Sunday is International Day with 10 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55 and 6 at Busan from 11:25 to 15:45. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juveniles with all eleven racing for the very first time. (2) MYEONGSEONG PARTY was the best in trials, running 2nd in her heat ahead of a couple of today’s rivals, and stopping the clock in a good time. She draws nicely here, she should be close to the pace, and she will be the favourite. (1) INFERNO has been through a load of trials since May, failing to qualify in the first three of them but then looking significantly better at the fourth time of asking on August 20th when racing midfield throughout. He should certainly be fit and Franco being booked is a plus. (3) GETTYSBURG was 4th to Myeongseong Party’s 2nd in their trial. He showed on pace and probably will again here with claims to be in this a long way. (11) GEOSEN GIPPEUM clocked the fastest time in a trial and that’s enough to have him in the numbers even though he was halfway down the field. (6) B WORK another who hinted at ability.
| Selections | (2) Myeongseong Party (1) Inferno (3) Gettysburg (11) Geosen Gippeum |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (9) G B ACE has raced twice before, finishing 4th on debut over 1000M in July and then improving to 2nd at start number two at this distance on August 16th when leading for much of the way. Third-up he can have an edge on these fitness-wise, and he can go all the way. The danger is in the adjoining gate. (10) POWERFUL MR. was 5th on debut over 1000M in June and then improved to 3rd at start two on August 8th, showing handy early before dropping back and then running on again. He too should be fitter than most here and can be close. Among the debut-makers, (1) YEONGUNG BAROWS was 2nd in his trial, showing close to the pace, and he can be given a chance here. (5) SAVE QUEEN was an on pace 3rd in her heat and she too can make an immediate impression. (11) FULL STRIKE was 4th on debut and can aim to match or better that here.
| Selections | (9) G B Ace (10) Powerful Mr. (1) Yeongung Barows (5) Save Queen |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Maiden juvenile fillies with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (3) BORYEONGUI BYEOL was 3rd on debut and then took her chance in the Rookie Stakes for juveniles over 1200M on August 16th where she was a very fair 4th of eight behind Dubai Heart. She won’t need to improve much on that to win in this company. (8) ACE CROW was a close 2nd on debut over August 14th, having led for most o the way around over 1000M. She comes up in trip here, but she should have come on for the run, and she has as good a chance as any here. (9) HOESAEK JILJU was 4th on debut behind Ace Crow, settling right back and running on. She too should have come on for the run and the step up in trip can suit. (10) SKY WON looked the best of the debut makers in trials and along with (6) BLACK WINNER, who was 3rd on debut over 1000M on August 9th, should be in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (3) Boryeongui Byeol (8) Ace Crow (9) Hoesaek Jilju (10) Sky Won |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Very ordinary maiden. (7) LEADERS PARTNER stepped up to this trip for the first time on August 9th and recorded his best result to date when coming from off the pace for 2nd. Johan gets on for the first time here and he can go one better. (2) SAMJEONG BLUE was a bit ordinary on his latest outing but has looked like he needs a bit further, and he gets a chance to prove it as he tackles two turns for the first time here. Furkan has ridden him to his best results so far and he returns to the mount today. (9) SINCHEON HEART enters off back-to-back 4th places, most recently behind Leaders Partner on August 9th when he led early. He should be on pace again and can be close. (5) PNS GUNS and (4) GWANAKSAN WISH ME are other place chances.
| Selections | (7) Leaders Partner (2) Samjeong Blue (9) Sincheon Heart (5) PNS Guns |
| Next Best | 4, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) SEOBULINA didn’t do much on debut but was a significantly improved 2nd at start number two on August 23rd when getting a long way back but running on strongly at big odds. The step up in trip can further suit, and he has every chance today. (11) STRONG WINNER beat several of these on his way to finishing 2nd on his first try at this distance on August 7th. That day’s winner ran 4th at class 5 level on Friday, and he will probably start as the favourite here. (2) FANTASTIC BEACH was 3rd in that August 7th race, coming from a long way off the pace for a significantly improved performance. That was her first try at a mile and she can match or better it today. (3) GEUMBIT and (8) FANTASTIC ONE among plenty of others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) Seobulina (11) Strong Winner (2) Fantastic Beach (3) Geumbit |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) BEOLGYO ALADDIN got his maiden win over 1700M at the end of May and has gone on to run 4th and 2nd in two subsequent outings at this level, most recently on his first try at this distance on August 8th. He comes up a couple of kilos in weight today but has every chance of going one better. (4) SUPER ECTON enters off back-to-back 4th places at this class and distance, both times coming from well off the pace and most recently on August 8th behind Beolgyo Aladdin. (8) CHROMITE was 7th behind that pair on August 8th but bounced back to 3rd over 1700M on August 22nd and this is the kind of race where the veteran can pick up a prize. (1) O P S TAP and (6) ANYANG LASER others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Beolgyo Aladdin (4) Super Ecton (8) Chromite (1) O P S Tap |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) ROAD TO NUMBER ONE is yet to repeat her debut win over this distance but scored back-to-back 3rd places in June and July at this class leading her to be sent off as favourite on August 14th. She did too much early that day and ended up in 5th but down in weight here and with an excellent apprentice climbing up, she is well worth another chance. (9) BURUI PYEONGHWA was a big price winner on August 23rd when leading for most of the way around. He comes up 3kg in weight today, but he can be competitive again. (1) GOOGLE CAR is in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at this class over 1200M and 1300M and should be there or thereabouts again. (10) GOLDEN POINT and (2) YEONGGWANGUI ROOKIE among plenty of others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Road To Number One (9) Burui Pyeonghwa (1) Google Car (10) Golden Point |
