Day: June 13, 2026

Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup: Preview & Form Comments for the Triple Tiara Finale

A week after Funny Wild claimed the Minister’s Cup, Catch Race will seek to emulate him by winning two of the three legs of the Triple Tiara series when she lines up as favourite for the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN.

Catch Race won the Oaks (Pic: KRA)

Six of the ten come out of the Oaks, including that day’s winner. CATCH RACE showed before just getting the better of Clearly Winner in a tight finish. She had previously finished 3rd in the Luna Stakes, and she can thrive at the extended trip and trainer Seo In-seok and jockey Jo Jae-ro can continue their successful 2026.

Clearly Winner doesn’t take her chance. The Kim Hye-sun trained filly is in work but appears to have other targets ahead. But that doesn’t mean it will be straightforward for Catch Race.

TIGER ROAR was 6th in the Luna and then 3rd in the Oaks, coming from well off the pace both times under Johan Victoire. The French rider stays aboard today, and the Musket Man filly looks sure to be a big danger late on.

A newcomer onto the Tiara trail is WILD MAGIC. The Luigi Riccardi trained filly enters off back-to-back wins over 1700M and 1800M up to class 4 level. From a great draw, she will surely be on pace and is one they will have to come past.

They will also need to get past CHIEF STAR, who is perhaps the enigma in the field. Her ability isn’t in question – and in this kind of race, regardless of the distance, ability can be enough – although her staying power certainly is.

Oaks 4th-placed SUNRISE along with WORLD DANCER CAT are the others likely to be in the place market. There is one maiden. DAEBI MAMA has raced just twice before and is seeking to emulate Seirene, who recorded her first career win in this race in 2024. Here are the runners:

1. REGINA VINCIT – Sole win came in a maiden over a mile, but she came from a long way back to run 6th in the Oaks so she may like the trip. Form to overturn on four of these but she’s not the worst here and Seo Seung-un is an eye-catching booking.

2. CHIEF STAR – A front-runner she was a Listed winner as a juvenile before problems in the gate scuppered her Breeders’ Cup Rookie attempt. Led the Luna and was on pace in the Oaks but others stayed on better and while she has a load of talent, the 2000M is a big question.

3. DAEBI MAMA – A maiden and unrated she was 2nd at start two over 1200M on April 18th, coming from off the pace. Totally unexposed so impossible to recommend or rule out but this has to be classed as a big ask. A maiden did win this race two years ago.

4. WILD MAGIC – Could be the wildcard. She has won her latest two at 1700M and 1800M up to class 4 level, leading all the way in both. There’s no reason the additional furlong can’t suit and from a good draw she can lead again and be in this a long way.

5. CATCH RACE – 3rd in the Luna and then won the Oaks in a stretch duel with Clearly Winner. She likes to race on pace or handy, the step up to 2000M should pose no problems, and she will be the favourite.

6. WORLD DANCER CAT – Second-favourite for the Luna but finished well back. She came out lame in the following days so there was an excuse. Back in work since May 15th and having run a close on pace 2nd at class 4 over 1800M prior to the Luna, she can be given another chance here.

7. COSMO LONG – Sole win was in a maiden, and she was a long way back in both the Luna and the Oaks. Should stay the trip but has a lot of form to overturn if she is going to get close.

8. TIGER ROAR – A winner of just one from ten but came from well off the pace for 6th in the Luna at a mile and then 3rd in the Oaks at 1800M. The 2000M here should be even better and she will probably start as second favourite.

9. MYEONG DREAM – Won three of four as a juvenile but hasn’t held her form into her three-year-old campaign and was well back in the Luna Stakes and only beat one home over 1800M at class 4 level last time out.

10. SUNRISE – Won back-to-back races at 1200M and 1300M up to class 5 before taking her chance in the Oaks where she stayed on for 4th place having settled in the front end of midfield. Can match or better that here.

