Day: November 15, 2026

MYSTIC GUIDE’S SERAPH TAKES BUSAN LISTED JUVENILE HONORS WHILE THE ROAD RAMPS UP IN SEOUL

Imported juveniles got their chance to run for Listed prizes at the weekend and at Busan on Friday, Mystic Guide filly Seraph led from gate to wire to win the Gyeongnam Do-Min Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) while at Seoul on Sunday, The Road was an eye-catching winner of the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed).

The Road and Lim Gi-won salute at Seoul (Pic: KRA)

Seraph had been a seven-length winner over 1000M on debut, but question marks had been raised over her ability to stay any further when she led and weakened when sent off as the favourite in both the YeongNam Rookie Stakes and Gnagseo-gu Mayor’s Trophy. Winning at Yeongcheon in October evidently didn’t do much to dispel those concerns as Seraph was sent off only 5th favourite in the market on Friday.

Lee Sung-jae partnered Seraph for the first time in Yeongcheon and he stayed aboard as Seraph bounded out of the gate and into the lead as expected. Only this time, she was never headed. Uncle Park got the closest, half-a-length back while pre-race favourite Mr. Beyond was four-lengths further in arrears in 3rd.

“Since she won by such a big margin on debut, there were a lot of expectations placed on this filly but then (it didn’t go well). I think the trip to Yeongcheon last time was good in terms of teaching her about pace” trainer Lim Sung-sil explained to KRBC. “There was no question of trying anything else with her this time than being on the speed and today she finished off that final 100 meters well.”

Seraph and Lee Sung-jae salute at Busan (Pic: KRA)

By 2021 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, Seraph’s dam Closing deals (by Central Banker) was imported to Korea in December 2023 while in foal and is based at Challenger Farm where Seraph was born in April 2024. Seraph was purchased for 40 Million Korean Won at the October 2025 Jeju Yearling sale by owners Dae Gil.

At Seoul on Sunday, it was always going to take something special to beat Hope K. The Mitole colt has won his last three in fine fashion, with emphatic wins in the Seoul Rookie Stakes and the France Galop Trophy leading him to be sent off as the 1.7 favourite.

Bounding out into the lead under Jang Chu-youl, Hope K looked set to emulate Seraph and lead all the way. But The Road, a comprehensive winner on debut, emerged from a handy position to loom up in the final furlong and blow by Hope K to win by three-lengths and pulling away in the kind of time that would be competitive in an average year’s Korea Sprint.

For winning jockey Lim Gi-won, the victory was the culmination of a difficult three year which included recovery from a serious injury sustained in a race fall. “I think this is my first big race win since Raon The Fighter (in the 2023 SBS Sports Sprint)” Lim told KRBC. “The accident was big, but I have shaken it off now.”

“You always want to get on good horses like The Road, and it is great to ride for such a prestigious stable like Song Moon-gil’s. I’ve known this horse since he arrived as a yearling, so I feel a big connection with him and I’m grateful to the owner and trainer for trusting me with him.”

“(The Road) is a bit of a sponge, he learns very fast…There aren’t really many races for a two-year-old like him so today wasn’t the final target, he will be one to look for next year.”

The Road is by Roadster and is out of Commentary (by The Factor). He was a $24,000 purchase by KOID from the October 2025 OBS Yearling Sale.

KOREA RACING REPORT (NOVEMBER 13-15): NANO MASIN DENIES THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN BIG HANDICAP / JO JAE-RO REACHES 300 CAREER WINNERS / THE SUN STORY WIN STREAK ENDS AT FIVE

THE MUNHWA ILBO TROPHY FOR THE FOREIGN-BRED JUVENILES WAS THE FEATURE EVENT IN SEOUL ON SUNDAY BUT AN EXCELLENT 1600M CLASS 2 WAS THE MAIN HANDICAP AND NANO MASIN and Andre da Silva ran their rivals off their feet to hold on by a nose over the fast-finishing Concord Blue (writes Luke Humphreys).

Nano Masin (Goldencents) was having his fourth run at the grade and recorded his first win in nine-and-a-half months at odds of 15.3. The 3.5 second favourite Concord Blue was returning to better form after finishing well down the field at his previous start and under Franco da Silva, who was riding the three-year-old colt for the first time, just failed. Maru Janggun ran a fine race for 3rd after being wide throughout from the outside barrier whilst the 2.1 favourite Clutch Magic, who had won at Listed grade at his previous start, for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi could not make it four successive wins but was not disgraced in 4th under the topweight of 58kg.

The winning trainer of Nano Masin was Kang Hwan-min and thanks to SAMJEONG SPIDER (Save The World) winning the concluding Race 11 (1200M Class 4) he had a race-to-race double at the end of the card. Samjeong Spider had won his four starts before suffering an odds-on defeat in February and had been off the scene since with an injury. He had won a trial on October 22 but regardless of that punters sent him off at juicy each-way odds of 6.6 for the win and 2.0 for the place and despite getting tired late he held on narrowly from the late closing Choegang Belt who was having just his second start and is one to follow from the Riccardi yard.

Jang Chu-youl was the winning hoop on Samjeong Spider and was also completing a double as he and POINT I (Musket Man) landed Race 7 (1700M Class 4). Point I was the 3.6 favourite to make it three wins from her last four starts and duly did so by one-length.

The consistent SEOBU CHAMP (Gyeongbudaero) recorded her first win in eleven months in Race 9 (1800M Class 3) when diving through late to score by a half-length. Seobu Champ was kept safe by punters as the 7.5 third pick and defeated another consistent type in Mujeok Hamdae into 2nd with the 2.3 favourite The Sun Story, having her first attempt at the grade following five straight victories, given every chance in front but the three-year-old filly was run down late and finished 3rd. The admirable Stunning Flatter was 4th whilst the 4.5 second favourite Daehan Power was a never nearer 5th.

Jo Jae-ro and Baek Jong-su combined for a double with 3.6 second choice HOT SUGAR MAGIC (Yeonseung Daero) leading throughout to win Race 3 (1200M Class 6) by three-lengths whilst 1.9 odds-on chance SAEROUN BISUL (Colors Flying) made it third time lucky in a one-win race when landing Race 6 (1400M Class 5) by the same margin. Hot Sugar Magic brought up Jo Jae-ro’s 300th winner as a jockey with Saeroun Bisul providing number 301.

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