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VINCERO CAVALLO EASILY WINS SBS SPORTS WITH KOREA SPRINT IN HIS SIGHTS

Vincero Cavallo confirmed his status as the fastest horse in Korea as he comfortably won the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) for the second year running at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. In doing so, he claimed his second consecutive Sprint Series victory with one leg to spare.

Vincero Cavallo (Pic: KRA)

With the field having been reduced to fifteen after the scratching of Yeonggwangui World, VINCERO CAVALLO started as favourite but not as short as some might have expected, given how well he won the first leg of the series, the Busan Ilbo, on the south coast last month.

Part of punters’ reticence may have been the wider draw for Vincero Cavallo and also perhaps that jockey Jo Jae-ro had been heavily unseated from his mount in race 5 and had a nervous wait before being passed fit to partner his career-defining horse.

Once the gates opened, all doubts disappeared. As expected, Born Dia showed the way early Vincero Cavallo began well too, Jo Jae-ro settling him in the front of midfield. Once he made his move in the home straight, the race was won with his now customary turn of foot proving far too much for his rivals. 38/1 chance Wonderful Groom was 2nd and 15/1 Haksan Speed 3rd.

“This was the first time we drawn this wide in the Sprint Series, so my thought was let’s just focus on the start and do well.” Jo Jae-ro told KRBC. “I trusted the horse and once we were away, I thought winning was inevitable and the race unfolded very comfortably.”

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Korea Racing Report – April 10-12

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY VINCERO CAVALLO WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ONCE MORE BUT ON THE UNDER CARD THE PRINCIPAL HANDICAP WAS RACE 9 AT CLASS 2 GRADE AND IT SAW CHOEGO GAME race away in the closing stages to complete a remarkable weekend for jockey Jo Jae-ro and be one of five winners on the day for trainer Kang Sung-o giving him 50% of the card.

Jo had had two falls across the weekend at Seoul, one on each day, however, was fit to ride Vincero Cavallo to victory in the G3 feature and then followed up on board Choego Game (Frosted) who charged away in the closing stages of the 1800M contest to score by three-lengths on his fourth attempt at Class 2 grade. Eclipse The King, who was 3rd in last year’s Derby, finished 2nd on his first run back since going lame in winter, and led for much of the contest until fitness caught him out late. Wonderful Northern was two-and-a-half lengths away in 3rd after being on-pace throughout. Ace K, who was a 13-length Class 3 winner back in February, was once again well beaten at Class 2 level.

The victory of Choego Game was the fourth of the quintet on the day for Kang Sung-o with one of his earlier winners being ECLIPSE BOSS (Shackleford) who won Race 5 (1200M Class 5) and as he did when winning his only other race he led throughout to score by three-quarters of a length as the 4.8 third pick over the 3.8 second choice Flying Honor. There was action a plenty at the start with 2.5 favourite Rapid Thunder knuckling horribly leaving the gates and leaving Jo Jae-ro with no chance of staying on in the second of his two falls across the weekend.

Kang’s other wins were with NAMSAN ROCK (Known Agenda) who won Race 3 (1400M Class 4) by the shortest possible margin at 24/1 after the 1.7 favourite Samjogo folded tamely for 4th after leading, PRIMERO (Indie Band) led throughout to win Race 4 (1700M Class 6) by one-and-a-quarter lengths as a 3.2 equal favourite, and was a 950th career winner for Choi Bum-hyun, whilst the last of the five was in the concluding 1200M Class 3 with ROYAL SOCKS (Hansen) making it five wins from nine starts defeating Raon The Affirmed by a half-length with Crazy Star a neck away third. All three horses are racing very well at present.

START UP (Medici Glory) was an impressive victor of Race 6 (1400M Class 5) showing good early speed to cross to the fence before racing away for a nine-length victory. He was always travelling strongly and after what was surely a confidence-boosting victory it will be interesting to see how and if he can progress.

