Vincero Cavallo was denied a second consecutive clean sweep of the Korean Sprint Series and ultimately had to settle for 3rd as Born Dia led all the way to win the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Born DIa holds off Winner Clear (Pic: KRA)
After sending him off as the second favourite in both the first two legs of the series, punters this time finally had full faith in Vincero Cavallo, making him the 1.4 marker elect. Born Dia meanwhile was the joint second-longest shot on the board at 82.7.
From gate ten, Seo Gang-ju had a surprisingly easy time taking Born Dia across to the lead where they settled and made steady progress. Vincero Cavallo meanwhile settled midfield among a crowd of jostling horses and was quickly hemmed in on the fence.
With plenty of energy left in the home straight, Born Dia was able to keep lifting and held off the fast finishing Winner Clear by half a length, with Vincero Cavallo, who at no point in the race looked a winning chance, two lengths back in 3rd.
“I’ve worked hard since debuting, and it is nice to get the chance in a major race and to win” jockey Seo Gang-ju told KRBC after claiming his first Graded winner.
“I couldn’t be sure of the win until the very end, I knew that Vincero Cavallo and Winner Clear would be coming and that we had to stand our ground. Born Dia did that very well.”
(Pic: KRA)
Winning trainer Kwon Sung-ju told KRBC that the win made amends for a disappointing showing in the SBS Sports. “There is probably no faster starter (than Born Dia) at Seoul or Busan, but when she’s challenged, she has problems as happened in the previous race….Seo Gang-ju had his instructions and he carried them out perfectly and I’m really grateful to him.”
Winner Clear couldn’t quite get there although trainer Baik Kwang-yeol thought for a moment that he might. “I thought we’d won” he conceded to KRBC. “We finished strongly but the finish line came just too early. No regrets, we did our best”
As for Jo Jae-ro, beaten on Vincero Cavallo, he said his opposition’s game plan worked very well: “They broke away well, secured the lead as planned and then they managed their energy very effectively. There were a few collisions in there, a lot of bumping and I think ultimately (Vincero Cavallo) didn’t have enough left after that to show his usual sprinting performance. There were no other problems but sometimes the race doesn’t go as planned.”
Born Dia is a five-year-old mare by With Distinction and out of T P Mc G (by Flatter). T P Mc G was unraced but has also foaled multiple Korean winners such as Seungbusa and Black Mamba. The five-year-old is owned by Son Byeong-hyeon and moves on to seven wins from twenty-four starts.
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.
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.”
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.
VINCERO CAVALLO pulled off a successful and emotional defense of the first leg of the 2026 Sprint Series, winning the Busan Ilbo (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. The five-year-old was racing for the first time in the colours of Kim Hyun-kang, son of late owner Kim In-gyu, who passed away last month.
Two in a row for Vincero Cavallo (Pic: KRA)
Despite sweeping all three legs of the series a year ago, Vincero Cavallo didn’t get a huge amount of support form the assorted racing media prior to the race. After missing a summer prep race, he ran 6th in September’s Korea Sprint and was down the field in his only subsequent start of 2025. Punters kept faith though, sending off the defending champion a 4.8 second favourite to return to form
Return to form he did and in some style. Settling just behind the early speed, which was set by the fancied trio of Born Dia, Fantastic Kingdom and Yeonggwangui World, Vincero Cavallo was never too far away. In the straight, under Jo Jae-ro, he produced that familiar burst of speed that had been missing in the latter half of last year, to burst through the middle and go on to score by two-lengths.
Pre-race favourite Winner Clear was 2nd with Fantastic Kingdom in 3rd.
“When he won the Sprint Series last year, (Vincero Cavallo) was running once a month, and it was difficult to maintain that. I had really been looking forward to the Korea Sprint, but he wasn’t able to show his ability – he was basically telling us he needed a holiday” winning trainer Seo In-seok told KRBC.
“Today he was back to himself, and I think he has a good chance of matching his achievement (of sweeping the Sprint Series) from last year.”
“Born Dia bolted from the gate. If the race had been at Seoul, I might have hurried up to go with her but the Busan track is a little different and I knew I could be patient and just trust Vincero Cavallo” jockey Jo Jae-ro explained.
“I’ve been a jockey for about ten years now and I always dreamed of riding a horse like Vincero Cavallo. I think I need to work to improve my own ability to be worthy of riding horses like him.”
