Day: July 17, 2026

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (July 19)

Sunday’s racing is at Seoul (10 races from 10.35 to 17.55) and at Busan (10.25 to 16.55). Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with seven of the eleven racing for the first time. The experience is generally good, but we have an eagerly awaited debut-maker in the form of (1) CLUTCH DERBY. He was an easy trial winner, leading all the way and stopping the clock in a fast time and if he brings that form to the races, he wins.  Helpfully for us, three of the ones who have raced before debuted together over 1000M on June 13th. (10) GEOLJAK RUBY was the best of them in 2nd place finishing well having previously won a trial, and the step up in trip can suit. (5) CHEONDUNGUIBULKKOT and (8) NEWBAL SOCKS were 3rd and 4th respectively in that race and both can have come on for their runs. Returning to the newcomers, (11) ECLIPSE GOLDEN trialed up fairly behind the experienced JD Gangja, and is another who can make an immediate impact.

Selections(1) Clutch Derby (10) Geoljak Ruby (5) Cheondunguibulkkot (8) Newbal Socks
Next Best11, 4
Fast Start1, 4, 8, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) BLUE RIBBON has made solid progress across three starts so far with his latest being his best when 3rd over 1400M and ridden further forward earlier than in his first two. That was back at the engining of May, so he has had eleven weeks off, but he can win here. Probably betting favourite will be (11) DAEDONGYONGMA. That follows a much-improved 2nd over this distance on June 13th when on pace throughout. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but won’t need to improve much, if at all, on that effort to having winning chances. (5) HERO DRAGON has hinted at figuring things out in her latest couple, and she gets a 4kg claim here. (2) VIVA CISSIMO and (8) NIGHT CAPTAIN are others with the potential to improve.

Selections(3) Blue Ribbon (11) Daedongyongma (5) Hero Dragon (2) Viva Cissimo
Next Best8, 6
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 11

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

(2) GYEONGBOK PORTAS has been getting closer over his latest couple with a 4th and a 3rd from his latest two, most recently at this distance on June 5th. He doesn’t get an apprentice claim today but Park Jae-I climbing on for Kim Hye-sun suggests that he is ready to win. (10) OASIS KINGDOM has also been getting closer and took a big leap last time out at start four when a close 2nd over 1200M on June 12th. A previous try at this trip wasn’t great but he should be ready for another crack here. Those two are the standouts though (3) ONE PLUS ONE does have a 2nd place on his record and that’s enough to have him on a place line here. (9) OVER RAINBOW and (4) SMART YULIM others who could compete for the minors.

Selections(2) Gyeongbok Portas (10) Oasis Kingdom (3) One Plus One (9) Over Rainbow
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start3, 4, 7, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) PALPALNARA did nothing in four starts across the turn of the year but returned from over four months out on June 21st to run a much-improved 2nd over this distance, showing on pace throughout. She should strip fitter for the that run and she can go one better today. (8) WHITE JACKPOT didn’t do much on debut at the end of May but was a strong 2nd at start number two on June 27th over this distance, showing on pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He can be a danger here. (4) SONNY K came from off the pace to run 4th on debut in May before finishing 2nd when handy throughout on June 7th and he will have plenty of backers to go close again. (6) VICAR DELLA and (7) TWOTWO MAGIC others who can compete for the places.

Selections(1) Palpalnara (8) White Jackpot (4) Sonny K (6) Vicar Della
Next Best7, 9
Fast Start5, 6, 8, 9

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

Competitive race. (5) WONDERFUL MUD has been quietly getting closer and most recently ran 3rd over 1300M on June 21st, settling midfield and running on. Franco gets on for the first time, and she may well be available at an each-way price. (3) GAON PERFECT has finished no worse than 4th in four starts so far with a 2nd place over this distance two outings back his best. He can settle just behind the speed and run on, and he can be in the finish again. (7) DUBAI DREAM was 4th to Wonderful Mud’s 3rd on June 21st. That was his first run since last November so he can strip fitter here and has every chance of going closer. (1) DOCTOR QUE SERA and (2) THANKYOUFORTHETIME are the other main chances.  

Selections(5) Wonderful Mud (3) Gaon Perfect (7) Dubai Dream (1) Doctor Que Sera
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start5, 6, 8, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 18)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

(7) BONBON TIARA comes from the Tony Castanheira stable which has produced some impressive debutante winners in recent weeks so with this filly by Old Fashioned having had the one trial for a second beaten a nose there is every chance she can be another newcomer winner for the French trainer. (1) GRAND POKPUNG has not been far away in two race starts and can close under Ruan Maia from the lowest draw. (8) WHIZ CROWN will be looking to give former champion jockey Moon Se-young his first winner with his sixth runner as a trainer and can do so as she finished fourth in her one and only trial in May. (6) A. K SUN and (9) ROAD SOCKS both won trials on June 25 and rate next over (4) MIGHTY MULAN with (3) NAREUSYA LUNA not hopeless.

Selections(7) Bonbon Tiara (1) Grand Pokpung (8) Whiz Crown (6) A.K Sun
Next Best9, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

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

(5) SAEROUN BISUL comes off a nose trial victory on June 18 where he defeated Bonbon Tiara, who looks hard to beat in Race 1. He chased home some start types in his three juvenile starts last year and his most recent race in November where he split Mr. Taeyang, subsequent Group Two runner-up, and Comeback Holymoely, subsequent multiple winner, is the best form on offer in this maiden by a long shot. (1) AMOS JEONSA did nothing in his first trial in June but looked good when leading throughout to win last week by four-lengths so on that this debutante by Race Day rates as the danger. (2) MY DOLPUNG was a beaten odds-on chance on debut but was not far away and can go close again. (10) DU UM, (11) BIBA CHARM and the second of the newcomers (8) WONPYEONG DREAM are next best.

Selections(5) Saeroun Bisul (1) Amos Jeonsa (2) My Dolpung (10) Du Um
Next Best11, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9

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

(3) DAEBI MAMA has been beaten a long way in two of her three starts however those two runs were against good opposition including at Group Three level last time in the last leg of the Korean Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies. Her second-place effort to Purple Korea at the second of her three starts to date would give her a good chance in this. (4) INSPIRE has been consistent enough so far without winning and strikes a winnable maiden to go close in. (10) SAMJEONG BLUE has been just behind the placegetters of late and can be around the mark once more. (1) GRAY PHANTOM, (6) DELTA CHOEGANG and (8) LUGE rate next.

Selections(3) Daebi Mama (4) Inspire (10) Samjeong Blue (1) Gray Phantom
Next Best6, 8
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) ARION QUEEN CAR is by far the most untrustworthy commodity in this field, but she is also the one with by far the most ability on her day. She has refused to race in effectively two of her past four starts with the other two runs yielding a good second splitting The Excellent and Raon Blaide, subsequent winner, but also a disappointing seventh. She gets the nod on her best ability, but just the same she is far from a safe bet. (4) GOLDEN VENTUS is a two-year-old that won on debut on June 13 and with just fifty-one-and-half kilograms on his back he must be given a strong chance. (6) TIGER MANGCHI came from the other side of Seoul when winning on his debut and whilst that was a bizarre race in many ways, he would have to be given a hope on that effort. (11) SEVEN KAISER has been the most consistent of the raced brigade in the line-up that have never won and rates over (7) BEOLGYO EMPEROR and (1) MUHAN ARGO.

Selections(2) Arion Queen Car (4) Golden Ventus (6) Tiger Mangchi (11) Seven Kaiser
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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