Sunday’s feature is the second leg of the 2026 Korea Stayer Series, the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) 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:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(6) IKKEULIM returned from four months out in January to run a close 2nd over this distance having led for most of the way. He weakened late on his latest outing on March 7th over 1300M, but slightly back in trip and in this company, he should have too much and can make his breakthrough. (1) COWBOY QUEEN was 5th on debut in February and then an improved 2nd at start number two over this distance on March 15th when handy throughout. He looks to have scope for more progress here and from the inside gate, can be on pace early and in this a long way. (9) THUNDER RUN enters off back-t-back 4th places and against this lot can be aiming for better. He hasn’t raced since January but looked well when finishing (where else?) 4th in a trail two weeks ago. (4) ONNURI BIT and (5) LEGEND MATCH others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (6) Ikkeulim (1) Cowboy Queen (9) Thunder Run (4) Onnuri Bit |
| Next Best | 5, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(2) PLAY MATCH was a good 4th on debut over 1200M back on February 7th when settling midfield and running on well. It has taken him a while to get back though he has been in regular work since the start of this month and with some natural improvement, he can win this. (3) BINNALEEDS has made steady progress across three starts so far, culminating in 3rd at 1200M on March 8th when for the first time she raced on pace. She comes up to this trip for the first time, and she should be a danger. (1) MEGA WIND got a long way back from the widest gate on debut but ran on well enough for 6th. With that experience under his belt and with a much better draw, he can improve today. (7) SINCHEON HEART and (5) SPICE BAND other place chances.
| Selections | (2) Play Match (3) Binnaleeds (1) Mega Wind (7) Sincheon Heart |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time and we’ll take a chance on one of them. (5) INDIE TIGER trialed last May without making it to the races but came back this March and won a heat in a quick time, settling midfield and running on. If he brings that form to the races, he has every chance. (2) PERFECT POINT didn’t do a lot on debut last November but has a 3rd and a 4th in two starts since at 1200M and 1300M, racing on pace both times. Under an apprentice claim he comes down in weight and drawn well to lead again, he can be in this a long way. (12) CHAMPUI HYANGGI has finished 5th in both starts so far, coming from off the pace, and should be aiming to be closer this time. (4) DREAM BIG and (1) MUHANDAE BIT finished 4th and 5th respectively in a March 19th trial and look the best of the rest.
| Selections | (5) Indie Tiger (2) Perfect Point (12) Champui Hyanggi (4) Dream Big |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) DREAM DIA has been working towards a win across her eight starts so far, with her latest being her best when an on pace 2nd over this distance on March 21st. She draws the same gate and from on the speed again, she should win this time. (2) DUSON LIFE came from off the pace to run 3rd in a very weak maiden last time (for non-placers of at least five). This race isn’t much stronger and from a better draw and Kozzi on for the first time, he can get closer. (7) DAEHAN COCO’S has a 3rd and four 4th place finishes to her name, and she should be there or thereabouts again. (3) EUNPA SWEET returned from eight months out on March 15th but had a hard time after a bad start. She should strip fitter for that run and be closer today. (1) BROWN SUGAR another who could improve.
| Selections | (4) Dream Dia (2) Duson Life (7) Daehan Coco’s (3) Eunpa Sweet |
| Next Best | 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) HAENGBOK TREE was a fair 4th on debut last November but then didn’t reappear until March 22nd when she was a strong 2nd over 1400M racing on pace throughout. She should strip fitter for that run, and while she comes up to the mile for the first time, it can suit. (4) RESONANCE MARINE stepped up to this trip for the first time on March 27th and uncharacteristically led. It paid off as she ran a best to date 3rd, beating a few of today’s rivals in the process, and she can back that up here. (2) JEONGMUN SKIP is up to a mile for the first time but gets a better draw than in his latest two and he should be close. (5) SEUNGNI YEYAK was 4th in that March 27th race and in this company, looks a good chance of making the minors again. (3) THANKYOUFORTHETIME another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Haengbok Tree (4) Resonance Marine (2) Jeongmun Skip (5) Seungni Yeyak |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (6) SUPER TTANGKONG was 4th on debut before scoring a comprehensive seven-length win over 1200M on February 1st when she led all the way. She did go lame after that, but she has been back in work since April 1st and while up in class and distance, she can measure up. The probable betting favourite is (7) ECLIPSE THE QUEEN. She has mixed her form but comes in having won a very similar class and distance filly race to this on March 15th when on pace and beating two of today’s rivals. An apprentice claiming 3kg means her carried weight stays the same and it would be no surprise if she went back-to-back. (2) X-TEN got her maiden win two starts back and then ran 5th on her first try at this class on March 21st, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process and from a better draw, she can get closer. (9) RAON THE BELMONT and (up in class last start maiden winner (5) NUNKKOT, others in the frame.