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SBS Sports Sprint 2026: Preview & Form Comments

The Sprint Series reaches Seoul on Sunday afternoon and having won the first leg in Busan a month ago, VINCERO CAVALLO will be a warm favourite to successfully defend the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN.

While he swept all three legs of the Sprint Series last year, Vincero Cavallo’s form fell off in a disrupted second half of 2025 and that led him to only be second in the market when he returned from a four-month layoff to join the rest of the sprint division for the Busan Ilbo (1200M KOR-G3) on the south coast on March 8th.

The doubters – and there were plenty – were silenced as under a patient Jo Jae-ro ride, Vincero Cavallo emphatically announced he was back in form with a two-length win to put him in pole position to sweep back-to-back series.

So, who can stop him?  WINNER CLEAR was sent off as favourite in the Busan Ilbo, and he was the one who ultimately got closest. He and Vincero Cavallo were in adjoining gates in Busan too but this time they are much wider. That should be of less concern to Winner Clear, and the start will be key. Seo Seung-un is on board.

BORN DIA led the Busan Ilbo, setting a strong pace before ultimately running 4th. Drawing the inside gate once more, she can lead again but only two horses were slower than her in the final furlong in Busan so making sure there is something left in the mare’s tank will be a key concern for jockey Masa Tanaka.

MAGIC POTION is a newcomer to the elite level. A winner of eight from fourteen, he won the KRA Sprint (Seoul) at the end of November. That was for horses rated 80 and down but he has since gone on to win twice at class 1 level. Winner Clear won the corresponding race at Busan the same day.

Veteran BLACK MUSK along with WONDERFUL GROOM are the other main hopes for at least the places. The SBS Sports Sprint is race 7 at Seoul with a local post time of 15:40.

1. BORN DIA – In the best form of her career with a class 2 win over this distance last October followed by a desperately close 2nd to Winner Clear in January when she very nearly led from gate-to-wire. She was 4th in the Busan Ilbo, racing on pace, and from the inside gate, she can be on pace and cause a lot of problems here and her 2kg mare allowance may help her late.

2. BEOLGYO VERITAS – Remarkably has the fourth fastest time among these for the distance, recorded when winning at class 2 in December, settling, as is his style, in midfield and running on. All six wins have come at this distance, but he is yet to race at higher than class 2 and he will need to lift here but he draws very well and will probably seek to lead.

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CLEARLY WINNER LANDS KIM HYE-SUN FIRST STAKES WIN AS TRAINER – WITH HUSBAND PARK JAE-I ABOARD

Trainer Kim Hye-sun and jockey Park Jae-i became the first wife and husband to win a Korean Stakes race together as CLEARLY WINNER produced a comfortable victory in the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed) – the “Korean 1000 Guineas” – the first leg of the 2026 Triple Tiara, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Clearly Winner with Park Jae-i and Kim Hye-sun (Pic: KRA)

After a fair start, CLEARLY WINNER travelled easily behind a pace set by CHIEF STAR, who jumped the favourite despite her previous troubles with the barrier. Clearly Winner easily went past a tiring Chief Star and the game SHACKLE SUN in the final furlong to ease away to win by three-lengths. Long-shots FAPPI BABE and CATCH RACE arrived from well off the pace to run 2nd and 3rd.

Clearly Winner won her first two races in fine style at the end of last summer but then suffered a setback and didn’t race again until this February. By that time, her original trainer Kim Hyo-seok had handed back his license and Kim Hye-sun, who had been waiting for boxes since passing the trainer’s exam, had an unexpectedly fast promotion from the riding to the training ranks.

Now under Kim Hye-sun’s care, Clearly Winner returned to action in style, winning at class 4 before finishing 3rd behind Clutch Winner and Hey Brother in the Gyeongnam Shinmun (1400M Listed) at the start of March.

For jockey Park Jae-i, it was a fourth Stakes race win having a G3 and G2 along with another Listed race already to his name. For his trainer – and his wife – Kim Hye-sun, it was a first Stakes race win since getting her training license at the end of last year.

