Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 3 August

Sunday August 3, 2025

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (2) DAEHAN POWER beat a couple of these rivals on debut over 1000M on June 21^st, settling just behind the speed and running on for 3^rd. That day’s second place getter has gone on to win and from a good draw, Daehan Powers can do the same. (4) REVERENCE also ran 3^rd on debut, in his case on July 5^th, also beating a pair of today’s rivals. Moon Se-young stays on and that’s enough to mean he will probably begin as favourite. Among the newcomers, (3) BLACK PEPE was a trial winner in a good time and if he brings that form to the races, he will be close (10) STORM TROOPER and (11) MASTER PLAN can improve from their respective debuts.

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (4) APATEU ran a solid 3^rd on debut over 1000M on July 12^th, running through the line well. She should have come on for that run, the step up in trip can suit, and she should have too much for this set of opponents. (2) GHOST GALE led for much of the way around 1300M on July 19^th, ultimately registering a best to date of 4^th. That was her first start since last November and she can strip fitter here and be on pace again. (1) TRIPLE JENNY has made progress across her three starts so far, culminating in 2^nd place in a similar race to this over 1400M on June 29^th. She can sit behind the speed and run into some money here. (6) GIDAEHARA and (5) HYEWONYONGMA are others to consider on a place line.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) HERO CHICE is yet to finish in the top two but has five top five finishes from eight starts, including his latest on July 13^th when he overcame gate eleven to race handy and beat three of today’s rivals on his way to 3^rd place at this distance. He draws much better for an easier run to the lead and he is the one to beat. (8) GLOBAL GISANG was a solid 3^rd on debut over 1200M at the end of May, starting slowly and running on. She should have come on for that run, CC climbs on, and she can be a danger. (1) GRAND PARK enters off an improved 2^nd at this distance on June 28^th and from the inside gate can be in the mix again. (11) CHEONGHAE STAR and (3) RAON THE BELMONT others who have shown ability and can compete.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) QUANTUM K has a win and two 2^nd places across his five starts so far, most recently when runner-up over 1400M at this class on June 28^th. He got shuffled back a bit further than usual that day before running on but in this company should get a straightforward run to the front and can win. (1) CHOEGANG SPEED is the danger. He can get a bit far back in his races but has a nice turn of foot and has run 2^nd and 4^th in his two starts at this level since his maiden win, most recently on July 5^th when he led in the closing stages over 1400M. Moon Se-young is on for the first time. He will need to overturn the form on (8) MINT PLAY, who beat him when 3^rd in that July 5^th race. The veteran enters in consistent form and should be there or thereabouts again. (10) GLOBAL HAMSEONG and (4) SEOBU SKY others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Small but competitive field. (7) MENI WIN enters off a 2^nd and a 3^rd from his latest two, both at this distance and both times racing on pace. He can lead here, and he can win. (6) DAEWONYONGMA remains a maiden after sixteen attempts, but he has gone close plenty of times with seven top five finishes. He comes in following a 4^th and a 3^rd from his first two tries at this class and continuing under a light weight, today could be his day. (4) SAENAE CLASSIC got a win and a 3^rd in three starts last year. He returns from almost eight months off here and having looked well in a July trial, he can be competitive first up. (5) MENI SHARK and (8) CANVASEN GO the other main chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) SEUNGNI BAROWS stepped up to this distance for the first time on June 28^th and got his maiden win, stalking the leader before taking things up in the closing stages. He comes up in class, but is down 3kg in weight, and he can win again. The danger is on his inside. (1) WONDERFUL TECHNO has a 2^nd and a 5^th in two starts back since returning from a lengthy layoff. Both at 1400M. He too is one for one over 1700M and third-up, he can be peaking fitness wise. (3) GWANAKSAN GLOBAL will round out most trio tickets. He weakened late on having led over 1800M on June 29^th but was an all the way winner at this distance in a maiden at his prior start. An apprentice takes 2kg off his back and he can be in this. (4) RAON THE CAVIAR and (8) BEOLGYOWISU are the longer place chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Another tricky one but (8) GOLDEN BALL is probably the one to beat. He scored at this class and distance on July 6^th, racing handy and running on. He comes in under the same weight and can win again. There is the caveat though that Golden Ball was winning for the first time in eighteen starts and he was at big odds so if you don’t fancy lightning to strike twice, then (6) HEEMANGBAND may be the one. Lightning hasn’t struck at all for him as he is winless in eleven, but he has had plenty of near-misses and has placed in all his three attempts at this distance. Moon Se-young stays on (1) WITH DIS KURO had a poor day at the office last time out but has won at this distance and is worth another chance in this company. (2) GLORY QUEEN and (4) ARCH RUNNER others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) BLACK SATANG has a 3^rd, a 2^nd and two wins from her four starts so far, with those wins at 1700M and 1800M bringing her rapidly up in class. She carries a very light weight, she draws very nicely, and she is strongly favoured to complete her hat trick here. (5) VICTORY QIEEN is also up in class, in her case having scored over 1800M on June 29^th when settling midfield and running on. She also comes down in weight and can measure up. (4) KHAN MAX was 6^th in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, before beating just one home in the Korean Derby. His reward for that was to be gelded and he makes his first start back since then with every chance of returning to form. (8) NAOL DAEWANG and (2) CARA WINNER other place chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) HANSEN STAR showed good promise across three starts as a two-year-old last year with a win on debut followed by 2^nd in the Rookie Stakes and then a 4^th at this class. He hasn’t raced since last September but looked very well when 2^nd in a quick trial two weeks ago and from a great draw, has every chance first up. (7) WE GO HIGH won his first two in fine fashion at this distance before coming unstuck on his first try at this class on June 14^th when showing on pace early but racing waywardly and ultimately finishing well back. Moon Se-young gives him another chance and so shall we. (4) BREEDO SIRIS was a class and distance winner on June 22^nd and while up 3kg in weight, can be respected here. (6) COMPLETE PARTY and (2) STUNNING QUEEN other chances.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW75 Million