“Last year I came onto that podium for the first time and (owner) Kim In-gyu was there. This time when I went up there, I felt sad. I am sure that somehow he knows that we won again.”
Vincero Cavallo [Cowboy Cal – City Lass (by City Zip)] was purchased by Kim In-gyu for 30 Million Won at the December Yearling Sale on Jeju in 2022. With his latest victory, he moves on to eleven wins from twenty-four starts and prize money in excess of 1.7 Billion Won.
The Sprint Series moves on to Seoul on Sunday April 12th with the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). Next weekend, attention shifts to the first leg of the Stayer Series and the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul. Emphatic Grand Prix winner Clean One makes his first appearance as a four-year-old and is set to face off with Horse of the Year Speed Young.
Not since Success Story in 2017 has a Busan-trained horse provided a home winner for its leg of the Sprint Series as Seoul has dominated the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3). In that time visitors such as Silver Wolf, Eoma Eoma, Raon The Fighter and most recently Vincero Cavallo have been the most notable winners. This year may be different though as the home track provides most of the probable favourites among the twelve-strong field.
Vincero Cavallo swept all three legs of last year’s Sprint Series (Pic: KRA)
The defending champion is back though. VINCERO CAVALLO swept all three legs of the Sprint Series last year, but he didn’t hold his form for the rest of the year, missing a summer prep before running 6th in the Korea Sprint (1200M IG3) but was well back in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy (1400M KOR-G3) in October, and hasn’t raced since. He did though win a February trial.
Busan is dangerous this year. WINNER CLEAR and YEONGGWANGUI WORLD enter as the in-form horses. The former won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam in November and edged out BORN DIA at class 1 level in January. Yeonggwangui World meanwhile looked set to won the Segye Ilbo Trophy (1200M KOR-Listed) at Seoul three weeks ago before Speed Young, who skips this race in order to go to the opening leg of the Stayer Series next week, ran him down late on.
GANGSEO GIANT is another Busan trained horse who will be firmly in the market while FANTASTIC KINGDOM and veteran BLACK MUSK are others who may play a role in the finish. The Busan Ilbo Sprint, kicking off the Sprint Series, gets underway at 16:05 local time on Sunday:
1. BORN DIA – Class 2 winner at this distance in October and then led on January 11th only to be denied by Winner Clear in the final strides by a neck. Good draw and a 2kg mare allowance which brings her right in contention. Chance.
2. GANGSEO GIANT – Won the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M in 2024 and was 3rd in the same race in 2025. Won at class 1 over 1200M in November and hasn’t raced since but looked well in a February trial. Likes to come from off the pace, Seo Seung-un is on, and she will be among the favourites.
3. WINNER CLEAR – Dueled with Clean One as a juvenile but has found his niche at 1200M where all seven of his wins have come. He won the KRA Sprint Yeongnam on Grand Prix weekend in emphatic fashion before just getting up to beat Born Dia on January. Comes from off the pace and has a fiendish turn of foot. He will be favourite.
The Sprint Series gets underway on Sunday with the Busan Ilbo (1200M KOR-G3) on the south coast. There are 7 races at Busan from 11:25 to 16:55 and 10 at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Former Busan Ilbo winner Eoma Eoma was recently retired (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) YEONGWONHAN SOLEO ran 2nd on debut before following up with 4th at start number two on January 24th both times racing handy. Third-up she should be nice and fit and with Maia climbing on for the first time, he can win. (8) BINNALEEDS improved to 4th on her second appearance, which came at this distance on January 4th when away among the trailers but running on well. She comes in fresh after nine weeks out and should be danger. (11) FLASH JUDE similarly improved at her second start and can challenge late here. (3) STUNNING BOLT and (9) MISS CHRISTIE are others who have hinted at ability and can be in at least the placing frame in a competitive opener.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) ONEMO TIME ran 2nd to Reverence at this distance two starts back before finishing 4th over 1400M on her latest effort at the end of December. She hasn’t raced since then so she comes in fresh, CC gets on, and she can win. (6) BEAT FRESH shapes as the main threat. She has a 3rd and a 4th from her latest two, most recently at this distance on January 24th when on pace. Her times haven’t been quick but that’s been more to do with recent track conditions, and she can be expected to be on pace again and in this a long way. (3) STUNNING POINT has a pair of 5th places from her latest two. She has finished off her races well so may appreciate the step up in trip and she can challenge. (8) BANK LINE and (5) NAEGEROWAJWO others in the hunt.
