A BUMPER CROWD OF 27,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY, AND THEY SAW A TEN RACE CARD WHICH CONCLUDED WITH A 1200M CLASS 2 WHERE FLYING DAY continued her consistent run of form by making it six wins from fourteen starts with a last gasp victory over longtime leader Nice Force (writes Luke Humphreys).
Roshe (Pic: KRA)
Flying Day (Race Day) at her previous victory had run down last year’s top juvenile filly Chief Star in the last couple of strides and ran down another smart sprinter in the closing stages with an extending half-length victory over Nice Force who just about returned to his best form that saw him start an odds-on favourite in the KRA Sprint on Grand Prix Day last year.
Flying Day paid 5.3 on the Korean tote with Nice Force being the 4.3 second favourite, whilst the 3.9 popular pick Eldorado Nolbu ran his usual consistent race without winning leaving himself too much to do in the run and he ended up finishing a never nearer 3rd. Blue Lemon was the other one in the market at 7.1 and finished 5th.
30 minutes earlier Kozzi Asano landed Race 9 (1200M Class 4) on GOOD MORNING COME (Freedom Child) who returned to the winners list after being around the mark against solid opposition at her previous three starts. Following her three-quarter length victory as the 3.0 favourite she has now won three races from nine starts. Hwasangwihwan was 2nd with Fedaykin, 4.8 third choice, 3rd and Chumchuneunjangmi, 4.6 second pick, in 4th.
The Luigi Riccardi prepared three-year-old filly WILD MAGIC (Triple Nine) made it back-to-back front-running wins in Race 7 (1800M Class 4) as the 2.5 favourite with a one-and-three-quarter length victory over the 3.5 second market choice Ghost Chrysol. Wild Magic continues to progress, and the domestically bred filly is one to keep following.
Clean One emphatically confirmed his status as the best horse in Korea as he dominated the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) on Sunday afternoon, leaving his supposed rivals trailing far behind him in the Busan sand in the final leg of the Stayer Series. In doing so, he had onlookers wondering just what might happen on the first Sunday in September.
Clean One (Pic: KRA)
Having rounded out his three-year-old season by winning the Grand Prix Stakes by the biggest margin in three decades, Clean One kicked off 2026 with a dismissive score in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3), the first leg of the Stayer Series at Seoul in March. With bigger targets and workload management in mind, he was kept out of last month’s YTN Cup. That was won by Succes Baekpa, and instead, Clean One came straight to the Busan Mayor’s Cup over the Korea Cup distance of 1800M.
Clean One was sent off as the 1.4 favourite. That price seemed generous as as under Seo Seung-un, Clean One cruised into the lead setting a pace that, as in the Grand Prix and Herald Business, his rivals were soon uncomfortable with. Seo meanwhile sat motionless before asking for a brief effort in the home straight that saw the pair kick on and win by six-lengths from Global Hit.
A month ago, when a resurgent Global Hit ran 2nd to Success Baekpa in the YTN, many observers opined that a prime Global Hit would have easily gone past the winner. Nobody even entertained any thought that he would have gone past Clean One. Even in 2nd, Global Hit ran the quickest time he ever has for the 1800M. The figures suggested that this may even have been the old Global Hit.
Ever the enigma, Gangpungma, on a day when many had written him off, ran a fine 3rd, with Success Baekpa in 4th. Yeonggwanguifirst was 5th with Speed Young an uncharacteristic 6th.
“From about the 4th corner, I was confident he would win” trainer Moon Hyeon-cheol, very unconvincingly, given it was obvious to all other observers that from the first corner Clean One would win, told KRBC. “I am so proud of Clean One” he said, with a little more conviction. “It’s the greatest success for our stable so far and so good to do it in front of so many fans who have turned out at Busan.”
Moon also paid tribute to runner-up Global Hit, a horse he revealed he worked with during a brief spell as assistant to Bang Dong-suk, just before striking out on his own. “I helped prepare Global Hit a couple of times and was really happy to see him run well today. I want to help Clean One achieve as much as Global Hit.”
