SUNDAY AT SEOUL SAW A 1200M CLASS 1 AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND AND THE POSSIBLE LAST RUN FOR SOME OF SEOUL’S BEST SPRINTERS BEFORE SEPTEMBER’S INTERNATIONAL KOREA SPRINT AND IT SAW KOREA’S BEST SPRINTER BOMB OUT WHILST THE ENIGMATIC NICE FORCE showed that on his day, he can really match it with the best of them as he produced a win from the top under Ruan Maia (writes Luke Humphreys).
Nice Force (Mor Spirit), 9.6 fourth favourite, had gone into the inaugural running of the KRA Sprint on Grand Prix Day last year as an odds-on favourite but bombed out and had been inconsistent in five runs since. On Sunday he showed his best form and it was good enough to run the legs off his rivals and score by three-quarters of a length. Haksan Speed, who had run very well in the Busan Ilbo and SBS Sports Sprints, put his poor SROA Chairman’s Sprint run behind him with a 2nd place finish as the 4.3 second choice with Something Lost in 3rd. The 4.9 third favourite Crown Hamseong has been up and down in form this year and was only 6th after receiving every chance in the run.
However, the talking point out of the race is the performance of Korea’s best sprinter Vincero Cavallo who was never closer than midfield and ultimately finished 9th of ten. He got himself out of a tricky rearward position on the rail in the run to finish a never nearer 3rd in the SROA Sprint and was in a similar position in this race, but there appeared to be fewer excuses this time. Vets found no abnormalities.
SU BU TAI (Concord Point) came from off the pace to score in Race 6 (1400M Class 5). The 7.4 chance provided the first Korean winner for former Selangor Turf Club champion jockey Andre Luis Da Silva, the pair overturning the favourite and long-time leader Pasa Queen in the last half-furlong. The Brazilian rider landed 72 winners in Malaysia in 2025, a full twenty-seven clear of his nearest rival. It had been a lengthy visa and insurance process for Da Silva who has now hit the ground running in a license that initially runs to the end of this year.
Sunday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10.35 to 17.55. And at Busan with 7 races from 11.25 to 16.55. The nation’s top sprinter, Vincero Cavallo, will step out for the first time since his defeat in May’s SROA Chairman’s Sprint in Seoul’s concluding feature race. Here are the previews:
Can Vincero Cavallo bounce back? (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) WONDERFUL TUNE UP has finished 4th on no fewer than six occasions across her twelve starts but she comes in off her best to date when 2nd on a filly maiden over 1400M on May 3rd. She’s had nine weeks off since and from a good draw, she can go one better today. (8) MR.CREDIT has a couple of 3rd places to his name and has also beaten a couple of these in his latest couple and that’s enough to have him in the numbers here. (1) COSMO JJIN ran 2nd three starts back at 1200M and was 3rd on her first try at this distance on May 10th when settling midfield and running on. She should be there or thereabouts again. (4) VALKYRIE and (6) P N S ME are the other place chances.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Not a strong maiden. (9) DONGJIN BIRYUONG ran fairly on debut for 5th of eleven in a slowly run race over 1200M on June 6th. He previously finished 2nd in a trial and having derived benefit from that first effort, he has as good a chance as any here. (8) ROAD TO PERFECT has been consistent with five of her six starts to date ending up in 4th or 5th. She likes to settle back and run on and she should be aiming to go much closer today. (6) LAVITA showed on pace last time before knocking up quickly but going on the 3rd and 4th she managed in her two previous outings, she can be given another chance. (5) SEONGSIL WINNER and (2) CHEONMA NUBI others in line for the minors.
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) SPEED BUMP looks like she is finally figuring things out with a close 2nd place over 1200M on June 5th when racing handy throughout and beating a couple of today’s rivals. In this company she won’t need to improve much, if at all, to win. (6) DUBAI CANDY has mixed her form across his seven appearances so far but on her best, demonstrated when 3rd at 1300M in April, she is a chance here. (8) FANTASTIC ONE was a much-improved 4th at start number three behind Speed Bump in that June 5th race when coming from well off the pace. Debut-makers (1) FANTASTIC CHEETAH and (2) DAEGIL HWANHO have to be given a chance given the strength – or lack thereof – of opposition.
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) MEGA WIND has made progress across five starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over 1300M on June 14th when settling back and running on. In this company, and from a good gate, he should be on pace, and he has every chance of going all the way. (1) THE SUPER RUNNER hasn’t quite been super just yet but he does come in off his best so far when 2nd at this distance on May 10th, leading for much of the way. He too should be up with the speed and can be in this a long way again. (5) POWERFUL ARCTIC drops back in trip following a 2nd place over 1700M on May 23rd and she shouldn’t be far away. (2) WONDERFUL CATHY and (6) PNS GUNS others in the frame.
Selections
(4) Mega Wind (1) The Super Runner (5) Powerful Arctic (2) Wonderful Cathy
Next Best
6, 3
Fast Start
1, 3, 4, 6
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) JADE PALACE ran twice in early summer last year and then once in November when he managed to pick up a win over 1200M. He has had several setbacks since then but has been in regular work since May and he looked well when 2nd in a June trial. We know he can run well first-up and he is the one to beat here. (9) CHOEGANG LOUIS is yet to win in sixteen but enters off his best result at this class when 3rd at this distance on June 7th, showing handy throughout. He continues under a light weight and can aim to match or even better that here. (2) ROAD TO FIGHTER was 2nd at this class three outings ago. He can get a bit far back in his races but is a place chance here. (8) TRIPLE J and (3) PURE MARINE perhaps the best of a limited rest.