Selections
(7) Onemo Time (6) Beat Fresh (3) Stunning Point (8) Bank Line
Next Best
5, 11
Fast Start
2, 5, 6, 8
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll go with a first timer and (4) SKYNEX. A half-brother to last year’s KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby winner Oasis Blue, he was an on-pace winner of a trial on February 5th and if he brings that form to the races, he has every chance first-up. (6) SUCCESS PYEONGHWA debuted all the way back last July and ran well for 2nd but later developed a chip fracture. He looked very well when leading all the way in a February trial and he can pick up from where he left off. (12) ARE YOU READY has a 3rd and a 2nd from three starts, sandwiching a lesser effort, and can be in this. Newcomer (8) BABEL FOLGORE, along with (10) WOLF STEP, who needs his latest overlooked, are others to consider on a place line.
Selections
(4) Skynex (6) Success Pyeonghwa (12) Are You Ready (8) Babel Folgore
Next Best
10, 5
Fast Start
4, 6, 10, 11
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. We’ll go with that mare, (2) RAON PARANOMA but we will need to forgive her latest at the end of December where aside from a very small bump at the start and then racing ungenerously late, she didn’t have many excuses for a poor effort when well backed. Prior to that she was going well and after ten weeks off and in this company, she is worth another chance. (5) BLACK SUN has a 3rd place on her record and enters off back-to-back 5th place finishes over 1400M and 1700M. She tends to leave herself too much to do but should be running on late. (1) GRAY PHANTOM comes back in trip to a distance at which she has recorded the fastest time of any of these and with a 4kg claim can be in this. (8) NUNKKOT and (11) SAENAE RANIA others to consider.
Selections
(2) Raon Paranoma (5) Black Sun (1) Gray Phantom (8) Nunkkot
Next Best
11, 9
Fast Start
2, 7, 9, 11
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) KING BLACK was ordinary on debut but has since run 4th on three consecutive occasions most recently racing handy over 1300M. He steps up to a mile for the first time and has as good a chance as any of coming out on top here. He may have more improvement in him than (2) DOROTHY QUEEN. She enters off her best finishes to date having been 2nd in both her latest two over this distance when coming from off the pace. She has the fastest time among these for the mile (though that’s not quick) and will be in the finish. (1) MAGIC MIRROR has beaten a few of these across his latest two when 2nd at 1400M and then 4th at this distance on February 15th. He’ll be on the pace and in this a long way. (10) BIROE SERVE and (6) SMART YULIM others who should be competitive.
Selections
(9) King Black (2) Dorothy Queen (1) Magic Mirror (10) Biroe Serve
Next Best
6, 5
Fast Start
1, 6, 9, 12
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
While most talk within Korean racing circles has been about whether Oasis Blue will become the first horse since Power Blade to sweep all three legs of the Triple Crown next month, at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday VINCERO CAVALLO swept to Sprint Series glory with victory in the SROA Chairman’s Trophy (1200M KOR-G2), adding to his earlier wins in Busan Ilbo Sprint and SBS Sports Sprint.He will now target September’s international Korea Sprint.
Three and easy. Vincero Cavallo and Jo Jae-ro win the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (Pic: KRA)
The manner of his victories in the two preceding legs of the Sprint Series meant that Vincero Cavallo was sent off as a 1.5 favourite despite facing thirteen rivals on a fine Sunday Spring afternoon. Coming off the Queens’ Tour following back-to-back runner-up finishes, filly CROWN HAMSEONG was sent off second in the market, with BLACK MAMBA, 3rd in both the Busan Ilbo and in the SBS the next best.
As expected, Crown Hamseong was the quickest out of the gate and set the pace while Vincero Cavallo, not a front-runner by any means, was slightly further back than forecasted, racing in the rear-division as the field exited the back straight.
Having improved to 5th on the turn, jockey Jo Jae-ro brought his mount off the rail and with clear track in front of them, Vincero Cavallo set about reeling his rivals in, passing first Fantastic Kingdom, before accounting for Super Finish and I’m Jjang. Crown Hamseong held firm but Vincero Cavallo was relentless, passing her with just thirty metres to go but opening up a margin of almost a length on the line.
