The second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer headlines Seoul on Sunday with the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2). There are 10 races in total at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55 while at Busan there are 7 races from 11:25 to 16:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) BEAT FRESH was ordinary on debut but since has a 4th and two 3rd places, most recently over this distance on March 8th when racing handy throughout. She should be on or close to the pace here and shapes as the one to beat. (5) SEMYEONG PEAK has a 3rd and a 4th from her latest two at 1300M and 1400M. She has the fastest final furlong average time among the field and can be coming on strong late. (2) COMPLETE FUTURE did precisely nothing in his first three starts but was a significantly improved 3rd on March 22nd over this distance. He draws well and can build on that here. (4) LOVING PURPLE and (6) PASA ACE are others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) Beat Fresh (5) Semyeong Peak (2) Complete Future (4) Loving Purple |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) NAOL AURORA has a 3rd and a 2nd from two starts so far, both at 1200M and both times running through the line well. She steps up in trip for the first time but that shouldn’t be a problem, and she should be coming out on top today. (1) P.P. JJANG was a much-improved 2nd at start number three over 1300M on March 8th when he didn’t get quite as far back as he did in his first two disappointing efforts. With similar tactics today, he can be in the finish again. (11) GLOBAL LAND was a beaten favourite last time out, but she does have a 3rd place to her name and CC returning to the ride can be in her favour here. (7) DELTA CHOEGANG and (6) VALKYRIE are others in line for the minors.
| Selections | (10) Naol Aurora (1) P.P. Jjang (11) Global Land (7) Delta Choegang |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Three-debut makers here and we’ll side with one of them (2) WILD REAL went through two trials, improving significantly in the second one when on pace throughout and crossing the line a very close 2nd in a quick time (61.4 seconds – it was a voluntary trial so it won’t be in every racecard but it was on April 2nd). From a great draw, if he brings that form to the races, he will win. (5) FLEX KHAN ran 4th on debut all the way back last September. He went lame ahead of a planned start in November but has been back in work since the start of March and looked well in a quick trial on April 2nd. He can go well first up today. (8) NORTHERN QUEEN has made progress across five starts so far and was a solid 2nd at this distance on April 10th. She makes a quick reappearance here and while up 3kg in weight, she should be close again. (10) UNJU DAEBAK and (3) P.D SPECIAL others who can improve.
| Selections | (2) Wild Real (5) Flex Khan (8) Northern Queen (10) Unju Daebak |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (5) URUS SABBIA came from the widest gate to sit just behind the speed and then run on to win over 1300M on debut on March 21st. He comes up in class and slightly in trip and while he doesn’t get a weight break, he can win again. (7) CHOWOLMA got his maiden win at 1300M in January and while his first go at this class was nothing special, he improved to 2nd behind Young Fighter on March 22nd. He tackles the 1400M for the first time and is up 2kg in weight (to the same weight under which he won) but he can be a big danger. (8) MIGHTY CRIS ran 2nd on his first try at this class over 1700M on March 22nd. He returns to the distance at which he got his maiden win and while up in weight, he can be competitive. (4) STUNNING SERVE and (10) COWBOY SOCKS others in at least the placing picture.
| Selections | (5) Urus Sabbia (7) Chowolma (8) Mighty Cris (4) Stunning Serve |
| Next Best | 10, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After an inauspicious debut, (2) OASIS HAPPY has registered a 2nd and a 4th at 1300M and 1400M, settling just behind the leaders both times and running on. The step up to the mile can suit and from a good draw in a race with no early speed, Seo Seung-un can go to the front and stay there. (8) WIN NOW has a 3rd and a 4th from two outings to date, bot over 1400M and both times beating a couple of today’s rivals. Franco climbs on and given the way he finished off those races, the extended trip can be in his favour too. (1) I AM HAPPY returned from five months out to run 3rd over 1300M on March 27th. He should have come on for the run and can match or better that today. (6) DOLGYEOK SPECIAL and (7) WORLD TRIPLE CAT others who can be around the mark.
| Selections | (2) Oasis Happy (8) Win Now (1) I Am Happy (6) Dolgyeok Special |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) FIGHTER got his maiden win over 1700M at the end of February before running 2nd on his first try at this class and distance on March 28th, showing close to the pace throughout and with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He comes up 3.5kg in weight, but that shouldn’t be a problem, and he is the one to beat. (2) LUCKY JOY was an on-pace winner over 1700M on March 29th. He is up in class but draws well to lead again and he can measure up. So too can (1) BREEDO CALEY. He’s still a maiden but has run 2nd in both his latest two and he may well appreciate the increased trip today. (4) SHARKTEN and (8) JISAN FRIEND are the other main contenders.