| Next Best | 2, 53, 7, 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) CHAOS returned from four months out to get her maiden win with an all the way score over 1200M on July 26th and then came close to repeating the trick on her first try at this level on August 15th. She is up 2kg in weight today but can go one better. (2) GLOBAL CHOEGANG did nothing on debut but significantly improved when winning at start two over 1000M on July 4th. He comes in fresh after two months off and is up in class and in trip, but he can be competitive. (9) SUNGLASS hasn’t managed to repeat the win she scored all the way back on debut last December, but she has been getting closer with back-to-back 4th places from her latest two, and she can be in the mix today. (11) MYUNG BRACING and (10) GLORY AND HONOR are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Chaos (2) Global Choegang (9) Sunglass (11) Myung Bracing |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) OASIS KINGDOM led for most of the way over this distance on August 7 to break his maiden status at the sixth attempt. He had not been far away prior to that victory and is a good chance of going back-to-back. (6) IT’S LIT finished in the second half of the field most recently when having his first run at this grade following two second places in maiden events. It will be interesting to see if he can finish closer this time or not as his first two runs were far from bad in not the worst maiden events. (7) SINCHEON FREEDOM has been consistent without winning of late and rates as an each-way chance whilst (10) WORLD BOLD MAN led throughout to win his maiden two back by six-lengths before never getting closer than midfield in his first run at this class. (1) JEONGMUN FELIX and (3) DIA KINGDOM are next best.
| Selections | (9) Oasis Kingdom (6) It’s Lit (7) Sincheon Freedom (10) World Bold Man |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) NASCA BULCHUNGGAEK was a winner at start two over 1200M in May and enters off a 3rd place over 1300M on August 8th when she led for most of the way. She can be on pace here as well, and the half-sister to Jeulgeounyeojeong has every chance. She will need to overturn the form on (6) BANK LINE. The latter is yet to win in eleven outings but has plenty of near misses with four 2nd places to her name. That includes her latest at this class and distance on August 8th when handy to the speed throughout, and she shapes as a major danger. (5) GOLDEN DIVA needs a line drawn through her latest on June 21st when she faded over 1400M. She comes back to the trip over which her best results have been achieved, and she can be better today. (4) SMART MARU and (10) GLOBAL GISANG others to consider.
| Selections | (2) Nasca Bulchunggaek (6) Bank Line (5) Golden Diva (4) Smart Maru |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) GANGSEO TREND has finished in the top five in each of his seven starts and that includes three victories. This is his toughest test to date, but he can make his presence felt. (11) GWANGBOKUI BANSEOK was a soft six-length winner over a mile at Class 4 two back before attempting to lead throughout when running at this grade and trip for the first time last start. In that event he was only just run down late by the smart Indie Tiger, as well as a reopposing rival, so whilst it was a good run he was caught late in what was the furthest he had run over so it will be interesting to see how he goes especially from the outside draw. The consistent filly (6) LIME TREE was fourth in that race and was only beaten nine-and-a-half lengths in the G3 KNN Cup three runs ago. The Moon Hyeon-cheol trained (2) MATONGNYEONG has beaten Doctor Chris in the past, so he is good enough on his day. (3) HEY BROTHER was second in the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmum Classic Trial earlier in the year. (9) SEOBU VISION split Indie Tiger and Gwangbokui Bakseok last start whilst (10) PLUTO and (7) CHAMP SONNY are not hopeless, particularly the latter, in an enthralling race of many chances.
| Selections | (4) Gangseo Trend (11) Gwangbokui Banseok (6) Lime Tree (2) Matongnyeong |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) TIGER MANGCHI is two for two having won on debut from well off the pace over 1200M in June and then at 1300M at class 5 on July 18th. That brings him rapidly up in class here but the step up in trip again should suit and he can continue on his merry way. This is much tougher than what he has faced so far though. (6) GEUMJEOKSAN has won her latest two, most recently at this class and distance on July 26th when she was handy throughout. She comes up a full 4kg in weight here, but there could be more to come. (7) BLISS STAR was a winner at this distance at class 5 two starts back before running a fair 4th on his first try at this class on July 19th. He comes up 2kg in weight but can be similarly competitive. (8) BARAMGAEBII, rapidly up in class having won his latest two, as well as (2) GEOSEN PUNCH others who can go close.