“When he started slowly and went to the back, I was a little concerned” winning trainer Seo In-seok told in house broadcaster KRBC. “But I trusted him and Jo Jae-ro and they did well.”
Vincero Cavallo is a four-year-old colt by Cowboy Cal and out of City Lass (by City Zip). He made a solid start to his career winning four of his first twelve but came to prominence running 6th of fifteen in last September’s International G3 Korea Sprint when still only possessing a class 2 rating. He’s not looked back, winning six of eight subsequent starts.
As for what’s next, trainer Seo was emphatic. “There is one goal – The Korea Sprint.”
The big race against the internationals is at Seoul on Sunday September 7 and Vincero Cavallo is head and shoulders the best local hope. Next week it is the turn of the big local hope for the Korea Cup, Global Hit, to appear. He will make a rare outing at his home track of Busan as the Stayer Series concludes with the Busan Mayor’s Cup (1800M Kor-G2)
The Sprint Series concludes at Seoul on Sunday with the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) when Vincero Cavallo will seek to complete a clean sweep of the series, having already taken out the Busan Ilbo Sprint and the SBS Sports Sprint. The big race is race 8 on an 11-race card at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00, which also includes the Listed Sports Chosun Trophy. There are also 6 races at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:
Vincero Cavallo (KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Small but competitive field in the opener. (7) STUNNING WORLD was a solid 3rd last time out over 1200M on April 6th, racing handy. She also has a 2nd place on her record. She comes up to the 1300M for the first time and she can win. (2) TEUKGEUP PARTY also has a runner-up finish to her name, which she achieved on debut at the end of December. She has since run 5th in back-to-back outings and from a good draw here can lead and be in this a long. (6) HWANGGEUM MASK got his best finish of 3rd at this distance and on his latest couple of outings, both ending in 4th, has to rate as a chance. (5) WILD HAPPY and (4) PROOF others who could have a say in the minors.
Selections
(7) Stunning World (2) Teukgeup Party (6) Hwanggeum Mask (5) Wild Happy
Next Best
4, 8
Fast Start
2, 4, 6, 7
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) WILD WHIZ ran once last summer for 3rd place at 1000M. He hasn’t been seen since, but he trialed well in mid-April under Moon Se-young, coming from off the pace and finishing well. If he brings that form to the races, he has every chance first-up. (4) PINE PINK also ran just the once last year, in her case a 4th place in December. She offered fewer clues in her trial at the start of this month but from a good draw, if she brings that form she showed before, she can be in this. (7) TIGER K has mixed his form across four starts so far but does have a 2nd place on his record and that’s enough to have him in this. (6) SOMETHING DARK and (3) AMENO are others to consider.
Selections
(9) Wild Whiz (4) Pine Pink (7) Tiger K (6) Something Dark
Next Best
3, 2
Fast Start
2, 3, 7, 8
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(11) GHOST CHRYSOL was an improved 2nd over this distance on March 30th when racing handy throughout. He carries a similar weight, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and a similar effort should be sufficient to win this. (3) TTOSUNI SEOUL stepped up to 1700M last time out and came from off the pace to run a decent 3rd. She should have benefitted from that experience and can be a danger here. (10) CHAMPIONS FIELD enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes over this distance and should be there or thereabouts again. Plenty of others have hinted at ability too with (8) EUNPA SWEET and (7) TEN KOREA perhaps the most likely to challenge for the places.
Selections
(11) Ghost Chrysol (3) Ttosuni Seoul (10) Champions Field (8) Eunpa Sweet
Next Best
7, 2
Fast Start
7, 8, 9, 11
Busan Race 1: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) ONEULISUNGAN was a winner at this class and distance two starts back before running 4th in a competitive Trophy race over a mile on April 13th. He carries 3kg more than his winning mark but is one for one at the trip and five from ten in total and he can win again here. Both of (8) SOLEDAD’s wins came at this trip and she enters in consistent form, most recently beating a couple of today’s rivals on her way to 4th place in another April 13th Trophy race, in her case over 1800M. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and is a danger. (2) SPECIAL WIND won over this trip at class 4 level in February and hinted at getting to grips with this class when 5th on April 4th. He draws nicely and under a light weight can be backed on a place line (4) DANGDAE STAR and (6) MORPHEUS others who can compete for the minors.
