners from sixty-five starters heading into the weekend and she saddles CLEARLY WINNER in the Luna. The Hansen filly comes out the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun over 1400M where she finished a solid 3rd and she is set to be a main player here. With Park Jae-I riding, it would be the first case in Korea of a wife and husband trainer/jockey combination winning a Stakes race.
After Chief Star, TWIN RAINBOW is the highest rated in the race as jockey Seung-un looks to complete a KRA Cup Mile/Luna Stakes double, while WORLD DANCER CAT enters off a close 2nd place over 1800M at class 4 level and will be among the favourites in the market.
The Luna Stakes is race 6 on Sunday’s seven-race card at Busan. There are also ten Sunday races at Seoul:
1. QUEEN MAKER – Two 2nd places and before getting her maiden win at start three over 1300M in a quick time at class 5 over 1300M on February 27th. Front runner, she could be on pace and Tanaka is a plus.
2. SHACKLE TOWN – All the way winner at class 5 and 1400M in February, she missed the kick and then resented the kickback on her latest outing and finished well back. If she gets a better start and can get to the lead, she can be in the finish. Chance.
The Triple Tiara gets underway at Busan on Sunday with the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed). That’s part of the 7-race program at Busan which runs from 11.25 to 16.55. At Seoul there are 10 races from 10.35 to 17.55 as the capital track’s cherry blossom festival continues:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time and one of those newcomers will be the favourite. That’s (5) WHIZ POINT, who led from much of the way around in his trial, ultimately crossing the line in 2nd place. He draws well to lead here and if he brings that form to the races, he will be hard to beat. (2) CRUSH GIRL also impressed in her trial. He showed handy and crossed the line 2nd in a fair time, and she too can be considered first-up. Among the experience, (6) CHEONGGANG YEOREUM ran 6th on eleven on debut over this distance on March 7th but wasn’t far away from 4th. She should have come on for the run, and she can be closer here. (8) FLYING MACH and the more experienced (10) NINE SPEAR are others who can be in this.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
It’s hard to go past (1) QUERENCIA here. He comes in off a 4th and a 3rd from his latest two at 1300M at 1400M, coming from off the pace both times and while he has plenty of weight to carry, today should really be his day. (3) MANGEUM CROWN is the only other one in the field who has placed, something he has done twice. He comes back to racing at one turn for the first time since finishing well back in Listed Juvenile company last October and he can be close today. (11) BEAT CODE has a 5th and a 4th from two starts so far and while she had to trial after her lates, she can continue to make progress. (4) B.K. VIVACE and (2) DELTA DAECHEON are others who can at least challenge for the places.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old filly maidens and it is competitive. (7) NEWWORLD TIARA ran 4th on debut over 1200M in a similar filly maiden to this on March 6th, settling close to the speed and not having enough late on. She should have derived benefit from that run and can get it right today. She will need to overturn the form on (5) POWERFUL DEVIL, who ran 2nd in that March 6th race, coming from off the pace. She has shown steady progress across three starts so far and can continue that here. (8) GOLDEN TIARA was an improved 2nd at start three over 1200M on March 1st and while well beaten by a good winner, can aim at least for the places again. (10) BABEL FOLGORE and (12) HUIMANG LOGI are among plenty of others who can step up.
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only here. (9) FLYING SMART won a January trial and then came from well off the pace to run 2nd on debut over 1300M in a similar filly maiden to this on March 1st. She should have derived benefit from that experience and with some natural improvement, she can win this. (7) BLACK SUN is yet to get inside the top two but has five finishes between 3rd and 5th including her latest on March 8th when she beat a couple of these on her way to 4th at this distance. She can get a bit far back in her races, but she should be a danger late here. (1) CHEONJI LADY had hinted at ability prior to an almost eleven-month layoff. She should have come on for her run in February and from the inside gate can be on pace today. (4) QUEENS FLYING and (6) ROAD TO SPEAR are others in the hunt.
Selections
(9) Flying Smart (7) Black Sun (1) Cheonji Lady (4) Queens Flying
Next Best
6, 10
Fast Start
1, 3, 4, 10
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After an ordinary debut, (8) KING BLACK has gone on to run 4th in four consecutive races, most recently stepping up to the mile for the first time on March 8th and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He’ll be on pace here and Seo Seung-un climbing on for the first time suggests today can be the day. (2) DIA X is a fifteen-start maiden but has been knocking on the door with no fewer than ten finishes between 2nd and 5th. He steps up to the mile for the first time and at this stage, it can suit. (9) NICE POWER comes in off her best finish to date when 2nd at this distance on March 20th and she can aim for the places again. (11) WORLD TREE and (12) FANTASTIC CAPTAIN others with place chances.
Selections
(8) King Black (2) Dia X (9) Nice Power (11) World Tree
Next Best
12, 6
Fast Start
3, 5, 6, 8
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
After three consecutive 3rd place finishes, (7) RAON BLAIDE broke through on his first try at this class and distance on February 28th when on pace throughout. An apprentice claim means his carried weight only goes up by 1kg and he can win again. (2) MIGHTY BEAT only managed 6th of eleven last time out when well supported but prior to that he had a win and two placings over this trip and from a good draw and under a light weight, he is worth another chance. (11) SEUNGNI BAROWS was 2nd behind Raon Blaide in that February 28th race and while he has almost two-lengths to make up, he can be in the finish again. (4) DANAEUN STAR and (9) GIDAEHARA can also be considered on at least a place line.
Horse Racing in Korea 