| Selections | (3) Tiger Mangchi (6) Geumjeoksan (7) Bliss Star (8) Baramgaebi |
| Next Best | 2, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(9) WONDERFUL GROOM has only 53kg on his back and going on his two-length second to Vincero Cavallo in the SBS Sprint back in April he must be an outstanding chance. However, he must put his subsequent long last place finish in the Chairman’s Sprint and midfield finish in the Owners’ Cup behind him. (7) HANGANG CLASS is perhaps the most enthralling runner of the entire weekend as he makes his return after a tendonitis setback that has kept him away from the races for the last year. He won last year’s Owners’ Cup in course record time, the last race Clean One was beaten in, before finishing a four-length second to Clean One in August. He has been back in regular work since the end of July and will be hard to stop if anywhere near his best. (3) GANGSEO GIANT carries topweight of 57kg, it would have been 58kg if not for the 1kg claim of Nam Jeong-hyeok, and she is having her first run since finishing midfield in the Busan Ilbo in March. Her best form has seen her place in last season’s Kookje Shinmun, and she is another that must be taken on trust. (5) BIWOL is the in-form runner having beaten a lot of reopposing rivals over 1200M in July including (6) NICE BUDDY which has been a G3 winner this year so that pair must have chances as must (11) BRUG KINGMAN who is first-up since May but has won three of his past four. (8) OPEN SKY, who will do his best work late, and (10) STAR MATTA, which placed in the Owners’ Cup two back, are the others to consider in a most excellent race.
| Selections | (9) Wonderful Groom (7) Hangang Class (3) Gangseo Giant (5) Biwol |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) Weight for Age / Korea Sprint (KOR G1 / IG3) / KRW 1.4 Billion
The big winner from the draw was (3) AMERICAN STAGE. He has a slightly different profile to many previous Japanese runners in the Korea Sprint in that he is a pure speedster, and his challenge will be staying on the testing sand. If he doesn’t then his winless streak, dating back a long way – albeit having involved taking on the best on three continents – could continue. Hong Kong enters with three runners and of them, (13) BEAUTY WAVES is the pick. Since winning at 1200M in February, he has been racing in very stiff company and while he has the challenge of gate thirteen, jockey Jerry Chau knows what it takes to win this race. (7) DRAGON WELDS is an up and comer from Japan. He is three for three in 2026 with his latest win coming at Listed level at Oi back in April beating among others, Tintoretto. He hasn’t raced since, so he comes in fresh and while he is untried in elite company, he can be at least placing if not better. Other than defending champion (9) SELF IMPROVEMENT, the only other horse to have participated in the Sprint before is (2) VINCERO CAVALLO. He was 6th in the race two years ago but arrived undercooked last year after missing a summer prep race. He has been through a prep this time around and while it didn’t go well, he remains among the best of the locals.
| Selections | (3) American Stage (13) Beauty Waves (7) Dragon Welds (2) Vincero Cavallo |
| Next Best | 9, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 9, 14 |
Seoul Race 9: Class Open (1800M) Weight for Age / Korea Cup (KOR G1 / IG3) / KRW 1.6 Billion
(7) CLEAN ONE is the big local hope, he capped his three-year-old campaign with a nine-length demolition in the Grand Prix last November, having his rivals off the bridle almost four furlongs from home. He has raced just twice in 2026, easily winning G3 Herald Business over 2000M and G2 Busan Mayor’s Cup at 1800M. A real talent, he can take a few strides to get going but has a tempo about him that few locals can match and at his best, he could win. (9) SUNDAY FUNDAY enters off a Listed win in the Mercury Cup over 2000M at Morioka in July when making all the running, he also won at G3 level on the Nakayama dirt in March. A serious JRA horse, he likes to be on pace and while he has the challenge of starting on the outside of Diktaean and Clean One, there is every chance that if he gets off to a good start and gets to the lead, that he won’t be caught. (8) DIKTAEAN is the defending champion and e went on to win the Tokyo Daishoten last December and while he has a 5th and a 3rd in just two starts this year his effort in the latter, the Teio Sho in June was arguably better than his one in the 2025 edition of the same race. He can settle back and prove a big threat to Clean One and Sunday Funday late. (1) FUNNY WILD is probably the best locally bred three-year-old this year and he can give a good account of himself. (5) BIG MUSICAL STAR can be on pace and hold on for some minor money.
| Selections | (7) Clean One (9) Sunday Funday (8) Diktaean (1) Funny Wild |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) GOJU ILCHEOK has won two of his last three, most recently an all the way win on July 18th over 1800M. He comes up in class today, but he draws well to lead again, he is slightly down in weight, and he can win again. (4) HANMADIMALDO got a long way back last time over a mile before running on for 5th. He was 3rd on his only previous try at 1700M, and he can shape as the main danger. (9) GOOD MORNING COME has got even further back in his last two tries at 1200M. He too was 3rd on his only previous try at this distance and may well benefit from stepping back up today. The returning (7) DANGDAECHOWOL, along with (8) MY MUNNINGS are others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (3) Goju Ilcheok (4) Hanmadimaldo (9) Good Morning Come (7) Dangdaechowol |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 6, 9, 10, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 