Selections
(9) Oneulisungan (8) Soledad (2) Special Wind (4) Dangdae Star
Next Best
6, 5
Fast Start
4, 5, 6, 9
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only. (8) DONKEY PLAY was a winner at this class and distance in a similar all-filly affair on April 19th when settling midfield and running on. That was her maiden win, but the manner of it was strong and while she carries an additional 3kg, there is little to fear here. (10) LALA GIRL remains a maiden but comes up in class following back-to-back runner-up finishes over 1200M and this distance. In doing so, she posted a quicker time than any of these for the 1300M (albeit on a wet track) and she can measure up. Seo Seung-un is in town to ride Black Mamba in the big race later and he picks up the ride on (6) WONDERFUL PASS. Another non-winner, she comes in off a smart 4th at this class over 1200M and can go close. (11) LUCKY DAY and (9) KOTAP others to consider.
Selections
(8) Donkey Play (10) Lala Girl (6) Wonderful Pass (11) Lucky Day
Next Best
9, 1
Fast Start
3, 4, 9, 10
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden and it’s not a strong field so we’ll take a chance on the solitary debut maker. That’s (6) MAGIC SHOW, a Federalist filly who looked good in her trial, showing handy and finishing in 3rd place in a fair time. If she can have some natural improvement from that then she has as good a chance as any. (7) GOLDEN CARD enters off an improved 3rd place over 1400M on April 18th when beating a couple of today’s rivals. In the absence of much early speed, she may well be the early leader and can be in this a long way. (2) SEONGSIL WORLD came from well back to run 4th at start number two on April 4th. Third-up she should still have scope for improvement. (8) WINNERS ROOKIE and (1) HIT WINNER others to consider for the minors.
Selections
(6) Magic Show (7) Golden Card (2) Seongsil World (8) Winners Rookie
Next Best
1, 4
Fast Start
4, 5, 7, 8
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
The road to September’s Korea Sprint hots up on Sunday as the domestic Sprint Series reaches its conclusion with the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2), a race that is being run for the first time with international Listed status, at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 17 RACES ACROSS SEOUL & BUSAN ON SUNDAY.
Beolmaui Star and Seo Seung-un (Pic: KRA)
Following his gate to wire win in the SBS Sports Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on April 14th, BEOLMAUI STAR is the favourite to back up. He ran a huge 2nd to Japanese star Remake in last year’s International Korea Sprint but struggled with his start in the Kookje Shinmun Trophy at Busan last November and then in two forgettable efforts in Dubai to begin the year.
Seoul seems to suit Beolmaui Star though and under Seo Seung-un, he was the fastest away in the SBS Sports Sprint and was never headed, scoring by three-quarters of a length. He comes into a much better gate this time around and so long as he gets the start right, he will prove hard to beat again.
EOMA EOMA was the horse who got closest to Beolmaui Star in the SBS. It was a return to form for the 2022 Korea Sprint winner who had been an underwhelming 5th in the first leg of this year’s series, the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) in March 10th. To add to the intrigue, CC Wong gets legged up for his first real live chance in a Korean Group race.
The result of the Busan Ilbo had hinted at a generational shift as the four-year-old pair of RAON THE POINT and SOMETHING LOST swept home late to finish 1st and 2nd respectively. The older sprinters struck back in Seoul last month but Something Lost finished a close 3rd and Raon The Point is worth another chance from a better draw.
A newcomer on the Sprint Series trail is VICS GO. In the absence of the top line of sprinters he won the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over 1200M in February but instead of persisting into the Busan Ilbo, he was sent back up to two turns and the Stayer Series instead. That didn’t go well so he comes back down in trip again and from a good gate, can be in the mix.
Several old-favourites among the sprinting ranks return including last year’s winner SSONSAL as well as the venerable MORFHIS, now nine-years-old but a creditable 6th placegetter in the SBS Sports. Among the lesser-known ones, FANTASTIC KINGDOM is a winner of six of nine starts up to class 2 level and while facing the elite at level weights will be a new experience for him, he may just measure up.
The SROA (Seoul Racehorse Owners’ Association) Chairman’s Sprint is race 8 on the 10-race Sunday card at Seoul with a local post time of 16:30.
Horse Racing in Korea 