| Selections | (10) Fighter (2) Lucky Joy (1) Breedo Caley (4) Sharkten |
| Next Best | 8, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) MOST WANTED returned from almost a year out to win over 1200M on February 8th, coming from off the pace, before finishing 2nd when trying to repeat the trick on his first try at this class and distance on March 22nd, well beaten by Oasis Young. Third-up he can be peaking fitness-wise and he can win here. Trying to emulate hm by returning from a long absence with a win is (9) SAENAE HUNTER. He last raced in July and was a winner at this class over 1200M a month earlier. He looked very well when “winning” a trial on March 26th, leading all the way and posting a fast time, and he can put in a bold showing first-up today. (11) DOCTOR HUNTER was 3rd on debut before winning at start two in all the way fashion over 1200M on March 29th. He is up in class here, as well as having the challenge of the widest gate, but he is down in weight and with Seo Seung-un on, will have plenty of supporters. (3) HANEUL GOLD and (7) NEVERSTOP HEEMANG are the other minor money chances.
| Selections | (4) Most Wanted (9) Saenae Hunter (11) Doctor Hunter (3) Haneul Gold |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) SLING STAR has won his latest two at 1400M and 1700M, the latter at this class on February 7th. He went slightly lame in March but has been back in work since April 9th and while he is up 3kg in weight, coming in fresh can be to his benefit, and he will be favoured to complete his hat-trick. (8) HAKSAN CAIRO is yet to win in twenty, and that run will probably be extended here, but he has no fewer than seventeen top five finishes, and he should be there or thereabouts again. (2) AWESOME QUEEN was a well beaten favourite at this class over 1800M on March 7th when perhaps feeling a big weight. An apprentice helps lessen the load today and from a great draw, the front-runner can be given another chance. (7) HANMADIMALDO and (11) CHUKBAEREUL DEULEORA are other place chances.
| Selections | (3) Sling Star (8) Haksan Cairo (2) Awesome Queen (7) Hanmadimaldo |
| Next Best | 11, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) FANTASTIC BOSS was a smart maiden winner over a mile on March 20th, settling midfield and running on well. He is up in class and in distance but is down 2.5kg in weight and has every chance of backing up in a competitive race. (11) BARBELL TROFEO has won just the once, but it was only three starts back and it was at this class and distance. He has held his form with a 4th and 3rd since, and while he carries 3kg more than when he won, he is a big danger. (1) BARBELL MOMO is a non-winner of eighteen but came from off the pace to run 3rd over 1400M on April 5th. He has placed twice at this trip too and under a very light weight, he can repeat that here. (3) K ROYAL and the up in class (12) BEOLGYO VILLAIN are others who can be in the finish in a race in which what little speed there is, has mostly drawn wide.
| Selections | (10) Fantastic Boss (11) Barbell Trofeo (1) Barbell Momo (3) K Royal |
| Next Best | 12, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 9, 11, 12 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (11) RAON SNIPER stepped up to this distance for the first time on March 14th and scored her second win in seven starts from the front. She had an apprentice claim that day, so she doesn’t get a weight break, despite the class rise, but this isn’t an intimidating field for the level, and she won’t need to do much more to win this. (4) MIGHTY LOVE has plenty of experience at this class and enters off a 5th place over this distance on March 28th when she came from off the pace to beat a couple of today’s rivals. She draws much better today and can be closer. (8) QUEEN DIA enters off a 4th place at this class and distance on March 14th. Two of her three wins have been at this distance and she can challenge here. (7) ULTRA SOCKS and (1) BYEOKSONG among other placing chances.
| Selections | (11) Raon Sniper (4) Mighty Love (8) Queen Dia (7) Ultra Socks |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(6) FORCE BE WITH YOU got back-to-back wins over this trip in December and January to be rapidly promoted two grades to this level. Since being at class 3, he has two runner-up finishes, again both at 1800M. Seo Seung-un knows him well, winning on him twice, and the pair can sit midfield and prove too strong. (4) VICE ROYAL has won at this class over a Mile as recently as last Boxing Day and has held his form with two 3rd places and a 4th since and can be in the mix again. If KRA Cup Mile winner Funny Wild goes on to win the Triple Crown, it will be hard to stifle a chuckle at the fact (7) MAX THE CAT holds a win over him. But he did when sweeping past him on March 1st to score at class and distance. Max The Cat then ran 2nd, again at class and distance on March 29th and while 3kg over what he won under, he warrants respect (or at least more than I just gave him). (3) CAPTAIN DIA and (10) STORM FIGHTER next bests.
| Selections | (6) Force Be With You (4) Vice Royal (7) Max The Cat (3) Captain Dia |
| Next Best | 10, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight A / Ttukseom Cup (KOR G2) / KRW 700 Million
The second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer. (15) BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN is the filly with a bit of x-factor about here, but she does need things to set up for her, primarily a strong pace. It wasn’t quite hot enough for her in the Donga Ilbo in March, but she still got up for 2nd but back at 1400M, she could repeat her spectacular effort in last September’s Jeju Governor’s Cup. (6) RAON FOREST won the Donga Ilbo, coming through late to win comfortably. She is very consistent in these kinds of races and while she is just a one-time winner at 1400M, she is not to be discounted. (13) SATANG SONYEO was 3rd in the Donga, also coming from well back. She was thought to be more of a Stayer, but she is one for one at the distance and her quality can see her close. (2) CATCH THE DREAM races for the first time since finishing well back in a Queens’ Tour race over 2000M last October but she looked very quick on a March trial. A winner of five from eleven she draws beautifully to be on pace, and she is one they will need to get past. (4) GLADIUS is a Queens’ Tour race winner and is not to be discounted.
