Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Trophy

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.

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (December 3)

Juvenile fillies have their big day at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday. At Seoul, the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy headlines the 11 race card, which runs from 10:35 to 18:00, while at Busan, the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Trophy is the highlight on the 6-race program from 11:50 to 16:35. Here are the previews:

Baekduui Kkum will be favourite to win the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Trophy (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with half the field racing for the first time. (7) GEUMAK JINJU began her career with a 3rd and a 2nd over 1000M but could only manage a lower midfield finish when tried at this distance for start number three. She is the most experienced of these, she can be on pace here and this time she can stay on. The main danger is set to be a debut-maker. (8) BUGANGJILJU was a close 2nd in his heat stopping the clock in a fair time having led for most of the way. If he brings that form to the races, he will go close and Moon Se-young’s presence aboard may mean he starts as the favourite. (2) SEOBU TEUKSONG and (6) SAENAE PARK both trialled up fairly, positing promising times and can make an impression first up. Returning to experience, (4) THUNDER SPEED didn’t exactly show a lot of speed on debut on November 4th, but he did finish 4th of ten and that entitles him to a chance here.

Selections(7) Geumak Jinju (8) Bugangjilju (2) Seobu Teuksong (6) Saenae Park
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start7, 8, 9, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Maiden fillies and (2) CHAMJOEUN JILJU will be the hot favourite. She didn’t do an awful lot in her first two outings but was significantly improved at start number three over this distance on November 5th when she sat handy before running on for 2nd in a quick time. From a great draw, expect to see her on pace from the start and she won’t need to improve much to win. (4) SEONGSIL DAERO will be the second-favourite. She improved at start number two on November 11th when a close 2nd at this distance having shown on the speed and she will be battling it out with Chamjoeun Jilju from the start. (6) MYUNGJINBULLPAI has hinted at ability across two starts so far, coming from well off the pace both times. She can be a danger late on here. (7) MENI SHARK and (10) YEJIMONG others in the placing frame.

Selections(2) Chamjoeun Jilju (4) Seongsil Daero (6) Myungjinbullpai (7) Meni Shark
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Two standouts here. (6) HAKSAN MACHO has shown steady improvement across four starts so far culminating in a runner-up finish over 1200M on November 5th when he overcame a middling star from the widest gate to sit handy. He can settle behind the early speed again and can go one better. (1) GIPPEUM HAMSEONG is the danger. He has a 5th and a 3rd from two starts so far, the latter coming over 1200M on November 4th when settling back and running on. Exepect similar today with every chance of improvement third-up. (4) BEST WHIZ ran out of steam having led on debut two weeks ago. He still managed to finish 5th of eleven and should have come on for the run so can be given another chance here. (9) GREAT STORM and (5) TOJONG GLORY among others in the minor money frame.

Selections(6) Haksan Macho (1) Gippeum Hamseong (4) Best Whiz (9) Great Storm
Next Best5, 8
Fast Start2, 4, 9, 11

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

The opener at Busan looks like a battle of the two widest drawn. (10) KING FIGHTER is the pick with a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, most recently over 1200M on November 5th when settling midfield and then running on. He had raced on pace in outings prior to that and while he may need a little luck to find a forward position here, if he can get to one, he can win. (11) SINCHEON FIRST will probably also try to get across. He has a 4th and a 3rd from his own latest two appearances, racing on the speed to beat a couple of today’s rivals in a quick time on October 27th. He too may need some early luck but has every chance. The form of the rest is a bit patchy. (7) NONSTOP DUTY comes in off a plain effort third time out behind Sincheon First but if we go on his two previous 4th places in August and September, he has a chance. With the rest of the early speed on his outside, he is in pole position to lead. (5) FLYING DIA and (4) WONDERFUL ONE will also need their respective latest outings forgiven but have shown ability previously.

Selections(10) King Fighter (11) Sincheon First (7) Nonstop Duty (5) Flying Di  a
Next Best4, 2
Fast Start4, 7, 10, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) VINCERO CAVALLO ran a smart 4th in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, the first leg of the Juvenile Series, before weakening late in the second led, the Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy, last month. He skips a trip to Busan for next week’s series finale and instead returns to much more amenable waters here and should lead all the way. (6) ORAEDAHAMKKE came from off the pace to run a solid 3rd at this distance and distance on November 4th. Moon Se-young climbs on here and he can be in the finish again. (1) STAR RUSH has two 3rd places from his latest three, most recently on October 22nd when coming from well back at this distance. He has posted quick times for the distance and only Oraedahamkke has a fast final furlong average time. (3) SILVER PURGE and (8) SONGAM ARCHGIRL are the other place chances.

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