Seoul and Busan both hold their prep races for the Juvenile Series on Sunday as a small collection of the most promising two-year-olds at each track line up for the Rookie Stakes. 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 45 Million
Juvenile maidens although all but one have raced at least once before. (3) WONDER GRACE has raced twice, improving to 2nd at start two over 1000M on July 12th. The step up in trip can suit and third-up, she can be peaking. (8) ECLIPSE GOLDEN was 3rd on debut over this distance on July 19th, well beaten by the promising Clutch Derby, but nevertheless putting in a solid effort. He should have come on for the run and shapes as the main danger and possible betting favourite. (9) G B ACE was a beaten favourite on debut over 1000M on July 4th but showed enough in 4th place to suggest he is worth another chance here. (1) BONBON TIARA and (6) SEOGWI MENIQUEEN among others who hinted at ability on their respective debuts.
| Selections | (3) Wonder Grace (8) Eclipse Golden (9) G B Ace (1) Bonbon Tiara |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) SAMJEONG YEOJE enters off back-to-back 3rd places over 1400M racing on pace both times. She draws a touch wider than ideal but se won’t need to find much improvement to win this. (5) JS LOVE did nothing in her first two starts this spring but having gone back to trial, reappeared on July 18th with a close 2nd place at 1200M. She draws well here and can match or better that today. (1) HWARYEOHAN YUSAN was an improved 2nd over this distance on June 7th when racing on pace throughout. He can lead ere again and can be in this a long way. (3) GEOSEN HAMSEONG and (9) ILGEUP BISUL are among others who can be aiming for the places.
| Selections | (10) Samjeong Yeoje (5) JS Love (1) Hwaryeohan Yusan (3) Geosen Hamseong |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
It’s hard to go far past (1) SWEET MAN here. Since switching to racing on pace two starts back, he has a 2nd and a 3rd both over 1400M and while he comes up to a mile for the first time, he can get a soft lead here and go all the way. (9) RIVER RUN was beaten by a couple of these two starts back but comes in following a 3rd place over 1400M on June 21st when coming from off the pace. He comes up to the mile for the first time, and it may well suit. (10) SHINY KOREA was an improved 2nd at 1400M on July 19th and is another who can benefit from the extended trip today. (8) VIRAL HIT and (11) HANGANG BRAVO are the other main contenders on a place line.
| Selections | (1) Sweet Man (9) River Run (10) Shiny Korea (8) Viral Hit |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) WHIZ POINT hasn’t won but has two 2nd places and two 3rd places from four starts to date and was most recently runner-up at this class and distance on July 11th when on pace and only going down narrowly. He is up 3.5kg in weight, but he can break through here. (1) HOT FEVER is yet to score in nine but got promoted to this class with back-to-back runner-up finishes over 1200M and 1300M in April and May. She comes in having run 4th at this class and distance on July 19th and she can be closer today. (9) ONNURI BIT beat Whiz Point two starts back when the pair came home 2nd and 3rd and while that was her best finish so far, she can be a place chance again. (4) CLOVER ONE and (6) INSPIRE others firmly in the frame.
| Selections | (2) Whiz Point (1) Hot Fever (9) Onnuri Bit (4) Clover One |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) PRIME JENNY was an all the way winner on debut over this distance on July 17th scoring with plenty in hand. She could have probably taken her chance in the Rookie Stakes later on, but instead is sent to face older rivals at class 5 and should really win again. (9) CLUTCH RUNNER has mixed his form since his maiden win, but he enters off a 3rd place over 1200M at this class on July 19th when settling midfield and running on. Seo Seung-un climbs on for the first time, and he will have backers. (10) SKYNEX was a maiden winner two outings back over 1400M before running a solid 3rd place over a mile on his first try at this level on July 12th. He is up 2kg but can be there or thereabouts again. (4) JEONGMUN FELIX is the best of the rest while (8) WONDERFUL LARK, racing for the first time since November 2024, is the wildcard having trialed fairly.
