The big hitters have drawn wide as the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer reaches its conclusion in the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan on Sunday afternoon. Defending champion Raon Forest gets gate thirteen while Ttukseom Cup winner Fantastic Value has gate ten. Boryeonglightqueen and Gladius similarly will contend with double-digit gate numbers.SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES AT BUSAN AND SEOUL.
Fantastic Value (Pic: KRA)
FANTASTIC VALUE was a revelation as she returned to form with victory in the Ttukseom Cup at Seoul last month. After winning last year’s Luna Stakes and Korean Oaks before missing out on sweeping the Triple Tiara with defeat to Boryeonglightqueen in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup last June, Fantastic Value hadn’t won again. She was accordingly sent off in excess of 70/1 for the Ttukseom but made a mockery of that with a half-length victory. The mile of the KNN Cup may suit her even better.
BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN roared home from off the pace in that Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup almost a year ago and repeated the trick in the Jeju Governor’s Cup last September. She hasn’t won since but was a fast-finishing 2nd in both previous legs of this series, the Donga Ilbo over 1800M and the Ttukseom over 1400M. She may start as favourite.
Seoul raider RAON FOREST won this race a year ago and also took out the first leg of this series, the Donga Ilbo. The highest rated in the race, she will be a big danger again. Others traveling down from the capital with chances include GLADIUS and ONEULDO SMILE.
As for the lesser established ones, NICE BUDDY is a winner of five from eleven but must contend with the widest gate of all. YEOSU SUPER STAR was one of the winners from the draw and should be among the early pace-setters.
1. INDY GHOST – Races for the first time since throwing her jockey as the gates opened in the Donga Ilbo. She has subsequently won a trial, but she was in excess of 60/1 for the Donga and while a solid class 2/3 competitor, will probably be similar here.
2. GOLD CATCHER – A winner of four from twelve and one for one at this distance. She hasn’t won at higher than class 4 so this is a big test, but she draws well to at least be on the speed and of not a winning chance, she can be in this a long way.
3. HAENGBOKAN SEUNGJA – Joint 4th highest rated in the race, she returned from almost six-months off to run 2nd at class 1 level over 1400M on May 10th. She hasn’t won at a mile but has placed four times and while not among the top line of favourites at level weights, can run well.
4. QUEEN TYCHE – A winner up to class 3 and 1400M, she ran a big 5th in the Ttukseom Cup at odds in excess of 100/1. Has never run at a mile before but struggled at 1800M. Not as long a shot as before, but still an outsider.
The Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer comes to a conclusion on Sunday with the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) attracting a full field of sixteen fillies and mares to the south coast. The big race is race 6 on the 7-race card at Busan which runs from 11,25 to 16.55. There are also 10 races at Seoul with a class 1 test over 2300M as the feature. Seoul’s card runs from 10.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:
Raon Forest will seek to defend her KNN Cup crown (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Northern hemisphere two-year-olds and southern three-year-olds with all but one of the eight racing for the first time. The experienced one is (3) SOUTH CARNIVAL, who has raced twice for a 3rd and a 2nd, both at 1200M. He was on pace in his latest on March 28th and should have a fitness edge on these. (4) HOPE K was an all the way trial winner in a quick time just two weeks ago, crossing the line ten-lengths to the good. If he brings that form to the races, he can prove hard to beat. (7) GRAND PAS CLASSIC was also a commanding trial winner, leading all the way to score by four. He too can be a danger first-up. (2) SAUDI SOCKS and (6) MIGHTY SAVER others who hinted at ability in their heats.
Selections
(3) South Carnival (4) Hope K (7) Grand Pas Classic (2) Saudi Socks
Next Best
6, 8
Fast Start
1, 2, 3 , 4
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with five of the eleven racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and while (2) FLYING SMART has been a beaten favourite in both her starts so far at 1300M and 1400M when settling right back and running on, the fitness edge can be crucial. At the shorter distance, she can be further forward from a better gate, and she can win. (11) BEAUTIFULLY beat a couple of today’s rivals on her debut on April 25th, racing handy over this distance. She has the challenge of the widest gate, but she should have come on for that run and she can be close. Among the debut makers, (9) WHITE JACKPOT ran 2nd in a decent time in a May 14th trial and can put in a bold showing first up. (5) MASK GIRL was 5th behind Beautifull on debut and from a better gate and second up, can improve. (6) PNS BEAUTY another first-timer who can be competitive.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Eight fillies and one gelding in the south coast opener. (4) WIDAEHAN HEART debuted all the way back in October of last year, running a strong 2nd over 1000M. She then went lame but has been back in work since March and looked well when 2nd in a trial on May 7th. She is the one to beat here. (6) NORTHERN QUEEN has mixed her form a little over her six starts but going on her 2nd place two outings back when leading close to home, she has to rate as a chance in this company. (5) DIA X is an eighteen-race maiden but has two placings and no fewer than ten finishes in either 4th or 5th and he can be close today. (7) MAGIC TREE was a nondescript 7th on debut all the way back in July last year. She hasn’t raced since but returned to regular work at the start of April and has trialed well. Debut-maker (1) WONDERFUL PAS went through two trials and should be nice and fit on debut.
