Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 31 May

Saturday May 31, 2025

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

The first juvenile race of the season. (5) UNIVERSAL went through two trials registering a 4^th and a 3^rd (the latter one was voluntary so may not appear on all racecards). He’s a half-brother to multiple winners Black Mamba and Seungbusa, both of whom won on debut, and he can put in a bold showing first-up. (6) SILLAUI FIGHTER showed on pace in his trial ultimately finishing in 5^th but not far back and in a fair time in what was a slow month for trials. Moon Se-young is booked and he may start as favourite. (4) GHOST is another who showed at the front in his heat and can be on pace here. (2) YONGBI SHINHWA and (3) THE EXCELLENT are others who hinted at ability.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Ten fillies and one gelding in this maiden in which five race for the first time. (2) MUNHAK FIGHTER ran a solid 2^nd on debut in February which led him to be sent off as favourite on his reappearance in March when he proceeded to blow the start and ultimately finish 5^th. He’s been back to do starting tests since then and with a smoother departure today, can win. Among the debut-makers, (6) RAON FLORENCE looks the best. He trialed a couple of times last year but didn’t make it to the races but looked well when showing on pace and running 3^rd in a heat a month ago. If he brings that form to the races, he can be close. (11) GEOLJAK CHUKJE has mixed her form across four starts so far but does have a 2^nd and a 3^rd which is enough to put her in contention here. (5) DALBIT SONATA has been back to trial since her last start in February and can be better this time around. (1) GLOBAL GISANG ran well enough in her trial.

Seoul Race 3: Class 3 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) BITNARA has made steady progress across three starts so far, culminating in 3^rd place at 1300M on May 4^th when settling behind the speed and running on. Expect similar tactics today, and he can go one better. (7) JOY CHEONHA has made similar progress lately and enters off a 2^nd place at 1300M on April 19^th. He beat a couple of these when 5^th on his sole previous try at 1400M and can beat plenty again. (9) SALVADOR was a strong 2^nd on debut and while he was a well beaten favourite at start two when getting a long way back, the step up in trip can suit here and he can be a danger. (10) BLACK SMILE and (6) GRAY PHANTOM are the other main chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only. (8) SUHYANG MIIN got her maiden win in March over 1300M before running a fair 3^rd on her first try at this class and distance on April 27^th having led for much of the way. In this small field she can navigate her way to the lead again and this time can go all the way. (2) POWER BAND got her maiden win at this distance in April but had a hard time when stepped up to two turns for her first try at this level on May 3^rd. The drop back in trip should help and she can be given another chance. (7) UPPERHAND also gets another chance after an underwhelming first go at this class three weeks ago. She too broke her maiden at today’s trip. Up in class pair of (6) STUNNING STEP and (5) COMMAND BLUE are others to consider.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) CHOEGANG GOLD is two for two having taken his first two races at 1700M and 1800M racing on pace both times. He comes up 3kg in weight today, but he gets another crack at class 5 and the late developer can make it three in a row. (9) ROPPONGI DRAGON broke through last time out on May 3^rd, coming from off the pace to win over 1700M at this class with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He too has an additional 3kg to contend with, but he can be close again. (4) BIG BRIDGE is yet to win in fourteen starts but has no fewer than twelve top five finishes. He ran 2^nd to Roppongi Dragon in that May 3^rd race, and he can be in the mix once more. (2) GRATITUDE and (6) SPEED CARA other place chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) MORE THAN JOKE is a winner of three from eight so far, most recently at this class over 1400M on April 19^th, when coming from well off the pace. He comes up 2,5kg in weight and also up to the mile for the first time, but neither should be an issue, and he can make it three in a row here. (6) FLYING DAY is the danger. The won two of her first three to get a shot at the Luna Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Tiara in Busan in March where she finished midfield. This is a more suitable assignment. (8) DALMAJI enters off a runner-up finish at this class and distance on April 5^th when leading for much of the way around, and he can be in the frame again. (1) MK LEE and (7) DALGEUM others to consider.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Eclectic mix of experienced domestic bred horses and inexperienced imports including three debut makers. (9) FREE THE ONE was a winner on debut at this class and distance on April 19^th when settling back and running on. He comes up 3.5kg in weight but should be better for that run, and he can win again. (10) SONGAM SKY is one of those experienced domestic ones. Entering off two wins from her last three starts, she comes up in class here but is lightly weighted and there isn’t too much to be intimidated by here. Among the debut makers (11) MY EMPIRE looks the best. He has been through three trials, improving in each of them, most recently 3^rd in a fair time coming from off the pace last week (it was a voluntary trial so may not appear in all racecards). So long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can go well first up. (4) CHEONGUCHAT and (7) GEUMAK JINJU others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) SATANG SONYEO was last seen running a strong 4^th in a trophy race at this distance on April 13^th coming, as she tends to do, from off the pace. Prior to that she registered a 2^nd and a 3^rd at this class at 1600M and 1800M and under a light weight, she can come out on top today. (2) SAEPARANG beat a couple of today’s rivals on his way to a class and distance win two starts back on March 9^th and while is 3kg up on that, he carried even more to 3^rd place, again at class and distance, on April 19^th. Nicely drawn, he is a big danger. (9) CHEONJANGSA is up in class having overcome a similarly wide draw to today to win at 1700M on April 27^th. He gets a nice weight break and can measure up. (5) THE SPIKER and (3) WHIZ RUNNER, the latter a winner at this class over a mile last time out, are others to keep safe on a place line.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(11) CAPTAIN P.K. was one of, if not the best, juveniles at Seoul last season. He began this year well with a runner-up finish over 1700M at class 4 level before finishing 4^th in Seoul’s Classic Trial. He was then well back in the first leg of the Triple Crown, but he comes back to Seoul under a light weight and in more amenable company, he can return to winning ways. (4) USEUNG CONCORD was a smart winner at this class over 1400M on May 4^th. He carries his fair share of weight here but is now a two-time winner at the distance and shouldn’t be dismissed. (9) GEOSEN GANGHO has won three of his last four, most recently at this class over 1200M on April 20^th. He too comes up in weight, but he can be on pace and in this a long way. (8) SAHARAMOND and (1) GREAT STORM others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(9) J S ROAD is a winner of five from thirteen most recently three outings back at 1200M. He comes in having run 2^nd on his first try at class 2 over this distance on April 26^th when racing a big further back than usual. With a better start he can be on pace and he can win. He gets a 2kg weight swing on that day’s winner (7) SPALTA, who was a length and a half to the good. That was his second consecutive win and while up in weight, is the main danger again. He does love finishing 2^nd, having done it eight times, but he should be challenging for the lead from the start and be in the finish again. (5) MIGHTY JOY has been ultra-consistent across his first seven outings, never finishing outside of the top four. He is up in class but significantly down in weight, and the Runhappy colt can measure up. (2) HAENGBOKAN SEUNGJA and (10) MAGIC GRACE are other place chances.