Boryeonglightqueen is the defending champion (Pic: KRA)
All the big hitters of the division are there, including the defending champion BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN, as well as the 2023 and 2024 winner JEULGEOUNYEOLJEONG. Others who have won Queens’ Tour races in the past and take their chance include GLADIUS, who was such an impressive class 1 winner last month, as well as the evergreen RAON FOREST and Ttukseom Cup winner FANTASTIC VALUE.
Then there is the three-year-old generation, who take on their elders for the first time. All three winners on the Triple Tiara series line up. CLEARLY WINNER won the Luna Stakes before running 2nd to CATCH RACE in the Korean Oaks. Both face off again and they are joined by Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup winner SUN RISE.
Here is a full run-down of the full field of sixteen who will go to post for race 8 at Seoul on Sunday with a local post time of 15:40:
1. SUNRISE – 4th in the Oaks, she won the final leg of the Tiara, the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, over 2000M in June. 2nd at class 3 level over a mile in her latest when closer to the pace than usual, she may not be a top line favourite here but can be a minor money chance.
2. CLUB Q – A winner of five from ten, all of them coming over this distance and at up to class 3 level. First time in elite filly and mare company today, this has been jockey Kim A-hyun’s career defining horse so far and she returns from injury to partner her. A very strong finisher, she could run into some money.
3. ONEULDO SMILE – A winner of six from twelve, two at this distance, but she struggled in the Spring/Summer series and hasn’t raced since May. She came back into work on August 20th but didn’t offer too many clues in a trial at the start of this month. Others favoured but should be on the early pace.
It’s the final weekend of racing before the short Chuseok break and the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter kicks off with the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3) the main event. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55 and 6 at Yeongcheon from 12:45 to 16:30. Here are the previews:
Gladius will be favourite for the feature (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Juvenile maidens with three of the eleven racing for the first time and a couple of them look interesting. (6) THE ROAD led in his second trial, crossing the line alongside top sprinter Super Finish in a quick time. If he brings that form to the races, he wins. (3) ULTRA CROWN went through two trials, winning both of them, most recently last week when settling back and running on strong in a quick time. The 1200M should suit and so long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can win first-up. (8) BULTAOREUNE was 6th on debut and then an improved 3rd at start number two over 1000M on August 9th when he beat three of today’s rivals. Third-up he should have a fitness edge here, and the way he has finished off these races, suggests the step up in trip is in his favour too. (5) FLASH BOLT and (2) NAREUSYA GOAT finished 4th and 5th respectively on debut behind Singsing Nashe and both can improve here
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens, although all of them have raced at least once before. After running 4t on debut, (9) UNICORN ACE was a close 2nd at start number two on August 22nd in a quick time over 1000M. He is up significantly in trip, but he has been doing his best work late, and he has every chance here. (8) GOLD X stepped up to this distance at start number two on August 30th and came from off the pace to run a solid 3rd place. Luis climbs on for the first time, and he can be dangerous here. (4) ECLIPSE GOLDEN has run 3rd in both starts so far at 1200M. He as been back to trial since his lates, which he came trough well, and he can at least place again. (11) CHEONMAUI HANSEONG and (6) CHEONSANGGEOMNYONG among plenty of others who can step up.
Selections
(9) Unicorn Ace (8) Gold X (4) Eclipse Golden (11) Cheonmaui Hanseong
Next Best
6, 10
Fast Start
1, 4, 10, 11
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 25 Million
A “second chance” race for those yet to win any prize money from at least five starts. And none of them started their respective last race at odds shorter than 26/1, so it’s a case of good luck solving this one. (3) SEMYEONG HEIDI has done the least wrong in that she has only raced five times and does at least have a 6th place. She also hasn’t raced since May and crucially went through a trial in August that she won in a quick time, making all. If she brings that trial form to the races, she will win this. (1) PNS RUNNER does usually show on the early speed and if from the onside gate he gets off to a good start, most of these rivals might not be good enough to get past him. (6) VICTORY SECRET is another who can be on pace and in this a long way. Without any level of confidence, (7) DUKE SOCKS and (4) HAEMARU CHAT are others who could run into some money.
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) POWERFUL ARCTIC has been knocking on the door in recent starts wit a 2nd place tree back and then a 3rd on his latest on August 9th. Both those were at this distance coming from off the pace and against this modest opposition, he won’t need to improve by much to win this. (10) SONGDANG JILJU has picked up in her latest two, both at 1400M, passing plenty late for back-to-back 4th places. Previous tries at 1700M were not successful, but she may be ready for another crack. (1) NURI EUTTEUM has never been better than 4th but managed to finish in that position last time out on September 6th and making a quick return here and drawn in a much better gate, she can match or better it. (8) GANGHAN PRINCESS and (7) GRAND COURAGE other place chances.
Yeongcheon Race 1: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) WIND MIREU is a winner of three from four and enters having run a close 2nd on his first try at this class over this distance on August 16th when coming from off the pace. He has his fair share of weight to carry again, but he can go one better. (9) SEOBU DANCING returns to racing for the first time since winning at class 5 level under an apprentice claim over a mile in May. He is up in class and bereft of a claim today, but he has Franco on and he looked well when winning a trial two weeks ago. (11) KEUTPAN YEOGEOL enters having finished in 3rd place over this class and distance on July 24th. She races best on pace so she has the challenge of the widest gate, but she can be competitive. (6) STRAWBERRY QUEEN and (7) SHACKLE LAUD among others in the frame.
Horse Racing in Korea 