Selections
(4) Widaehan Heart (6) Northern Queen (5) Dia X (7) Magic Tree
Next Best
1, 3
Fast Start
1, 3, 4, 7
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) SAENAE RANIA has thrived since being stepped up to this trip, recording back-to-back 3rd place finishes, both times racing on pace. From a good draw, she will be on the speed again, and she can win. (11) JECHUK SANJIRO ran 3rd at start number two over this distance in April. He leaned in heavily when 5th over 1700M on May 9th to the extent that he was sent back to trial and having come through that in fine fashion, he is a chance today. (6) SEOPOKCHAT has a 3rd and three 4th places to his name. He has settled back and run on strongly each time. He comes up to the 1400M for the first time and there is every chance that it can suit. (10) UMARU and (3) TRIPLE S are other place chances.
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) STEALTH KINGMAN was an on pace 2nd in a decent time over 1300M on April 17th. He should have come on for the run and from a good draw he can be on pace again and this time he can go one better. (4) PILSEUNG WINNER returned from over three months off in April and has since run 3rd and 4th at 1400M and at this distance, settling in midfield and running on. Third-up this preparation, she can be peaking fitness wise, and she can be close. (3) MORE QUICKLY enters off a best to date 4th place on May 17th and should be aiming to match or better that in this company. (7) WONDERFUL WIND and (8) WORLD TRIPLE CAT are others in contention for the minors.
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) NINJA TIGER is yet to win, though she is far from alone here. She comes up in class following two 3rd places and most recently a 2nd at 1300M on May 2nd and under a light weight, she has as good a chance as any. (5) HAKSAN PRINCE is a twenty-one-race maiden but has placed on eight occasions, including last time out when 3rd at this class over 1700M. Four of his five runner-up finishes have come at 1400M and while he has his fair share of weight, he can be a danger. (7) WONPYEONG GANGJA has come from off the pace to run 3rd in both his latest two at this class and distance and he can do similar today. (2) GOLD SPINNING has at least won at this distance and along with (8) HANGANG FANTASTIC, can be considered on a place line.
Saturday’s racing is at Seoul where there are 10 races from 10.35 to 17.55. The capital hosts its first juvenile race of the year in the shape of the opener while the feature is a class 2 even over the rarely used distance of 1900M (race 9) featuring up and coming US import G B Vault. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
(6) GRAND POKPUNG is a Park Jae-woo prepared Concord Point filly that has been around the mark in two trials with a fifth beaten six-and-a-half lengths on April 23 before a third seven days later beaten nine-lengths. MAJOR FURY (2) is a Revolutionary colt from the Kim Dong-kyun stables who has trialled once on April 30 for a four-length second. He is the only colt with fifty-three kilograms on his back as he gets a two-kilogram apprentice claim from Woo In-cheol and will go close. (9) LOOM CHUKJE trialled back on April 16 and was second throughout beaten seven-lengths and is a filly by Connect trained by An Byung-ki. (1) ROAD TO CHAMPION is an Indie Band colt with Jung Ho-ik who has one-and-a-three quarter lengths to find with Grand Pokpung from his solitary trial on April 30. They are the main quarter for the first juvenile race of the season with (5) BLITZ CARA and (3) NAMGYEONG SPINNING next best.
Selections
(6) Grand Pokpung (2) Major Fury (9) Loom Chukje (1) Road To Champion
Next Best
5, 3
Fast Start
3, 4, 5, 6, 9
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) RAPID STORM trialled well when coming from midfield to win by a length on April 23 and this Shim Seung-tae prepared four-year-old filly by Thunder Moccasin must be a good chance of winning on her debut based on that effort. (2) BINNALEEDS is getting closer to a win and should get her chance from a low draw under Luis Quiroz. (3) JEJU BLUE has been around the mark in three runs to date which include a second on March 2. (9) BEAT CODE has also been close-up in three starts finishing just behind the placegetters in each. (5) ROAD TO PERFECT, (4) DANAEUN RICH and (6) SEONGSIL WINNER are the other chances.
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) MANGEUM DAON ran a one-length second to a subsequent winner on debut back in October before resuming with a fifth at the start of last month. He brings the best form, primarily from his debut effort, and if he stays, he will go close. (8) BROWN JACKPOT could be a roughie chance as she gets a weight swing on (3) BEOLGYO ALADDIN from April 12 when she was two-lengths behind the latter who carries three kilograms extra in this race. Beolgyo Aladdin has subsequently been second on April 25 when attempting to lead throughout. (2) WONDERFUL DARSHAAN has not been too far away in many of his runs and once again receives a two-kilogram apprentice claim from Woo In-cheol. (10) BLUE DRAGON rates next over (7) WONDERFUL CATHY.
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) RAPID THUNDER has been beaten into second in his two runs where he has completed the course, as an odds-on chance each time, and whilst letting punters down on those occasions he should really be going close to breaking through here. However, he will need to get away a lot better than last start when he dumped Jo Jae-ro leaving the gates as a 2.5 favourite and was out of business from the word go. (10) ORATORIUM led throughout to win by a nose last start in a 1300M maiden on April 25 and the second placed horse subsequently won very easily last week so there is no reason she cannot go up one grade and win again. (11) YES ANGEL was five-lengths behind (4) GWANAKSAN CHECK IN last start, when the latter stormed past tiring rivals late to win easily, however whilst she carried two-and-a-half kilograms less than Gwanaksan Check In that time in this race it is six kilograms less so she could turn the form around. There is a lot of early speed in the race so that will suit Gwanaksan Check In. The consistent (9) PNS GONGJA rates next over (8) MIRACLE SOCKS, (5) JURING SKY, (2) NAREUSYA NOVA and (6) AMOS STAR in a competitive race.
Horse Racing in Korea 