| Selections | (1) Prime Jenny (9) Clutch Runner (10) Skynex (4) Jeongmun Felix |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 34 Million
(3) BEONGAE LEWIS won a trial by a distance and then scored by six-lengths with a front-running effort on debut over 1200M on July 4th. He comes up in class and in distance, but he is down 2.5kg in weight and the manner of that victory means he goes on top again today. (8) HAKSAN PRINCE is a non-winner of twenty-four and that probably won’t change here, but he has placed on no fewer than nine occasions, including his latest over 1200M on July 18th. He has been runner-up over this trip four times and this is the kind of race he can pick up a cheque in. (2) SINHAN ACE comes back in trip following 3rd place over 1800M on July 18th. He has a 3rd over this distance too and he will be running-on late again. (9) TEN BAGGER and (10) STUNNING SERVE are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Beongae Lewis (8) Haksan Prince (2) Sinhan Ace (9) Ten Bagger |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
A bit of a battle of the non-winners. (7) QUEEN PERFECT comes in off 2nd place at this class and distance on July 12th in what was arguably a stronger race than this. That was her first go at both the class and the distance and with that experience in her, she can go one better today. (9) DUBAI DREAM is up in class having 2nd over 1400M on July 19th when settling midfield and running on. He gets a 2kg weight drop and the step up in trip can suit. (4) KISS THE RAIN was 4th on his first try at both class and distance on July 5th and just like Queen Perfect, can have come on for that. He’ll be on pace and can be in this a long way. Veterans (1) DORAON SAMSON and (10) COLONEL FLYING also find themselves in a race where they can win a prize.
| Selections | (7) Queen Perfect (9) Dubai Dream (4) Kiss The Rain (1) Doraon Samson |
| Next Best | 10, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Someone needs to pick up here because no horse comes into the race having finished any better than 6th last time out. (6) CHUPUNGNYEONG has probably held his form better than most though with a win at this class over 1200M in June followed up by a 4th and a 6th in two starts since with the former seeing him beat a couple of today’s rivals over this distance That’s enough to put him on top here. (8) ONE DIA won at this class and distance two starts back and while he could only manage 7th on his return in July, the margins weren’t huge and he can be a threat. (1) STAY BIG was a class and distance winner in March and has a 3rd place among three starts since. He too can bounce back into at least a place. (4) ECLIPSE TANGO and (2) KLIMT WORLD the most likely of the rest.
| Selections | (6) Chupungnyeong (8) One Dia (1) Stay Big (4) Eclipse Tango |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) PORT MORE enters having won his latest two, both at this distance and both at class 5 level, racing on pace. He gets a class rise here but comes down 2kg in weight, Seo Seunun stays on, and in this company, he can complete his hat-trick. (4) FLASH PARK can mix his from but he is a two-time winner at this distance too and was 2nd two starts back. He can get a bit far back in his races and he does have his fair share of weight to carry, but Franco is a plus and he could provide some each-way interest. (10) SUCCESS COW was a winner over 1400M two outings back before running 6th on his first try at tis class and distance on July 17th. The margins weren’t huge and he can be closer today. (3) HEUIMANG GUNJU is up in class following a win over this distance on July 5th and he can measure up. (6) TAMNA FIRST another in the hunt.
| Selections | (7) Port More (4) Flash Park (10) Success Cow (3) Heuimang Gunju |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) NAMSAN ROCK broke through out of almost nowhere at this class and distance three starts back and has since added a 2nd and a 3rd to his record. He can maintain his good run of form here and exit class 4 with a win. It’s been a long time since (4) CHANG CHANG SOCKS recorded his sole win to date, but he has been working closer to another recently, culminating in 2nd place at this class and distance on June 28th when, from well off the pace, he beat a couple of today’s rivals. An apprentice keeps the edge of the weights and he can be close. (2) NAMSAN BLACK and (3) BREEDO TROPHY both come back in trip and can be in the placing mix. (8) STUNNING LADY another to keep safe.
| Selections | (6) Namsan Rock (4) Chang Chang Socks (2) Namsan Black (3) Breedo Trophy |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 5: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(5) DOCTOR CHRIS was an all the way winner over this distance at class 3 level in March which led him to be sent off as the second favourite in the Korean Derby where he was one of the first beaten. A gutsy performance followed when 4th in the Minister’s Cup before he ran 4th at this class and distance on July 17th. He’s worth another chance here. (7) STORM FIGHTER enters off a 2nd place at this class and distance on June 26th, coming from off the pace at big odds. That continued a run of consistent form, and he can be close again. (4) YEOSU SUPER STAR was 3rd in the G3 KNN Cup for fillies and mares over a mile at the end of May before finishing 5th behind Storm Fighter on June 26th. She remains under a light weight and can be dangerous. (2) B.J. CHIEF and (6) UNJU CHALLENGE, other big chances in a competitive race.
| Selections | (5) Doctor Chris (7) Storm Fighter (4) Yeosu Super Star (2) B.J. Chief |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies and mares only. (1) RAON FINALLE has finished outside of the tip three on just one occasion and that was in the Luna Stake, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. She came straight off the Tiara trail and has since run 2nd twice at this class over 1400M. She can be ready for another crack at the mile, and she looks the one to beat. (7) LOVE O MINE has been working back into form, and she enters off a solid 3rd place at this class and distance on July 12th when running on from midfield. She stays under a light weight and can be challenging strongly late. (4) LOVE IN SEOUL was a winner at this class over 1300M two starts back before beating a couple of these when an on pace 3rd at 1400M on July 11th. She is up in trip as well as carrying her fair share of weight, but she can be in the finish. (6) YONGBIGYO and (3) UBERMENSCH others in the frame.