As for what’s next for Clean One: “Nothing has changed from before, we will next go to the KRA Cup Classic and then to the Korea Cup. The only factor we consider is the horse’s health.”
Winning jockey Seo Seung-un wasn’t quite as reticent as his trainer. “The plan was to lead, and while I had a couple of ideas what to do if we were unable to do that, we got to the front quite easily and really, 100 metres into the race, I was pretty sure we would win.”
“I only care about the chemistry between me and the horse. My job is to help him flow freely and not get in his way. To be honest, this race was a race he should win; a really light test for him, don’t give us any plaudits for today, the race I am focused on is the Korea Cup.”
Further down the field, Tuhonui Banseok signed off from a long career that saw him win this race twice in 2023 and 2024 in 12th place. The eight-year-old will return to the races safe and sound one last time for his well-earned retirement ceremony next Sunday.
Clean One is by Bernardini and is out of No Fault (by Blame). He was purchased by K.O.I.D. out of the Keeneland 2023 Yearling Sale for $22,000. In Korea he is campaigned by the Healing Farm Union organization.
The KRA Cup Classic (2000M KOR-G2) is at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday July 26th. The Korea Cup is on Sunday September 9th.
Next week, the main race of the weekend is also at Busan as the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer concludes with the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3)
AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY BORN DIA LED THROUGHOUT TO WIN THE COUNTRY’S BIGGEST LOCAL SPRINT RACE BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF GOOD ACTION ON THE UNDERCARD. MUSKET DAY was the winner of the supporting Sports Chosun Trophy (KOR-LR) over 2000M by five-lengths in a race dominated by the backmarkers (writes Luke Humphreys).
Musket Cleaver won the Listed Sprots Chosun (Pic: KRA)
Musket Day (Musket Man) came into the race with very consistent form and won easily under Jang Chu-youl as the 4.3 second favourite over Wonderful Northern who was best of the group of six that broke away up in front, ridden the most conservatively of them, finishing 2nd. Taepyeong Hero was 3rd with Zetta Master from his standard rearward position making late ground for 4th. Daeseong Star, 2.9 favourite, could only manage 5th after racing on the pace with the 2024 Derby winner Eunpa Sarang blowing his chance at the start with a horrible beginning and was a never nearer 6th. No Problem could only run 7th after being one of those that was prominent whilst Mandaero was 8th in the final ride in Korea before returning to Malaysia for Harry Kasim.
The victory of Musket Day completed a training double for Moon Byeong-ki after PANGPANG DAERO (Frosted) landed Race 4 (1200M Class 5) by three-lengths and in doing so broke his maiden at the sixth time of asking.
Elsewhere on the card the concluding 1400M Class 3 was landed by the admirable seven-furlong specialist CLUB Q (Revolutionary) who made it six wins from ten starts with a one-and-a-quarter length victory as the 3.1 favourite over Orion Alpha with the up in trip Cheonmahoryeong finishing 3rd
GLOBAL CHAMP (Gaon Champ) continued his progression in Race 6 (1600M Class 4) following up his late closing win on April 18 with an eight-length romp under CC Wong at generous odds of 2.2. He has now won four races from six starts and the locally bred Jeon Seung-gyu prepared gelding is one to keep watching.
A year ago, Vincero Cavallo became the first horse to sweep all three legs of the Korea Sprint Series. Now, the five-year-old is one race from doing it all again as he enters the favourite for the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL AND BUSAN ON SUNDAYhttps://korearacing.live/2026/05/15/sroa-chairmans-sprint-sunday-seoul-busan-race-by-race-preview-may-17/.
Vincero Cavallo a year ago (Pic: KRA)
Having lost his form in the second half of 2025, VINCERO CAVALLO wasn’t sent off as favourite for either the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) or the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) but after comfortably scoring by two lengths in both races, the Seo In-seok trained five-year-old has reconfirmed his status as the nation’s top sprinter. He will be favourite this time and at his best, is untouchable by this set of rivals.