“I think it’s harder to watch than to ride, so from a viewer’s perspective I was very nervous” Kim Hye-sun told KRBC.

“I saw (Clearly Winner) move back a bit on the corner, so for a moment I wondered if she had got tired or maybe there was something we hadn’t thought about, but at the same time, it didn’t look as though the two in front would keep going at that speed.”

“I’m married to the jockey, so we were able to have plenty of opportunities for a somewhat detailed conversation as to the race but today I didn’t say much, and we got a good result.”

As for jockey Park, he admitted to having some pre-race concerns: “She had only raced up to 1400M, and I had a feeling the pace would be strong early so there was a chance of kickback” but, he added “it went well.”

Clearly Winner is by Hansen and out of Pokpung Hero (by Henny Hughes). She was bred by Jang Yong-seok of Yujeong Farm and races in the colours of owner Shin Woo-cheol.

The second leg of the Triple Tiara is the big one, the Korean Oaks (1800M KOR-G2) back at Busan on Sunday May 10th. Next week the Sprint Series resumes with Vincero Cavallo set to head the field as he defends his title in the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) at Seoul.

KOREA RACING REPORT: APRIL 3-5 “CHERRY BLOSSOM EDITION”

CUPID IT bounced back to his best with an outstanding front-running win over the 1200M in the last race on Sunday and in doing so recorded his first Class 2 victory (writes Luke Humphreys).

Cupid It (Hansen) bounced back from a couple of disappointing efforts since being promoted to this level to trounce a competitive field by four-lengths as a 2.6 favourite. He looks class 1 bound sooner or later.

The victory of Cupid It meant a double on the card for jockey Lee Hyeok who also landed race 2 (1300M Class 6) with the 2.1 favourite QUERENCIA (Concord Point) which in contrast to Cupid It came from back in the field.

In the penultimate race, the Luigi Riccardi prepared WHITE CARLA (Old Fashioned) led throughout to land race 9 (1800M Class 3) holding off the challenge of favourite Blue Nello by a half-length to make it two wins from his last four starts both of them over the Seoul 1800M.

Riccardi prepared a double on the program after earlier success in race 5 (1200M Class 5) with MASTER KWAIGON (Dynamic Dash) who scored by two-lengths as a 2.2 favourite.

THE EXCELLENT (New Legend) was a big winner of race 6 (1300M Class 5) coming from near last to win by an extending two-and-a-half lengths under Yoo Seung-wan. He adopted his usual racing pattern of coming from towards the rear and stormed home to account for the 1.9 favourite Superday.

There was multiple success on the card for Lee Joon-chel who for the second consecutive day had a race-to-race training double thanks to the victories of QUEENS FLYING (Chrysolite) in race 3 (1400M Class 6) and DANAEUN STAR (Afleet Express) in race 4 (1400M Class 5).

Danaeun Star bounced back after being behind three opposing rivals when last seen at the end of February and led throughout to win by two-lengths as a well supported 3.3 favourite over Mighty Beat, the late closing Gwanaksan Champ and Raon Blaide.

BUSAN HAD THE FEATURE RACE OF THE WEEKEND ON SUNDAY WITH CLEARLY WINNER SCORING IN THE LUNA STAKES BUT ON THE UNDERCARD WOLFS KING MAN was a marathon winner of the afternoon’s principal handicap.

Wolfs King Man (Great Success), who started the 3.2 second favourite, sat on the outside of the leader Unju Challenge, 1.8 favourite, and put him to the sword at the top of the straight. He got tired late after doing all the work in the 1800M Class 3 contest but held on just from the late challenge of Tamna Super who failed by a head. The time of 1:52.9 was only just outside of the class record on the fast track.