| Selections | (15) Boryeonglightqueen (6) Raon Forest (13) Satang Sonyeo (2) Catch The Dream |
| Next Best | 4, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) ROAD TO ACE was an eye-catching eleven-length winner over this distance on March 15th, leading all the way. He comes up in class and carries his fair share of weight again, but the manner of that victory suggests that there can be more to come. As an import, (1) BARAM DAERO began his career at this level and he comes in having registered his maiden win at star three over this distance on March 27, leading all the way. Under today’s handicap, he actually comes down in weight and from a good draw, he can be on the speed again and in this a very long way. (5) ARCHER HEART was 3rd in that race despite racing ungenerously throughout. He’s been back to trial since then and with better manners, can be a danger. (4) CRYSTAL MULGYEOL and (3) APDOJEOK NUMBERONE are place chances.
| Selections | (10) Road To Ace (1) Baram Daero (5) Archer Heart (4) Crystal Mulgyeol |
| Next Best | 3, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
A well-beaten favourite on debut, (8) MAEUM HANA has since more than made amends for that with three consecutive victories, leading all the way each time, most recently at class 4 level on March 22nd. That brings him rapidly up in class and up to a mile for the first time, but the aplomb with which he has gone about his work so far, suggests that there can be more to come. (3) FREE THE ONE ran 3rd behind Roshe in the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy at this distance in March, before coming from a long way back after a slow start to be 4th behind Wonpyeong Sket at 1200M on March 28th. The Step up to a mile can suit and he may well start as favourite. (5) WORLD BLAME has finished in 3rd place in five of his last six starts and may well do so again, (10) NURI CHEONWANG and (1) SURE WIN among other chances.
| Selections | (8) Maeum Hana (3) Free The One (5) World Blame (10) Nuri Cheonwang |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(7) VANGIE beat several of these on his way to victory at this class over 1200M on March 27th, settling midfield and running on and scoring comfortably. There are a couple of steadiers on him here in that he has to cart around 58.5kg and that he is yet to score at 1400M from four attempts – though he has placed twice. He can overcome that and is the one to beat. (1) KING ANYDAY was 3rd in that March 27th race but they come back to a distance at which he won over in on March 5th (with Vangie behind him) and with an apprentice claim, he can be competitive here. (2) BEOLMA KING was the beaten favourite on March 27th when slow away. He too should be more comfortable at 1400M, a distance over which he holds three wins from three starts. The wildcard is (12) NORTHERN BID, who hasn’t raced since December 2024 but looked well in a fast April trial. (3) BRUG KINGMAN another in the hunt.
| Selections | (7) Vangie (1) King Anyday (2) Beolma King (12) Northern Bid |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 9, 12 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(8) DRAGON KILLER stepped up to this distance for the first time on March 28th and while he was sent off as favourite and he showed on pace for much of the way, ultimately he was overhauled late on and came home in 2nd place. It wasn’t a bad run though and he can go one better today. He gets a 2.5kg weight swing on the horse who beat him that day. That was (7) SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA, who was recording his second consecutive victory and was tackling the class and the distance for the first time and came from off the pace strongly. His weight rise notwithstanding; it would be no surprise if he completed his hat-trick here. (10) MORNING WONDER also comes in seeking to complete a hat-trick of wins. She is up in both close and distance following her scores at a mile and at 1400M and she can measure up. (2) MK LEE and (3) SUPER BLUEMOON are others in the frame.
| Selections | (8) Dragon Killer (7) Songdang Hwangtaeja (10) Morning Wonder (2) MK Lee |
| Next Best | 3, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
If she can lead, she can win is generally the way to approach (4) WONPYEONG SKET. She just held on last time and while she is up in class, she comes down in weight, she draws very nicely and if she leads, they will almost certainly be coming back at her late but the line should come in time. (10) J S ROAD and (9) MORE THAN JOKE came home 2nd and 3rd respectively when they raced one another at this class over 1400M on March 21st. An apprentice claim keeps the former – a four-time winner at this distance – competitive, while the latter is under a light weight and is consistent. Ruan Maia has parted company with Wonpyeong Sket, at least for the time being, and it would be no surprise to see him applying the pressure late aboard (11) EXCELLENT TAN. (3) LUCKY PARTY the best of the rest.
| Selections | (4) Wonpyeong Sket (10) J S Road (9) More Than Joke (11) Excellent Tan |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 