If Vincero Cavallo isn’t at his best, WINNER CLEAR, who was the market elect in both the first two legs of the Series, may take advantage. Seo Seung-un, who rode him to 5th place in the SBS Sports keeps faith, and so will plenty of backers. WONDERFUL GROOM and HAKSAN SPEED, 2nd and 3rd in the SBS Sports, will also have their supporters.
The wildcard is FINAL K. He won five of his first seven starts between September 2024 and June 2025 with his only defeats coming at Listed level as a juvenile and then in the G3 Owners’ Cup at Busan. He had several injury setbacks after that and didn’t race again until April 18th when he made a winning return at class 1 level over 1200M, beating I’m Jjang.
Final K can have derived plenty of benefit from that run and as the one who doesn’t have form to overturn on Vincero Cavallo, the Cairo Prince four-year-old could have as much chance as any of pulling off a surprise.
The SROA Chairman’s Sprint is race 8 on a ten-race card at Seoul that also features the Listed Sports Chosun over 2000M.
1. SILVER RAIN – Three-time winner over this distance and hinted at a return to form with 4th place over 1400M on April 19th. He is a solid class 2 horse but looks overmatched in this company.
2. BEOLGYOUI KKUM – 4th at big odds in the SBS Sports when on pace throughout. Draws very nicely to be on the pace again and another money finish can’t be ruled out. Four-time winner at this distance.
IT WAS DERBY DAY AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY AND WHILST THE PRINCIPAL CLASSIC TOOK THE LIMELIGHT THE OPENING RACE WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANT WITH MOON SE-YOUNG WINNING ON THE SECOND LAST RIDE OF HIS STORIED CAREER ABOARD PARKA SHINEIN THE CLASS 6 1300M OPENER (writes Luke Humphreys).
Seoul Racecourse on Derby Day (Pic: KRA)
Ten-time Champion jockey Moon Se-young hadn’t ridden since a bad fall last December and recently announced his retirement ahead of taking up training duties this coming summer. However, wanting to go out on his own terms, Moon made a comeback for Derby weekend only and was able to get Parka Shine (Old Fashioned) up in the final 50-metres as the 2.2 favourite running down second favourite Hot Fever who led until the closing stages.
The closing Class 2 over 1200M was the main race bar the Derby and KING HONOR (To Honor And Serve) worked home strongly to deny the 1.5 favourite We Go High a front-running victory by one-and-a-three-quarter lengths. King Honor, the oldest horse in the field at the age of seven, had been in the minor placings at each of his two previous starts in similar races and Harry Kasim got him home to land the prize. Lala K, the viral 2023 Rookie Stakes winner, returned to form with a late closing 3rd beaten two-and-a-half lengths.
In Race 9 (1700M Class 5) WILD MAGIC (Triple Nine) was sent straight to the lead by Kim Hyo-jung and the three-year-old filly did not stop as she went on to record a comfortable six-length win in a decent time completing a double for Luigi Riccardi. It was her first win in seven attempts, and it will be interesting to see if she can be as impressive as what she was in her opening victory going forward.
The other victory for Riccardi was MASTER KWAIGON (Dynamic Dash) who was going up in trip by one-furlong and in class by one grade but that did not stop him from winning Race 5 (1400M Class 4) by two-and-a-half lengths under Jeong Jeong-hee. He continues to progress and has now won three races from eight starts.
Fantastic Value returned to the scene of where she fell agonizingly short of completing a clean sweep in last year’s Triple Tiara and this time held firm to deny the filly who came part her that day, and win the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Fantasic Value holds off Boryeonglightqueen and Raon Forest (Pic: KRA)
A five-length winner of both the Luna Stakes and the Korean Oaks a year ago, Fantastic Value was sent off a 1.3 favourite to claim the final jewel, but she ultimately ran 2nd as Boryeonglightqueen swept past at the end of the 2000M Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup.
Fantastic Value hadn’t won a race since and having run down the field in the Donga Ilbo over 1800M, the first leg of this series last month, she was accordingly sent off as a 72.2 outsider in the Ttukseom. But if her heart had been broken in the Seoul sand last June, it was fixed on Sunday.