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Luna Stakes 2026: Triple Tiara 1st Leg Preview & Form Comments

A week ago, Funny Wild snared the first jewel in the Triple Crown, the three-year-old fillies start their own bid for glory with the Luna Stakes (1600M KOR-Listed) – the “Korean 1000 Guineas” – the first leg of the 2026 Triple Tiara, at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 SUNDAY RACES ACROSS BUSAN AND SEOUL.

Chief Star (KRA)

The Tiara is a relatively new series, with the Luna – named after the mare who ran at Busan shortly after the track’s opening – only becoming part of the calendar in 2020. However, in that short time two fillies, Golden Power and Jeulgeounyeojeong, have won the race and then gone on to also capture both the Korean Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup.

Who can join them this year? A full field of sixteen will line up, with six traveling down from Seoul and unlike the KRA Cup Mile, where Seoul wins are a rarity, precisely half of the Luna Stakes to date have been won by fillies trained in the capital.

Among the visitors is CHIEF STAR. She’s the highest rated in the race after four wins including at juvenile Listed level but her previous trip to Busan did not go well as she went over in the gate prior to the start of the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie and had to be scratched. She draws concerningly wide here and while her ability is not in doubt, her temperament issues are a concern.

Kim Hye-sun has made a fair start to her training career with six winners from sixty-five starters heading into the weekend and she saddles CLEARLY WINNER in the Luna. The Hansen filly comes out the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun over 1400M where she finished a solid 3rd and she is set to be a main player here. With Park Jae-I riding, it would be the first case in Korea of a wife and husband trainer/jockey combination winning a Stakes race.

After Chief Star, TWIN RAINBOW is the highest rated in the race as jockey Seung-un looks to complete a KRA Cup Mile/Luna Stakes double, while WORLD DANCER CAT enters off a close 2nd place over 1800M at class 4 level and will be among the favourites in the market.

The Luna Stakes is race 6 on Sunday’s seven-race card at Busan. There are also ten Sunday races at Seoul:

1. QUEEN MAKER – Two 2nd places and before getting her maiden win at start three over 1300M in a quick time at class 5 over 1300M on February 27th. Front runner, she could be on pace and Tanaka is a plus.

2. SHACKLE TOWN – All the way winner at class 5 and 1400M in February, she missed the kick and then resented the kickback on her latest outing and finished well back. If she gets a better start and can get to the lead, she can be in the finish. Chance.

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KOREA RACING REPORT: MARCH 27-29

THE PRINCIPAL ACTION IN KOREA ON SUNDAY WAS ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST BUT SEOUL STILL HAD A GOOD PROGRAM AND A VERY STRONG CLASS 1 CONTEST WAS WON BY VICS GO who made it two consecutive wins over the course, distance and grade in race 9, writes Luke Humphreys.  

Vics Go (Vics) was ridden exactly the same by Woo In-cheol as at the start of the month, going towards the rear and then hugging the rail to go on and score by two-and-a-half lengths over Ziggurat and Pepper X who ran very honourable races in 2nd and 3rd places.

The last horse home was last year’s G3 Kookje Shinmun Cup winner Munhak Boy who with 58kg was beaten 17 lengths. He was on pace early but lost the plot from the halfway stage onwards.

No Problem was coming into the race on four consecutive victories but his first run at class 1 level was one to forget as he got upset in the gate as the race began and dumped Song Jae-chul who was conveyed to hospital for x-rays.

KING MASTER (The King) ran out a strong winner of race 8 (1800M Class 4) when defeating Mr. Taeyang by four-lengths. King Master had chased home the smart Chrysol Stone at his previous start and could potentially be a Derby horse, as could Mr. Taeyang who lost no admirers in second.

King Master gave jockey Jo Jae-ro two of the last three winners on the card as the ever consistent TIARA SUA (Audible) led throughout to win the concluding 1400M class 3.

SLAM DRAGON (Power Blade) took race 7 (1600M Class 4) for Kozzi Asano and Tony Castanheira defeating his co-favourites Myeong Power and Geosen Daero.

