Day: June 27, 2026

Owners’ Cup 2026: Preview & Form Comments

ROSHE, a perfect five-from-five and the latest hottest prospect in Korean racing, faces his toughest task to date as he travels away from Seoul for the first time and enters Graded Stakes company for the first time as he heads a full field of sixteen in the Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL.

Roshe (Pic: KRA)

The Owners’ Cup is the only all-aged open mile race in the country. With Seoul’s 1600M spur start being restricted to ten runners and the KRA Cup Mile and KNN Cup being only open to domestic-bred three-year-olds and fillies and mares respectively, the Owners’ Cup is the only time of the year an imported or older male horse can prove themselves at the elite level over a mile.

For ROSHE, a US-bred three-year-old, that opportunity comes quicker than most and as the only one of his age in the field, he will get a 3kg advantage over the rest. He has comfortably seen off all comers in five starts to date, most recently over a mile at class 2 level at Seoul on May 23rd when he sat behind the speed before effortlessly pulling clear in the home straight.

Against a field that isn’t hugely strong for the level, with most of the big-hitters keeping their powder dry for next Month’s KRA Cup Classic, Roshe’s greatest opponent may be, to use the tiredest of cliché’s, himself. Can he adapt to the travel, the new environment and the more punishing tempo that a Graded race generally has? If he answers yes to those questions, he can continue on his merry way. Jang Chu-youl will continue on board for trainer Song Sang-hyeon.

MUNHAK BOY and WONPYEONG STROM perhaps present cautionary tales. Both had outstanding starts to their careers but neither has managed to maintain their form – although Munhak Boy did at least claim a G3 win in the Kookje Shinmun last October. Jockey bookings on the pair are interesting. Lim Da-bin, who has partnered Wonpyeong Storm to six of his seven wins, returns for the first time in five starts, while former Selangor Turf Club champion Andre Luis Sa Dilva takes his first ride in Korea on Munhak Boy.

WONDERFUL GROOM, the SBS Sports Sprint runner-up is set to be among the second live of favourites after Roshe. DESPITE WIN and YOUNG SKYWALKER are others who will be in the market. Here is a full rundown of the field:

1. DAEHAN JILJU – The veteran is second up have returned from a near eight-month layoff to run 9th of fourteen in the SBS Sports Sprint over 1200M. Can strip fitter but this is a very tough test.

2. BEOLGYOUI KKUM – Solid 4th in the SBS Sports Sprint and then 7th in the SROA Chairman’s. He has only tackled the mile twice for a 2nd and a 4th, but he draws well to be on pace, and the jockey booking is a plus.

3. ROSHE – He is five for five and the most exciting three-year-old talent in racing. Easy winner over a mile at Seoul at class 2 level. This is his first time away from Seoul so there will be the question of how he travels and adapts but if he is fine with both then from a great draw, he should win.

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Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (June 28)

It’s Owners’ Cup day at Busan with Roshe looking to maintain his unbeaten record in the G3 feature over a mile. 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:

Hangang Class won the 2025 Owners’ Cup in track record fashion (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported maidens with all but two racing for the first time. (2) MAHO went through two trials, running 2nd in a slow time in the first of them but then winning the second with an on pace effort (62.3 seconds on May 21st for those whose racecards don’t show it as it was a voluntary trial). From a great draw, if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (6) KKUMUI YEONSOK trialed up alongside some experienced horses and didn’t look out of pace as he ran a close 4th in a decent time, and he shapes as the main danger. (11) SAUDI SOCKS and (5) LUCKYRINGMAN are the pair with experience having debuted together over 1000M on May 31st finishing 5th and 6th respectively and they can both have come on for the run. (8) SPEARS is another first-time starter who hinted at ability in two trials.

Selections(2) Maho (6) Kkumui Yeonsok (11) Saudi Socks (5) Luckyringman
Next Best8, 4
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Decent maiden win four of the eleven racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience and (5) ROAD TO CHAMPION, who after a good trial, ran 2nd on debut over 1000M on May 30th, leading and only being caught late by the favourite. He should have come on for that run, he can lead again, and this time he can go one better. (4) VICAR DELLA raced handy throughout for 3rd on debut over this distance on May 16th. She too can have come on and can be even closer here. Of the first timers, (6) INTO THE GALAXY showed fairly for 2nd place in a trial just last week. So long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can go well first up. (11) NURI YEOWANG and (9) RAPID STORM, the latter disappointing on debut but previously a trial winner, are the others who will have some backing.

Selections(5) Road To Champion (4) Vicar Della (6) Into The Galaxy (11) Nuri Yeowang
Next Best3, 9
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 6

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only here. After winning a trial, (4) PACHOUI KKUM was sent off as favourite on debut over 1200M on May 24th and while she raced close to the pace, she ultimately had to settle for 2nd. She should have come on for that, she draws better today, and she will be expected to come out on top here. (5) MAEWU has made progress in her latest couple, most recently when 4th at this distance on May 22nd. The same apprentice keeps her weight nice and low, and she can be a danger here. (8) PILSEUNG WINNER is similarly looking as though she is figuring things out and enters off a close 2nd at this distance on May 31st when on pace. Seo Seung-un is on for the first time and she will have plenty if backers. There are a couple of debut makers and (1) SUPER CROWN performed fairly in two trials. (3) LOOKS GOOD another of the experienced ones who can improve.

Selections(4) Pachoui Kkum (5) Maewu (8) Pilseung Winner (1) Super Crown
Next Best3, 11
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 8

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

(1) CRUSH GIRL was 4th on debut and followed up with 2nd place over 1300M on May 17th. Both times she has come from off the pace, so the slight step up again can suit and third-up she can be peaking. (8) JECHUK SANJIRO has finished in the top five in all of his four starts so far and he enters off his best to date when 2nd in a slow run race over this trip on May 31st. He can sit just behind the speed here and challenge late. (5) SEMYEONG PEAK was ordinary in her first two, but she has been consistently close in six subsequent efforts, most recently when 3rd over 1700M on May 23rd. She was 4th on her previous try at this trip and should be there or thereabouts again. (10) BEST A ONE and (7) DYNAMIC FORCE others firmly in the frame.

Selections(1) Crush Girl (8) Jechuk Sanjiro (5) Semyeong Peak (10) Best A One
Next Best7, 11
Fast Start2, 5, 9, 10

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

(2) STEALTH KINGMAN was 2nd on debut over 1300M in April and then won at the same distance at start number two on May 31st, both times racing on pace. He is up in class but is down in weight, nicely drawn, and he can win again. (6) BORYEONGUIKWAESOK is never going to be beloved by racecallers, but she won her only start to date all the way back last September over 1000M. She performed fairly enough in a late May trial and under a light weight, she could pick up from where she left off. (8) WHITE OIL beat four of today’s rivals when coming home an in excess of 20/1 winner at this class and distance on May 31st. He is up 3kg in weight but warrants more respect today. (11) HEUIMANG TAYO and (4) WORLD BOLD MAN others in the hunt.

Selections(2) Stealth Kingman (6) Boryeonguikwaeseok (8) White Oil (11) Heuimang Tayo
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 11

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

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