| Selections | (6) Super Ttangkong (7) Eclipse The Queen (2) X-Ten (9) Raon The Belmont |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only. (4) CHAMPUI SIDAE is yet to win but has been the architect of her own downfall most of time with poor starts, including her latest when she stumbled coming out of the gate before running on for 6th. Two outings back she ran 3rd behind Gangseo Pride and Heavy Duty, and she can have benefitted from a decent chunk of time off. Tanaka is on for the first time, and she is worth another chance. (8) BULBIT YEONGMA ran 4th on debut before winning at start two over 1200M in February. She came up to this distance for her first go at class 5, running 5th in a very similar race to this and while up 2kgin weight, she shapes as a big danger. (6) MISS SNIPER enters off two consecutive 5th places against slightly better opposition than this and can be closer today. The rest of the form is very patchy with (11) GLOBAL HEROINE, who needs a line through her latest, and (3) ONES HEYDAY, perhaps the best among them.
| Selections | (4) Champui Sidae (8) Bulbit Yeongma (6) Miss Sniper (11) Global Heroine |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 10 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) GREEN JACKET is up in class having run 2nd in both his first two outings at 1200M and 1300M showing close to the pace both times. He comes down 3kg in weight, third-up he can be peaking, and he can potentially master this lot at an each-way price. (2) DDATTEUTHAN WIRO is yet to win in seven attempts but has placed four times including his latest two which have both finished in 3rd places at this class over 1800M and 1400M. From gate 2, he will be on pace and he could breakthrough. (1) WISHMASTER is up in class having scored at start number four over this distance on February 28th. He is another one who should be on the speed and down 2kg in weight, he can measure up. (6) CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG and (7) WONDERFUL N.B. are the others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Green Jacket (2) Ddaetteuthan Wiro (1) Wishmaster (6) Cheongsan Dolpung |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) SAESIDAE WON was an emphatic nine-length winner on debut at this class over 1200M on March 1st when leading for most of the way. He comes up in trip, but an apprentice means he carries even less weight, and the manner of that win suggests that there can be more to come from the Gunnevera colt. There was plenty more to come from (11) YOUNGYOUNG BRAVO after he registered his maiden win in December as he quickly followed up with two more. As a locally bred runner, he began racing at class 6 so he is up in grade today as well as up in trip, but he too is down in weight and can win again. (10) SENSATIONAL WIN was a class and distance winner two outings back but struggled when sent off as favourite on his return on March 22nd, finishing 6th of eleven. The jockey suggested that the increased weight was an issue – Sensational Win is not a big horse – but while he carries the same weight today and draws the same gate (although there is a different jockey), he can be given another chance. (3) WHITE FLARE and (1) OASIS WINNER other chances in a strong race.
| Selections | (5) Saesidae Won (11) Youngyoung Bravo (10) Sensational Win (3) White Flare |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) GHOST CHRYSOL has been close-up in two runs at this level including when beaten a head most recently on March 22 in a stronger Class 4 than this. He is consistent and can be expected to run his usual honest race again. (3) FASHION STAR won over the course, distance, and grade last September and then went down to Busan to compete in the G3 Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup and the LR Breeders’ Cup Queen. She has subsequently been around the mark in races over this course, distance, and grade and should be once more. (11) INFINITE HONOR came from last to win a race at this level five runs back in August and was a better run last time when second. (1) YEONGWON GIANT should be close-up from his low draw. (6) BLACK SIDAE and (5) THEME TANSAENG rate next but a few others should not be discounted.