HWASAN POKPAL (Smokem) broke through at the seventh time of asking when winning race 6 (1300M Class 4) as the third market elect at 5.9. He had never placed from six runs, but the best two runs of his career were his two previous outings, so he is obviously heading in the right direction. The race saw the two favourites in Jjarithan Haengbok, 2.6, and Hero Cheetah, 3.6, proved disappointing.

Hwasan Pokpal completed a riding double on the program for Jeong Jeong-hee as he won race 4 (1200M Class 5) on board 24/1 chance SMART MARU (Revolutionary) with only a nose, a head and a nose separating the first four home.

The victory of Smart Maru completed a race-to-race training double for Park Jae-woo who 68 minutes earlier landed a 1700M Class 6 thanks to the four-length victory of the 2.7 favourite LUCKY JOY (Gemologist).

FLYING THUNDER (Preservationist) was an impressive seven-length winner of race 5 (1400M Class 5) and in doing so completed back-to-back front-running victories and looks destined for more victories in his career.

BEOLGYO EMPEROR (Rock Your World) was the best of the maiden winners in race 2 winning the 1300M contest by two-lengths at odds of 1.5.

DOWN AT BUSAN ON THE SAME DAY FUNNY WILD LANDED THE KOREAN 2000 GUINEAS BUT THE LAST OF THE TWO CLASS 3 HANDICAPS WAS WON BY NEVER GIVE UP who lived up to his name as he was winning for the first time at the grade at attempt five.

Never Give Up (Peace Rules) won three races in a row last summer over the Busan 1800M and once again won over the distance when landing the concluding contest of the day as a 5.7 third pick in the betting. The 3.1 second favourite Max The Cat, who beat Funny Wild at his prior start, was a two-and-a-half-length 2nd whilst the 2.6 favourite Storm Fighter was an eight-and-a-half-length fourth.

The race saw Choi Eun-gyeong get dumped at the start when Sekwang Choegang knuckled on leaving the stalls. Choi, who only last week had returned to riding after four months out with a pelvic injury walked back to the jockey’s room but will have to pass concussion protocols.

The victory of Never Give Up completed a riding double for Jo In-kwon after 60/1 outsider BEOLGYO MABEOPSA (Revolutionary) came from miles back to win race 2 (1400M Class 6). 

EPHPHATHA (Instagrand) made it three wins from as many starts when leading for the majority of the contest to win race 5 (1400M Class 3) by two-and-a-half lengths. The US import looks progressive and is one to continue following.

4.3 second favourite SUNRISE (Gemologist) proved too good for the 2.4 popular pick Lampyojeonggeenie when pulling away to win race 4 (1300M Class 5) by one-and-a-half lengths. She has now won her last two races, which gives her a 50% winning strike rate.

Kim Hyo-jung was down at Busan to ride Flutter in the Korean 2000 and whilst he only beat two home her trip was still worth it as she picked up multiple rides on the card for Baik Kwang-yeol and DOCTOR HUNTER (Race Day) was a decent five-length winner for that combination in the opening 1200M class 6 as a 3.5 second pick defeating 2.1 favourite Global One Pick.

AT SEOUL ON SATURDAY DAESEONG STAR bounced back from a disappointing effort last start to land the 2000M class 2 by one-length.

Daeseong Star (Concord Point) had won the start prior over course, distance and grade and made it two wins from his last three starts and in doing so defeated the ever consistent Choegang Gold, who ran a fine race at his first run at the grade, Musket Day, who had the perfect run and presented as the winner early in the home straight but only managed third as a 2.3 favourite, and the 2024 Derby winner Eunpa Sarang, who for the second consecutive start ran a much better race. Brown Gold, the 4.1 second market choice, was home in fifth but was only beaten by two-lengths.

WONPYEONG SKET (Musket Man) was written off by some after her incredibly basic performance against similar rivals at the start of the month, but punters kept the faith sending her off a 2.2 favourite in the closing 1200M class 3 and she justified their support with a diminishing neck victory. 