Selections(5) Catch Race (8) Tiger Roar (4) Wild Magic (2) Chief Star
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 10
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Triple Tiara Finale Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (June 14)

The Triple Tiara reaches its conclusion at Seoul on Sunday with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3), race 8 in Seoul. There is no Tiara sweep on the line but still plenty of intrigue among the field of ten fillies. 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

(8) GEUMBIT YEONGUNG has run 4th in both starts so far over this distance, most recently as favourite on April 11th when he got a long way back before running on. He enters fresh after nine weeks off and with a good apprentice claiming 2kg, he can win. (1) DONGBAEK was an improved 3rd at this distance on May 10th, coming from off the pace. She comes into a much better gate today so can sit a bit further forward and can be a danger. (7) MISS CHRISTIE similarly draws better than she did at her latest and with a 4kg claim today, she can be much closer. (5) JEONGMUN KINGDOM and debut-maker (10) SAVERS are others who can be in the hunt.

Selections(8) Geumbit Yeongung (1) Dongbaek (7) Miss Christie (5) Jeongmun Kingdom
Next Best10, 9
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 9

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

(1) ILGEUP BISUL returned from eight months off to run a fair 5th over this distance on May 16th, settling back and passing a couple late. Before the layoff she had a 3rd place to her name and stripping fitter today, she has as good a chance as any. (9) ECLIPSE SUNNY ran a solid 3rd on debut in March but was lackluster on her second appearance and was later found to have bled. She was stood down the obligatory month and came through a May trial without issue so is well worth another chance here. (8) MEGA WIND hasn’t been far away across his four outings to date and can be around the placings here. (7) NAEGEROWAJWO and (4) DIABIT among other chances.

Selections(1) Ilgeup Bisul (9) Eclipse Sunny (8) Mega Wind (7) Naegerowajwo
Next Best4, 2
Fast Start5, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(8) BABEL FOLGORE has made progress across three starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over 1200M on May 10th when on pace and beaten by a good winner. She stretches out to 1400M for the first time but in this small field, she should be on the speed again, and she can win. (6) DIA KINGDOM has a 3rd and a 2nd among three outings to date. He has been a huge price on all three occasions but can start to be taken a bit more seriously here. (1) OASIS HWANHUI ran 2nd at start number two all the way back last October. He hasn’t raced since but he looked well in a May trial and can be a danger first up. (3) RED KING and (2) YEONGGWANGUI GREEN others in the frame.

Selections(8) Babel Folgore (6) Dia Kingdom (1) Oasis Hwanhui (3) Red King
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only in this maiden. (1) FLYING SMART has been a beaten favourite in all three of her races so far, getting a long way back and registering a 2nd, a 4th and a 3rd. If she can get out of gates a bit smarter and find a better position she can be given another chance as once out of kickback, she looks to have a bit of pace. If she finds problems again then (3) CLAIR FREEDOM is a decent alternative. She made it to the speed from the widest gate over this distance on May 24th and ran on for 2nd ahead of a couple of today’s rivals and from a much better draw, she won’t need to improve much on that to win here. (5) DELTA DAECHEON looks to be figuring things out with a 3rd and a 2nd from her latest two, both over 1300M and the slight step up in trip today can suit (9) ÉCLAIR WIND and (6) BLACK SUN – who beat Flying Smart when 2nd in April – others to look out for.

Selections(1) Flying Smart (3) Clair Freedom (5) Delta Daecheon (9) Éclair Wind
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Small but competitive field. (8) DOCTOR HUNTER has won two of his last three, most recently at this class and distance on May 15th racing, as he always does, handy throughout and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He is up 2.5kg in weight but looks to have more potential and can win. (1) BORYEONG ONE ROAD enters off a very smart 2nd place in a quick race over this class and distance on May 3rd. That was her second consecutive runner-up finish and from the inside gate and under a light weight, she is a big danger. (3) TAEYANG EUTTEUM was 3rd behind Doctor Hunter two outings back and was then 4th from the widest hate on May 31st and she should be there or thereabouts today. (5) DALBITWIE and (6) CALM FAST are others who can compete for the minors.

Selections(8) Doctor Hunter (1) Boryeong One Road (3) Taeyang Eutteum (5) Dalbitwie
Next Best6, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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