There are 10 races at Seoul on Saturday from 10.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
(6) G B ACE is a Luigi Riccardi prepared debutante that has had the one trial for a win on June 11 by one-length. The colt by Mr. Crow must be given the utmost of respect on debut under Furkan Yuksel. As must the Tony Castanheira trained, Kozzi Asano ridden (10) TONGKWAEHANSEUNGJA who has also had the one trial for a victory and that was also on June 11. In his case he scored by a half-length. (11) WHITE THUNDER is another that has had the solitary trial and it was also on the second Thursday of June where he finished second behind a runaway winner coming from midfield. Seo Seung-un rides the Hansen filly for Choi Yong-geon. The first three trials that were held at this venue from the eleventh of last month look to hold the key to the race with (9) GHOST SONIC another that has trialled once for a second on May 21. (7) CHEONMAUI HANSEONG rates next over (1) BLITZ CARA.
Selections
(6) G B Ace (10) Tongkwaehanseungja (11) White Thunder (9) Ghost Sonic
Next Best
7, 1
Fast Start
1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(1) BEONGAE LEWIS was an impressive twelve-length winner of his trial on June 11 and this Tony Castanheira trained three-year-old Uncaptured colt looks like he will be extremely hard to beat on his race debut. (9) GLOBAL DINO has only raced once and that was twelve months ago when finishing last but in a strong race. He finished fourth in a trial on May 14 and should be kept safe. (4) OPUS ONE has had the two trials for a sixth in November and a seventh in June. The Roshe combination of trainer Seong Sanghyun and owner Park Jae-yong combine and he should not be discarded on debut. (7) DAREURI YEOWANG has been just behind the placegetters in three runs and rates next along with (8) CHEONGGANG BOM and (5) GEUMSEONG QUEEN.
Selections
(1) Beongae Lewis (9) Global Dino (4) Opus One (7) Dareuri Yeowang
Next Best
8, 5
Fast Start
1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) LOVELY JACKPOT has trialled since last racing and that effort saw him split Mujehan Geup, one of the top juveniles from last season, and Aman Barows, a subsequent impressive trial winner, so in what is the toughest of the three maiden races to assess that form is good enough to go close. (6) SAENAE RANIA was a beaten odds-on chance last time but was going well enough prior to be given another chance. (9) POWER MAGIC has the been clearly the most consistent of these so in a race with little form to go on she is the safest bet in the race each-way. (1) LOOM CHUKJE might be able to improve on her debut with (5) GOD SPEED and (2) PLAY STAY best of the rest.
July’s racing gets underway with an 8-race Friday card at Busan running from 11:15 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
(8) V-LINE won his trial in a quick time showing on pace throughout. He’s the only one in the field to have crossed the line first in a heat and with the quickest time among them too, if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (3) MORNING ARIA ran 3rd in her trial, showing handy and running on. She draws nicely here and is a chance first-up. Not a lot to choose between the rest. (1) FOR THE VICTORY was fair in his heat but the trainer and jockey combination will put plenty on alert. (6) WORLD LION MAN and (5) POWERFUL WARRIOR are among others who have hinted at ability in the mornings.
Selections
(8) V Line (3) Morning Aria (1) For The Victory (6) World Lion Man
Next Best
5, 9
Fast Start
3, 7, 8, 0
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) NOBLE WIND was 4th in his first two starts before running an improved 3rd over 1200M on June 12th when handy throughout and narrowly missing out in 2nd. Seo Seung-un stays on and in this field, today should be the day. (1) FLASH TO ME has only been ordinary in his latest three, all of which were contested over the mile. His best result to date has come at 1400M so the steep cut back in trip can suit. (6) WORLD EAGLE CAT has a 2nd place on her resume. She’s been back to trial since her latest race outing and having completed it in a quick time at the end of May, she can be a danger. (4) HIGH TENSION and second-up (3) CHAMPUI JEONSEOL, are others in the placing frame.
Selections
(5) Noble Wind (1) Flash To Me (6) World Eagle Cat (4) High Tension
Next Best
3, 8
Fast Start
1, 2, 5, 6
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) BREEDO SHOOTER was a late starter and then took a couple of goes to figure things out but comes in having run 3rd in both his latest two at 1300M and 1200M, racing both handy and coming from midfield. In this company he can be on pace and today can be his day. (2) HUIMANG SPEED has similarly picked up in his latest two, with a 2nd over 1300M and a 4th at 1400M. He raced on pace in both and from a good draw, he can be in this a long way. (7) SUPER HIT has a 3rd place on her record, and while she was away slowly last time out he ran on for a fair 5th and with a better beginning, she can be closer today. (3) DIA KINGDOM and (9) BEOLMAUI GEOIN others firmly in the hunt.
Selections
(8) Breedo Shooter (2) Huimang Speed (7) Super Hit (3) Dia Kingdom
Next Best
9, 5
Fast Start
2, 5, 8, 10
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Small but competitive field. (2) CHAMP SONNY is in ultra consistent form with two wins and two runner-up finishes from his latest four, the last three at this class and last two at this distance. An apprentice stops his weight going up and that along with a good draw, can see him home on top today. He gets a big weight swing on (5) TIGER MONSTER who beat his as the pair finished 1st and 2nd at this class over a mile on June 5th. Tiger Monster too has been very consistent and the step up to 1800M for the first time can suit. (1) BARBELL MOMO is a two-time winner at this distance already, most recently his latest on June 7th when he led from gate to wire. He comes up 3.5kg in weight but warrants respect here. (6) RICH ONE and (8) STRIKE ZONE among others who should be competitive.
Horse Racing in Korea 