The two worst runs of her career, obviously including her previous run, had been the only two times where she hadn’t led so naturally from gate one Ruan Maia was very keen to hold the top in the early stages and she was a clear leader for the majority of the contest before getting very tired in the closing stages, but she had enough of a break to hold off the late challenge of Cosmo One in a solid time of 1:13.5 considering the slow track. 

Cosmo Run ran the equal quickest final furlong of the race, 13.1 seconds, whilst the fourth placed Free The One, who was the 3.7 second favourite, also ran the same time for his last 200 metres coming from last after getting way too far out of his ground in the early stages.

The disappointment of the race was Gwanaksan Storm who won the form-line race for this event on March 1 when leading Wonpyeong Sket but today the roles were reversed in the run and also in regard to the result and he was the one that was vehemently disappointing.

The victory of Wonpyeong Sket completed a double on the program for trainer Jung Ho-ik who prepared SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA (Overanalyze) to win race 9 (1800M Class 3).

Songdang Hwangtaeja was having his first run over both the distance and grade but proved more than up to the task after sitting midfield off a strong pace to win by two-and-a-half lengths. 

It was Malaysia against Brazil in the first half of the race with CC Wong on the 2.5 favourite Dragon Killer and Ruan Maia on the 2.8 second choice Perfect Danaeun both very keen to lead and they set up a decent break on their rivals, which obviously was eventually reduced, and a quick time of 1:57.1. Dragon Killer was second whilst Perfect Danaeun, at his first run at the trip, ended up a tired fourth. MK Lee and BS Storm were the two disappointments of the race finishing sixth and ninth respectively.

The very consistent CLUB Q (Revolutionary) won her fourth race, they have all been over 1400M, when winning race 7 and making it two wins from her past three starts, both at class 4 level. She was sent off the 3.2 favourite and won by two-and-a-half lengths over the third and fourth picks in the market in Tohomarket and Geunyang Gara whilst the big disappointment was the 3.2 favourite Jiljuui Yeowang who has now produced two very good performances and two very bad performances from four runs.

RAON SAPPHIRE (Musket Man) made it two wins from four starts when winning race 5 (1300M Class 5) by one-and-a-half lengths over Choego Gold, 2.4 favourite, whilst CHEONJI TANK (Air Force Blue) was an impressive four-length winner of the opening 1300M class 6 as a 1.3 favourite.

Riding honours on the day clearly went to Lee Dong-ha who not only rode a double but also his 300th career winner on JILPUNGA (Tapwrit) who led throughout to score by four-lengths in race 6 as a 3.7 favourite. Lee’s earlier winner came on BEST URBANE (Uncaptured) in race 3 (1400M Class 6) which, a la Jilpunga, also led throughout.

AT BUSAN ON FRIDAY THERE WERE PLENTY OF TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS WITH MULTIPLE SUCCESS AND VANGIE completed a treble on the program for Bart Rice and a double for Seo Seung-un when winning the concluding 1200M class 2.

Vangie (Musket Man), who was having his third run at class 2 level, was having his first run at the grade over the 1200M after a third and two fourth places over 1400M but appreciated the drop back in trip by a furlong and recorded his fifth win from 15 starts with four of those coming over the six furlongs. He has never missed the top four either with six second places, a third and two fourth place finishes also. 

The favourite in the race was Beolma King who wasn’t far away but finished a never nearer sixth just the same.

The other victory for jockey Seo Seung-un on the card came courtesy of FAST MAN (Blue Pin) who justified 1.5 favouritism in race 4 (1200M Class 5) with a four-length victory, and made the form of race 5 at Busan on February 27 look very good as he finished third in that race whilst the second placed Bunker Buster has been a subsequent winner also. However, the winner of that race, Seongsil Dream, is yet to have raced again.