| Selections | (1) Raon Finalle (7) Love O Mine (4) Love In Seoul (6) Yongbigyo |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight A / Rookie Stakes Yeongnam / KRW 150 Million
The main south-coast prep for the Juvenile series. (4) SERAPH has put in the most eye-catching performance among the newcomers so far, becoming Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide’s first winner in the process. She made all on debut over 1000M on June 26th to win by seven-lengths in close to a track record time, and if she brings that form in here, then she will win. (1) HAERANG RUBY won on debut in May and then ran 3rd, beaten only by older horses in a tough class 5 race over 1300M. That experience can stand her in good stead here. (8) V-LINE was a three-length winner on debut over 1000M on July 3rd, making all and looks to have potential. (3) OASIS QUEEN beat two of today’s rivals when scoring on her own debut over 1000M on July 10th, also leading all the way. (2) DAEGIL HWANHO was less eye-catching on debut, winning by only a nose, but it was over 1200M and he did beat older horses.
| Selections | (4) Seraph (1) Haerang Ruby (8) V-Line (3) Oasis Queen |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight A / Rookie Stakes Seoul / KRW 150 Million
The capital’s Juvenile Series prep. (4) KKUMUI YEONSOK was an outstanding winner on debut, taking things up in the straight and cruising away for an easy win in a juvenile maiden over 1000M. If he runs like that again, he can win. (1) MAJOR FURY was a narrow juvenile maiden win on debut in May, and then beat older horses at class 5 level when making it two from two over 1300M on July 5th. That should stand him in very good stead here. (8) GOLDEN VENTUS also won a juvenile maiden on debut and while he could only manage 4th on his first try at class 5, it was over 1300M and against older horses and he too could have an edge over a few here. (5) HOPE K and (3) SOUTH CARNIVAL are others who have impressed so far.
| Selections | (4) Kkumui Yeonsok (1) Major Fury (9) Golden Ventus (5) Hope K |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class and distance, both times racing on pace. His other try at the 1400M ended with a win and while he is up in weight today, he draws nicely to be on the speed again, and he can win. (7) WIND MIREU is two starts into a return following nine months out and he was a second-up winner over 130M on June 26th. He comes up in class today and doesn’t get a weight drop, but he may strip even fitter today and can be a big danger. (11) SHACKLE SUN has just the one win from nineteen, but he was 3rd at this class and distance rom the same wide draw two starts back, and while he carries more weight today than he did then, he can be an each-way chance. (5) CHAMPUI SARANG and (6) BORYEONGUIKWAESOK both got rude awakenings on their respective first tries at this level, but both can be afforded another chance today.
| Selections | (4) Jeongmun Fappiano (7) Wind Mireu (11) Shackle Sun (5) Champui Sarang |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 1 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million
A rare set-weights Class 1 and it is rather good. (2) BEST RACE enters having run 2nd to the brilliant Roshe in the Owners’ Cup over a mile at Busan in June, coming from off the pace. While he got nowhere near the winner, he comfortably accounted for the rest, and he warrants a chance here. (4) MUSKET DAY won the Listed Sports Chosun two outings back over 2000M before running 4th in his first regular try at class 1 on June 28th. He has won twice at this distance and looks a big danger. (10) GLADIUS comes off the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer where her best finish this time around was 2nd in the KNN Cup over a mile. She is very accomplished at this level and can be close. (8) NO PROBLEM was well back in the Sports Chosun but perhaps shouldn’t be written off yet and is under a very light weight. (5) GIANT STEP among plenty of others who can be in contention.
| Selections | (2) Best Race (4) Musket Day (10) Gladius (8) No Problem |
| Next Best | 5, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
We’ll take a chance on (6) SAHARA KHAN here. He has had a very stop-start career with only five runs under his belt but has a 4th and a 3rd since retuning from his latest lengthy lay-off. He could well be building up some momentum and be ready to return to the winner’s circle. (11) IKKEULIM comes up in class having won his latest two, both over this distance. He doesn’t get much of a weight break, but he overcame wide gates in both of those wins, and he can measure up here. (10) FOREVER GIL has never finished outside of the top four and has a 2nd and a 4th in two tries at this class, most recently beating a couple of today’s rivals on July 12th. He likes to come from off the pace, and he can continue his consistent run of form today. (7) CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG and (1) PANGPANG DAERO are other chances.
| Selections | (6) Sahara Khan (11) Ikkeulim (10) Forever Gil (7) Cheongsan Dolpung |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 