Oneuldo Smile, runner-up to Fantastic Value in last year’s Oaks, set the pace along with Crown Hamseong, but it turned out to be a hot one and ultimately unsustainable. As expected Boryeonglightqueen and Dong Ilbo winner Raon Forest launched their runs from the back but it would be Fantastic Value, starting her challenge from a little further forward in midfield, who would beat them all. The ever-dependable Gladius was 4th.
“I’ve actually never won a race in Seoul before” winning jockey Song Kyeong-yun told KRBC. “So, it is very meaningful to do it in such an important race.”
“I felt more confident going into the Donga Ilbo, but that race didn’t plan out as I had hoped, today I didn’t force it too hard, we found a good position and she finished off well. I actually think the 1600M will be better for her” he said referencing the KNN Cup, the final leg of the series next month over the Busan mile.
Trainer Lim Keum-man was naturally pleased with how his charge rebounded. “It’s a 1400M sprint so I thought first of all, the start was important. There were several horses who could go ahead, (Fantastic Value) wasn’t one of them so I was just hoping she could be tacked on somewhere, and the jockey did a great job” he said to KRBC.
“She had a bit of trouble with her hooves last year, and I think that held her back a lot, but the hoof disease is now completely gone. In the previous race at 1800M (Donga Ilbo) we were disappointed, but she had shown a very good performance in the regular race before at 1400M before that, so I thought the Ttukseom would be a bit different, and she lived up to our hopes.”
The beaten riders didn’t offer many excuses. “The pace of the race was a bit faster than I expected” Jung Do-yun, jockey of runner-up Boryeonglightqueen explained to KRBC.
“But Boryeonglightqueen is a horse with a fast finish and one who needs the fast pace to then collapse. I felt had we been a bit smoother around the bend and just a little closer then we might have got there.”
Jo Jae-ro, partner of Raon Forest said similar: “They went fast and catching up was a little harder than I expected. But I wasn’t worried because I knew they would come back and we were able to find a good position on the inside but maybe we were just a bit too far back. (Raon Forest) hasn’t achieved great results at 1400M, so I am still really proud of her for making it up into 3rd.”
The final leg of the Queens’ Tour, the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) is at Busan on Sunday May 31st. Next week it’s the big one, the Korean Derby (1800M KOR-G1) at Seoul.
THE GIRLS TOOK CENTRE STAGE AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY WITH THE COUNTRY’S PREMIER RACE FOR OLDER FILLIES AND MARES BUT IN OTHER RACES THE MAIN RACE WAS THE VERY LAST AND THE CONSISTENT J S ROAD, after chasing home Geudaemaniddamyeon and Eclipse Berry at his previous two starts, recorded his first win since December 2024 getting the better of Wonpyeong Sket and More Than Joke in a close finish between the three popular picks.
J S Road (Twirling Candy, under a perfectly timed ride from gun apprentice Woo In-cheol grabbed the long-time leader and talented but stamina-challenged three-year-old filly Wonpyeong Sket in the dying strides to win by an extending half-length with More Than Joke a neck away in 3rd.
The victory of J S Road completed a training double on the day for Song Moon-gil, who also prepared the progressive URUS SABBIA (Overanalyze) to make it two wins from two in Race 3 (1400M Class 5). The victory was by five-lengths, but it could have been even further had he not been so green in the home straight the same as on his debut. He needs to improve his manners, but the ability is there.
Kim Yong-geun rode a race-to-race double on the card and that began when BREEDO CALEY (Revolutionary) led throughout to win Race 4 (1800M Class 5) by four-lengths after two 2nd places at his prior two starts. That race saw the 2.5 favourite Fighter finish a well beaten 8th after effectively being beaten from the halfway stage. Fifty minutes later Kim rode SLING STAR (To Honor And Serve) to land Race 5 (1700M Class 4) by one-length as the 1.9 favourite. Sling Star completed a hat-trick of victories and continues to progress.