The other victories for trainer Bart Rice came in race 1 (1200M Class 4) with BARAM DAERO (Copper Bullet), who led throughout to deny the 1.4 favourite Vegas Jeontu, and also SKY WIN WIN (Win Win Win), who was ridden from the top for the first time, in race 6 (1800M Class 4) and held on to score by one-length in what was an outstanding frontrunning ride from Franco da Silva.

The victory of Baram Daero in the opener was the first of two winners for jockey Masa Tanaka who followed up in race 5 (1400M Class 5) on board GWANGBOKUI BANSEOK (Mendelssohn) who won by a comfortable space of four-lengths.

Jockey Lee Hyo-sik and trainer Lee Jung-pyo combined to have a double thanks to the efforts of debutante CHEONNYEONDOR (Dortmund) in race 3 (1300M Class 6) and SEKWANG LIGHT (Shackleford) in race 7 (1600M Class 4)

The biggest winner of the day was YONGBI JJANG (Gemologist) in race 2 (1600M Class 6) who won by a very cute 10 lengths as a 1.5 favourite.

The big race for next weekend is back down at Busan with the first leg of the Triple Tiara taking place for the three-year-old fillies in the Luna Stakes (KOR-Listed), the Korean equivalent of the 1000 Guineas. At Seoul it will also be the opening of the popular annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

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KRA Cup Mile: Preview & Form Comments for Triple Crown 2026 1st Leg

Sixteen colts will set out at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, bidding to be the first since Power Blade a decade ago to win the Triple Crown. The series gets underway with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2), the “Korean 2000 Guineas”.

Eight of the sixteen have travelled down from Seoul, but capital visitors do not have a good record in the race, registering only three victories since the race began in its current form in 2008 and none at all since Global Chukje scored in 2019. This time though a formidable line-up travels.

LIVE STAR has won his last three starts by a combined thirty-eight lengths, including a full eighteen last time out at class 4 over 1800M. While the robustness of the opposition he faced is debatable, he has been nothing if not impressive.

DI NE was well beaten behind Roshe in the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy on March 1st but prior to that was going very nicely and will be firmly in the market while FLUTTER and HWANG GEOM EO JJANG also travel down with solid credentials.

Don’t rule out the home team though. HEY BROTHER enters with the highest rating. He was 2nd behind Clutch Winner in the Listed Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy but prior to that was an excellent winner over a mile at class 4 level in January. Jockey Choi Si-dae won the race on Betelgeuse in 2023.

Seo Seung-un won the Cup Mile on Cheongnyong Bisang, one of those three Seoul horses to triumph in the race. Now firmly Busan-based, this year he partners FUNNY WILD, who while he lost his way late on when 2nd over 1800M last time out, was very strong prior to that and from a great draw, will be on the speed.

There is sadness over the race. Champion Juvenile Supex Winner began the week set to be favourite but suffered a catastrophic ligament and sesamoid injury on Monday morning which he ultimately succumbed to on Wednesday.

The KRA Cup Mile is race 6 on the 7-race program at Busan with a 16:05 post time:

1. HEY BROTHER – The highest rated in the field and one of the most experienced with nine starts. He’s won four times up to class 4 and a mile. His most recent start saw him 2nd to Clutch Winner in the Classic Trial at 1400M on March 1st. A front-runner, the mile suits and the draw suits, and he is among the favourites.

2. BREEDO SOL – Only beat two home in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie but has begun his three-year-old campaign well with a win over 1800M at class 5 level and then 2nd at class 4 over the same distance on February 15th, beating Legend Hit. Likes to come from off the pace and can aim for some minor money.

3. FUNNY WILD – A strong winner over 1800M at class 4 level in February, he led when trying to repeat at class 3 on March 1st but ultimately weakened late on and was caught. He is one for one at the mile, he has a great draw to get on pace and with Seo Seung-un riding him from potentially several options, he will probably be the betting favourite.

4. LIVE STAR – Took a few goes to fully figure things out, but he has won his latest three, most recently at class 4 level over 1800M on February 7th when leading all the way and scoring by a full eighteen-lengths in a time that would win the Korean Derby most years. On that evidence, he has to considered a real threat here.