| Selections | (10) Ghost Chrysol (3) Fashion Star (11) Infinite Honor (1) Yeongwon Giant |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) EPHPHATHA is a perfect three for three having scored on debut over 1200M in January and then following up with a pair of victories at 1400M, most recently over this distance on March 29th when on pace throughout. He comes up 3kg in weight, but he won under more at start two and he can continue on his merry way here. Not many win four in a row of course, and if Ephphatha is to be denied, (12) FANTASTIC BLUE is the most likely candidate. He came from off the pace to run 3rd on March 29th, having won at this distance in February. He has four-lengths to find on Ephphatha but gets a weight swing and can be closer. (10) SINCHEON FIRST was further back in that same race but was a very close 2nd to Nice Buddy at class and distance two starts back and can be given another chance. (3) HEUIMANG GARAM took a shy at the class 2 stumps last time and can be happier today, while (8) WIND BULLET is best of the rest.
| Selections | (5) Ephphatha (12) Fantastic Blue (10) Sincheon First (3) Heuimang Garam |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Weight for Age / YTN Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million
The second leg of the Stayer Series. (1) GANGPUNGMA will need to get the start right but even if he is slightly slow, he is good enough to come home and land his first graded success. He has a brilliant finish at the end of his races and ran past most of these bar Speed Young when second in the President’s Cup before following that up with a 2nd to Clean One in the Grand Prix. He then won at the end of December before making up ground to be third in the G3 Herald Business, the first leg of this Stayer Series, a month ago. The safest bet in the race is (4) SPEED YOUNG each-way. He has been 3rd and 2nd in the last two renewals of this behind Global Hit and is in as good a form as ever. He was brilliant winning first-up over 1200M and whilst he was behind Success Baekpa and Gangpungma last month he made his run a long way from home to attack Clean One who was getting a picnic in front. (9) SUCCESS BAEKPA was best of the rest behind Clean One a month ago and may finish in front of most of these again. (8) GLOBAL HIT has won the last two renewals of this. He came back from a Meydan campaign to destroy his rivals 12 months ago before following up in the Busan Mayor’s. He has had issues with primarily his near foreleg subsequently, but it was a promising run when finishing second under a big weight at Busan in February. (3) YOUNG SKYWALKER was behind the big guns in the President’s Cup in October but has had three successive wins since and with Seo Seung-un on board his confidence will be sky-high. (2) VET CAPTAIN is up huge in grade but has been brilliant winning his past two by a combined 20-lengths. He is best of the rest in an outstandingly good race.
| Selections | (1) Gangpungma (4) Speed Young (9) Success Baekpa (8) Global Hit |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) AMAZING ONE was anything but in the KRA Cup Mile three weeks ago and has accordingly dropped off the Triple Crown trail. He is tough a two-time winner at this distance, one of which was at this class, and back in the shallow end today, he can return to winning ways. Shallow it might be, but there are still one or two predators lurking, albeit not of the intimidating kind. (9) TANTAN DAERO was a seven-length winner over this distance on March 22nd which was also his maiden. He is up in class here but with an apprentice claim, his weight stays the same and he can be competitive. (7) POWER TIME has been ordinary in two tries at this class but was a winner over this distance in February and in this amenable company, should be close. (1) ANN BUNNY and (11) FLASH RUN can improve on their disappointing respective last starts.