Race 8 (1600M Class 3) saw the impressive MAEUM HANA (Gaon Champ) somehow start the 5.2 third elect but despite being written off by punters he made it four consecutive wins going up in grade by one level on each occasion. With Geudaemaniddamyeon, the country’s highest rated three-year-old at present, out for the remainder of the season and his future career in doubt, Maeum Hana may just be one to keep things ticking over in the classic ages ranks for the combination of CC Wong, Choi Yong-geon and Woo Tae-yul. The race saw Free The One and Best Pitch, 3rd and 4th in the Sports Seoul Trophy respectively, start the 2.3 and 4.4 popular picks but they were both bitter disappointments with Best Pitch always towards the rear finishing 8th whilst Free The One knocked right up and was last of the 10 runners to complete the course.
Maeum Hana was the second impressive winner of the day for Choi Yong-geon as NAOL AURORA (Musket Man) was a smart winner of Race 2 (1400M Class 6) leading throughout to score by six-lengths.
In Race 9 HANGANG PERFECT (Old Fashioned) landed a competitive 1800M Class 3 as the 6.8 fourth market choice accounting for the incredibly consistent Morning Wonder by a head. The 2.5 favourite Dragon Killer could only manage 7th after being unable to lead and therefore working hard in the run.
MEANWHILE DOWN AT BUSAN ON THE SAME DAY THE CLOSING CLASS 2 LOOKED A VERY COMPETITIVE HANDICAP BUT 1400M SPECIALIST BRUG KINGMAN made the race anything but as he roared away in the closing stages to land the spoils by five-lengths.
Success Baekpa took the YTN Cup by the scruff of the neck and never let go to hold off a late challenge from two-time defending champion Global Hit to win the 2nd leg of the Stayer Series (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Success Baekpa holds off Glocal Hit in the YTN (Pic: KRA)
Under Jin Kyum, Success Baekpa was ridden up from the gate to sit outside pacesetter Vet Captain, taking things up in the home straight and opening up an unassailable advantage. Global Hit loomed up late and got withing a length with Speed Young and pre-race market-elect Gangpungma 3rd and 4th.
“I wanted to avoid kickback, so I was happy to go forward and then just sit outside the leader and then manage the pace” winning jockey Jin Kyum told KRBC. “After consulting with the trainer, we decided to go to the front and while I could see Global Hit coming up into my view, I never thought that we would lose.”
“The horse really showed his best today…I feel that he has grown to the next level now and I really think on this form he can win a President’s Cup.”
Trainer Min Jang-gi was also satisfied that Success Baekpa was back at his best. “As you know, he had a break after the Grand Prix when he didn’t run well – there simply weren’t any suitable races for him. I was happy with his comeback in the Herald Business, and he lifted from that today.”
Min confirmed that he will be targeted solely at the biggest races for the rest of the year. “There is nowhere for him to go in regular (handicap) races because he would have to carry 60kg. So, it will be the Graded races all the way to the Grand Prix.”
Success Baekpa [Purge – Baekpa (by Revere)] is a five-year entire who is out of a Korean oaks winner and who himself won two legs of the Triple Crown in 2024, missing out only in the Derby where he was 3rd. While Sunday’s victory was only his eighth in twenty-two starts but it was his fifth in Group company with those two classics followed up with victory in last year’s Herald Business and KRA Cup Classic.
It has been a long time since Global Hit was sent off as low as fifth in the betting (at least in a Korean race) but while the Global Hit of old would probably have cruised past Success Baekpa, he showed that he is still a top line horse, despite his injury setbacks. Speed Young did what Speed Young does and ran a very solid race for yet another placing.
As for Gangpungma, it may be that it isn’t going to happen for him at Group level He came into the race weighing almost 50kg heavier than any of the others and while he was sent off as favourite, he never looked like winning. Meanwhile Graded level proved too much just yet for Young Skywalker, with the only four-year-old in the race running an anonymous 6th, eight lengths behind the last of the top-five.
The final leg of the Stayer Series is the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M KOR-G2) at Busan on May 24th and it won’t be a straightforward task for Success Baekpa to follow-up as Herald Business winner and the reigning Grand Prix champion Clean One, who was kept out of the YTN Cup for workload management reasons, is expected to return.
Next week, focus turns to the filly and mare division with the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer.
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.”
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.
Horse Racing in Korea 