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Raon Forest Beats The Upstarts In Queens’ Tour 1st Leg

Changing of the guard in the filly and mare division? Not just yet, there isn’t as Raon Forest to take out the Donga Ilbo (1800M KOR-Listed), the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.  

Raon Forest in the Donga Winner’s Circle (Pic: KRA)

The only six-year-old in the race and therefore the only one who came out of what proved to be a vintage Triple Tiara class in 2023, Raon Forest, a Queens’ Tour veteran, entered the race fourth in the market behind Breeders’ Cup Queen winner Ace High with Boryeonglightqueen and Oneuldo Smile also well supported. 

There was unfortunate drama as the gates opened with Indy Ghost going up on hind legs and the going over. Fortunately, neither she nor jockey Masa Tanaka were seriously hurt.

Oneuldo Smile did lead while defending champion Gladius was also on pace, but both were beaten early as Raon Forest, under a patient ride from Jo Jae-ro, consistently made ground on the rail, striking the front a furlong out and lengthening away to win by a full six-lengths.

Boryeonglightqueen and Satang Sonyeo appeared from the back of the field with late runs for 2nd and 3rd. Pre-race favourite Ace High never landed a blow and ended in 7th.

“I had some high hopes” winning trainer Park Jong-kon told KRBC. “Not necessarily that we would win but I had some expectations. The draw was good and while Choi Bum-hyun couldn’t ride (due to suspension), Jo Jae-ro came in and did well.”

“Raon Forest has had so many near-misses, she ran well against the males last time and today she was really good. She’ll go to the Ttukseom Cup next, in the past with her start I don’t think the 1400M would suit but she is different now.”

Raon Forest [Hansen – Raon Nari (by Ecton Park)] moved onto seven wins from thirty-one starts.

The Queens’ Tour will return on April 26th with the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) also at Seoul. Next weekend, it’s the turn of the three-year-olds as the Triple Crown kicks off with the KRA Cup Mile (1600M KOR-G2) – informally known as the Korean 2000 Guineas – on Sunday afternoon at Busan.

Korea Racing Report: May 20-22

THE EVER CONSISTENT RAON FOREST WAS THE WINNER OF THE DONG-A ILBO TROPHY AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY BUT THE UNDERCARD WAS HEADED UP BY THE TWO CLOSING CLASS 3 CONTESTS AND ROOFTOP was an impressive winner of the second of those class 3 races over the 1200M.

Rooftop (Instagrand) completed a double on the program for jockey Kozzi Asano when knuckling down in the last 200 metres to score by one-length. Rooftop beat Geudaemaniddamyeon back on debut and is now starting to show similar form to the start of his career.

The other victory for Asano came in the opening 1300M class 6 on board VINCENT ALEX (Power Blade).

The first of the class 3 events was the second last on the program and it produced a good finish and the 1400M stoush was won by MORNING WONDER (Concord Point) who won by a neck over the late closing Sure Win with long time leader Gold Catcher a nose away third. Seobu Champ was one-length away in fourth whilst the 2.6 favourite Baro Danaeun who was resuming from 11 months away from the races could only manage fifth a further half-length away.

There were a trio of three-year-old colts on the card that produced smart performances and they included MAEUM HANA (Gaon Champ) who led throughout to win race 8 (1200M Class 4) by seven-lengths and looks yet another good classic aged horse for the trio of CC Wong, Choi Yong-geon and Woo Tae-yul.

YOUNG FIGHTER (Hansen) was a smart winner of race 5 (1300M Class 5) leading throughout to win softly by four-lengths whilst VALID YOUNG (Shackleford) was a good winner of race 4 (1700M Class 5) for Johan Victoire and Moon Byeong-ki as a 2.5 favourite. He was the only horse in the finish that was on-pace in the run in a quickly run race which saw the 2.8 second favourite The Classic falter to finish a long last.

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