| Selections | (6) Amazing One (9) Tantan Daero (7) Power Time (1) Ann Bunny |
| Next Best | 11, 12 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) CHEONMAHORYEONG and (9) RAON FLORENCE continue their rivalry with the score currently sitting at 2-1 in favour of the latter. However, the former gets the chance equalise as she comes into this race in career best form following up her five-length defeat of Raon Florence in January by winning by a length-and-a-half on March 21st, on both occasions leading throughout over this distance one grade below this. She is two for two with Kim Tae-hun on board and can make it three. Raon Florence, after his defeat to Cheonmahoryeong on January 18th, has also been a subsequent winner over the course and distance at Class 4 with his victory being by six-lengths on March 8. (11) NAEGILUI WINNER will do his best work late and he comes down 4kg on last start and Woo In-cheol claims 2kg of those. (7) GLOBAL POWER has been consistent in similar races against the likes of Wonpyeong Sket and Gwanaksan Storm. (8) TOHOMARKET faces the toughest test of her career at this grade for the first time but rates next over (10) STAR TREK who should be around the mark.
| Selections | (4) Cheonmahoryeong (9) Raon Florence (11) Naegilui Winner (7) Global Power |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 1 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(9) OASIS RED was 5th in last year’s G1 President’s Cup and most recently finished in the same position in the G3 Herald Business a month ago, both over this distance. Instead of going to the YTN Cup in the capital today, he stays here and under a light weight, he can score on his first try at regular class 1. (5) DESPITE WIN has never really found his niche, taking part in Group races last year between 1200M and 2000M with his best being 2nd at a mile in the G3 Owners’ Cup. He was 3rd when racing against plenty of these over 1400M on March 22nd but he has won at this distance and he looks nicely in here. (6) ONEULISUNGAN was 2nd in that March 22nd race having been sent off as favourite following a consistent run of form and he can be in the finish again. (4) STAR MATTA won that March 22nd race at odds of 22/1. That was his second time in a row beating Oneulisungan having finished 3rd to his 4th on February 15th at this distance. He carries a big weight but warrants respect. Up in class but down in weight, last start winner (2) UNJU GUY another in the hunt in a tricky finale.
| Selections | (9) Oasis Red (5) Despite Win (6) Oneulisungan (4) Star Matta |
| Next Best | 2, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) GOLD CATCHER led throughout to score by three-lengths over the course and distance two back on February 8 before finishing third beaten a neck on her first run at this level, over the same course and distance, on March 22 when attempting to lead throughout once again. She has only performed poorly once in eleven runs and can go close again. (7) GRACE ROUTE came from the second half of the field to win over the course and distance one grade below this on March 14 and comes into Class 3 for the first time being put up 7lb but carries 4.5kg less in weight. (6) WONDERFUL LORD and (5) DREAM ISLE both have similar form and there will not be much between them again. (9) DRAGON KINGDOM should be around the mark once more, but he is up 4lb and 4kg for his last start two-and-a-half length second ahead of three reopposing rivals. (10) GOOD HAPPY led throughout out to win at 50/1 last time and rates next on his first Class 3 attempt.
| Selections | (2) Gold Catcher (7) Grace Route (6) Wonderful Lord (5) Dream Isle |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(5) ELDORADO NOLBU is a very consistent four-year-old that has been second in three of his past four runs all over this course and distance with his last three all at this level. He chased home Geudaemaniddamyeon, Oneuldo Smile and Ssoara Star four, three and two runs back before a fourth to Geudaemaniddamyeon last time. He deserves a Class 2 victory and is a safe each-way bet. (8) SILVER RAIN failed badly last time with only 52kg on his back and for this race he comes up 6kg. His best form has seen him run second to Best Race, Munhak Boy and Magic Potion however so he has the ability. (4) HANGANG BOSS has five-lengths to find with Eldorado Nolbu from his first effort at this grade on March 2 but can be around the mark going on his prior course and distance victory one level below this. (9) TRAUM KING was fifth at LR level last year and rates next over (10) GANGNAMBULCHUNGGAK, who has lost form, and (11) GREAT STORM, whose best run from four tries at this grade has been a fifth.
| Selections | (5) Eldorado Nolbu (8) Silver Rain (4) Hangang Boss (9) Traum King |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 