Day: May 23, 2026

Busan Mayor’s Cup: Preview & Form Comments for the Stayer Series Finale

It will be a battle of the best Korea has to offer as emphatic Grand Prix Stakes and Herald Business winner Clean One, the highest rated horse in the country, returns to take on the likes of Success Baekpa, Speed Young and Global Hit in the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2), the final leg of the Stayer Series, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday. SEE HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL ON SUNDAY.

Clean One (Pic: KRA)

Clean One skipped the YTN Cup for workload management reasons with his season being geared around a successful defence of the Grand Prix at the end of November – and hopefully a tilt at the international Korea Cup in September. He’s been back in work since the very end of March and is set to be a short-price favourite. Seo Seung-un will be aboard.

Success Baekpa took the honours in the YTN Cup. It was only his eighth career win but five of those have been at Group race level and while he can mix his form, when he is good, he is undoubtedly very good.

Then there is Global Hit. It would be fair to say that the old, pre-injury, Global Hit would have probably cruised away from the field on the YTN Cup. That he managed to get within a length of peak Success Baekpa, suggests that he is far from done. Whether he has a win left in him at this level is another question though.

Speed Young is the reigning horse of the year, having got his breakthrough Group 1 success last November in the President’s Cup. Like the versatile performer he is, he dropped back to a sprinting distance to win the Listed Segye Ilbo in February before registering 4th and 3rd places in the first two legs of the Stayer Series.  Outrageously consistent, he will be in the mix again.

Gangpungma has also been around the placings in elite company over the past few months although may have let slip his best chance of a win. Wonpyeong Storm and Munhak Boy, despite the latter having a Group victory to his name, are also not entirely convincing.

Tuhonui Banseok, a two-time winner of this race, in 2023 and 2024, will reach the end of his racing career with a final run in the race

The Busan Mayor’s Cup will be run earlier than most Group races as it will be shown live on the KBS N Sports channel. It will be race 3 on the card with a local post time of 13:25. Here is a full run down of the field:

1. WONPYEONG STORM – Hasn’t lived up to his early promise and he’s struggled in elite company, most recently 12th in the Herald Business. Comes in fresh and he is one for one over 1800M with plenty of time to make it at this grade, but others are favoured.

2. GLOBAL HIT – Ran on strongly for an excellent 2nd in the YTN Cup, getting within a length of Success Baekpa. The old Global Hit would surely have run down the winner that day, but it was still a fantastic effort, and he is not to discounted from going close again.

3. YOUNG SKYWALKER – Won three in a row between November and February up to class 2 and at 1800M and 2000M but was twelve-lengths back in 6th place in the YTN, struggling late on. Has potential at the elite level but perhaps not quite yet.

4. SPEED YOUNG – Mr. Reliable, the Swiss army knife horse won the Listed Segye Ilbo over 1200M in February before 4th and 3rd place finishes in the Herald Business and YTN Cup. Tactically versatile, he will surely be in the finish again.

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Mayor’s Cup Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (May 24)

The Stayer Series concludes at Busan this Sunday with Clean One making his return to face off against Success Baekpa, Speed Young, Global Hit et.al. in the final leg of the Stayer Series, the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2). There are 7 races at Busan from 11.25 to 16.55 and 10 at Seoul from 10.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:

Success Baekpa and Global Hit reoppose on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

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

(7) GOLD ID didn’t do much on debut in March and ended back in a trial on April 16th where she cruised away to cross the line 1st in a quick time. It is worth mentioning that she had trialed well before her debut too, but she is worth another chance here. (8) JISAN COMING SOON went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them when on pace throughout. If he brings that form to the races, he can be a danger first-up. (4) PIEONARI ran a fair 5th on debut over this distance on May 2nd, racing handy throughout and beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process and he can improve here. (6) CHRYSOL HEELS and (10) PNS LEAF other potential improvers.

Selections(7) Gold ID (8) Jisan Coming Soon (4) Pieonari (6) Chrysol Heels
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 8

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

After a good trial, (6) NAEGILUIWONDERFUL was sent off as favourite on debut over 1200M on April 25th and after a slow start, rallied for 4th place. He should have come on for that run and with a better break has every chance today. (5) COWBOY QUEEN was 5th on debut and followed up with a 2nd and most recently a 3rd place in two subsequent outings, both at 1200M. She stays under a light weight with an apprentice claim, she draws well and she can be a big danger. (9) PASA ACE was an improved 3rd at start four over 1300M on April 26th, settling midfield and running on. He too keeps the same apprentice claim and can go close. (10) LOVING PURPLE and (1) SMART GRAND others in the minor money frame.

Selections(6) Naegiluiwonderful (5) Cowboy Queen (9) Pasa Ace (10) Loving Purple
Next Best1, 2
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 10

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

(6) PERFECT POINT has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over this distance on April 19th when on pace throughout. He’ll be on pace again, Seo Seung-un climbs on for the first time, and today can be the day. (11) O.K. BABY was a very close 2nd at start number two over this distance on May 1st when he very nearly led all the way. Without an apprentice claim he is up 3kg in the weights and he has to contend with the widest gate, but he can be in the mix again. There are five debut makers and (9) PACHOUI KKUM looked good when winning a trial in a quick time on April 23rd, showing handy throughout. If she brings that form to the races, she is a big chance first up. (4) FLASH COCO and (5) BORYEONG THE QUEEN are others with experience who can improve.

Selections(6) Perfect Point (11) O.K. Baby (9) Pachoui Kkum (4) Flash Coco
Next Best5, 2
Fast Start3, 6, 9, 11

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

(2) MEGA WIND has made progress across three starts so far with his latest being his best when 4th over 1300M on May 2nd when racing on pace. He draws well to lead again, the slight step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem, and he can win. (10) DUSON LIFE registered a 3rd place two outings back over 1300M and while he could only manage 5th on his latest at this distance on April 19th, he can be given another chance here. Duson Life will need to overturn the form on (6) GRAY PHANTOM, who ran 4th in that April 19th race, coning from well off the pace. The same apprentice keeps her weight nice and light and she can match or better that today. (1) M J VET, who comes out of a 2nd place in a very limited race, and solitary debut-maker (9) BREEDO EPIC, are others in the placing frame.

Selections(2) Mega Wind (10) Duson Life (6) Gray Phantom (1) M J Vet
Next Best9, 8
Fast Start2, 3, 8, 10

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

After finishing 5th on debut, (2) MAEUMMEOGEUNDAERO was an on-pace 3rd at start number two over 1300M on April 17th. Third-up he can be peaking, he draws well and the slight step up in trip shouldn’t stop him from breaking through. (1) GAON PERFECT was 3rd on debut over 1300M on March 20th before running 4th in that April 17th race, laying out for part of the race. He has four-lengths to find on Maeummeogeundaero but shapes as a big danger. (5) TEAHO beat three of today’s rivals when a much-improved 3rd as the longest shot on the bard on April 24th. He gets the same apprentice allowance today and warrants more respect. (3) WORLD BOLD MAN and (4) SKY BOY others in the placing frame.

Selections(2) Maeummeogeundaero (1) Gaon Perfect (5) Teaho (3) World Bold Man
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 8

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

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