(7) LUCKY FRANK was a winner over this distance in April and has since run 3^rd in both tries at this class at 1200M and most recently 1400M on July 6^th when handy to the speed throughout. Kozzi, who has won on him, stays on, he can be on pace again, and he can win.  He will need to overturn the form on (2) HERO SOCKS, who beat him on his way to 2^nd in that July 6^th race, coming from off the pace. He has won at this distance and under a light weight again, can be in the finish. (9) M G BEST has a 2^nd and a 3^rd from his latest two, both at this class and should be there or thereabouts. (6) BADEN BADEN and (11) ACE K are others in the frame.

Race 11: Class Open (2000M) Weight for Age / KRA Cup Classic (KOR G2) / KRW 500 Million

(11) GLOBAL HIT is the best horse in Korea and has to go on top to successfully defend the race which he also won last year. The wide draw is of no concern and at his best, he wins comfortably. It is of course worth noting that today is not his target, that is next month’s Korea Cup, so will he be at his best? If he isn’t (4) SUCCESS BAEKPA can be the one to take advantage. In Global Hit’s absence, he won the Herald Business in March and while he suffered reverses in three subsequent Group race outings, today he draws much better and can be ready to run a big race. (3) SPEED YOUNG is Global Hit’s stablemate and pushed him all the way in the Busan Mayor’s Cup in May. Back at 2000M favours Global Hit but he shouldn’t be far away. (8) DESPITE WIN and (1) MONEY CROWN can run on and pick plenty off late.

Race 12: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

Competitive. (1) GANGNAMBULCHUNGGAK is a winner of five from eleven and makes his return to action for the first time since March. He has won twice at this distance and looked very well in a very fast trial in early July. He can make a winning return here. (10) KONGNAMUL had a poor day in the office on his first try at this class over 1400M on July 13^th. He comes back in trip today and despite being up in weight, his prior form earns him another chance here. (9) ACHIM DONGJA was a class and distance winner two starts back before beating a couple of these on his way to 3^rd place on June 15^th. He is up significantly in weight but can be in the mix again. (11) BEOLGYO VERITAS and (6) OHRA KHAN others in the placing frame.

Race 13: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) RISING MO comes off the Triple Tiara trail where she was an excellent 2^nd in the Luna Stakes before finding things tougher in the Korean Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. She comes back into shallower waters today, and back to a mile, and she can win. (3) LAFAYETTE enters off back-to-back 3^rd places, both at this class and most recently at this distance on July 5^th. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be a danger here. (9) UPPERHAND mixes his form but carries a light weight and the step up to the mile for the first time can site. He can be on pace here and in this a long way. (5) BEOLGYO GRAMMY and (10) CAMP DAVID others in the placing hunt.

Race 14: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(4) WONPYEONG STORM’s two defeats have come when tried in Group company, most recently running on to finish 6^th of sixteen in the Owners’ Cup at Busan. He is only midway through his three-year-old campaign so he has plenty of time to get to elite level and he can start by returning to winning ways here. He comes up against (9) MIGHTY NEO again. Mighty Neo was 4^th behind Wonpyeong Storm at this class and distance in May before dropping back to 1200M and winning on June 15^th. Another three-year-old who looks elite bound, he can put up a decent challenge. (7) MAUIWAY was 2^nd to Wonpyeong Storm in that May race and can be in the mix again. (8) DAESARI might provide some each-way interest while (1) VICS GO is another placing chance.