Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 23 November

Sunday November 23, 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. We’ll go with a newcomer and (9) LAVITA who was 2^nd in her trial in a fair time, leading most of the way before finishing  well back behind the unbeaten Mujehan Geup (who we should be seeing in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie later today) but nonetheless showing plenty of potential. If she comes on from that, she has every chance. (12) RAPTURE is the only one of the experienced horses to have raced twice. She was a quick 2^nd on debut and while she could only manage a midfield finish on her first try at this distance on November 8^th, she can have a fitness edge on her rivals. (11) SUNGANUI FIGHTER got a bit far back on debut and ran out of track over 1000M. Some natural improvement and a slight step up in trip can help here. (1) SURPRISE and (6) FOREVER GIL are other newcomers who hinted at ability in trials.

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

(1) APATEU has two 3^rd place finishes from three starts, most recently in a filly only maiden over this distance on October 26^th when handy throughout. She draws nicely for Luis to pick his spot and while any top three finish will see her with a rating and up in class next time, she should be bowing out of class 6 with a win. (11) RAON KINGSMAN was a fair 5^th on debut over this distance on October 18^th and should have some improvement in him. (8) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG has made progress across three starts so far, culminating in a close 2^nd place at this distance on October 26^th when close to the pace throughout. He’ll be on pace again and can be in the finish. (6) LOVERMAN and (4) BEOLGYO BONGBONG are potential improvers.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only. It’s been nine starts since (6) SEMYEONG DIA got her maiden win but she comes in looking ready for another. On her latest she ran 3^rd in a similar class and distance filly maiden, with a couple of today’s rivals behind her and with the two who beat her that day looking superior to any she faces here. She can be on pace and go all the way. (4) STEEPLE can have a line drawn through her latest when from a wide draw she never got into the race. In this company and from this gate she can get on the speed and be in this a long way. (8) JUNMA FORCE enters with recent form reading well and while 1400M hasn’t been her best distance, she looks ready for another crack here. (1) DONGJIN THUNDER and (3) YES MADAM other place chances.

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

Small field of juvenile maidens with four of the eight racing for the first time. Favourite will be (7) POWER TREE who, after winning a trial, was a close 2^nd on debut over this distance on November 2^nd, racing on pace and posting a decent time. He won’t need to have come on much from that to win. The best of the debut-makers is (2) SEONGSIL DREAM. He led in his trial on October 25^th ultimately crossing the line a very narrow 2^nd in a good time. Nicely drawn to lead, if he brings that form to the races, he can be a danger. (6) B K. SPIRIT was 6^th on debut and then improved to 4^th at start number two on October 24^th coming from off the pace. She should be nice and fit for this and can continue to get closer. (8) YONGBI SKY trialed well and (5) BULBIT GANGJA can be in the mix too.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) REVERENCE is yet to win but has a 3^rd and a 2^nd on his record and comes in having run a very good 4^th in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy for juveniles over 1200M on October 19^th. He comes back into much shallower waters today and he should make his breakthrough. (3) RAON PARANOMA has a 2^nd and a 4^th from her latest two, both times racing on the pace and from a good gate and with an apprentice claim she can lead again and be in this a long way. (11) THE SUN COMING improved to 4^th at start number two on October 18^th. Third-up she can be better and with a slight increase in trip and with a 4kg claim, she can be in the finish. (1) ONEMO TIME and (4) THUNDER RUN others in the mix.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO was 3^rd on debut over 1200M on October 17^th, running on from midfield. He should have come on for that run, the step up in trip can suit, and he will be a warm favourite to prevail. (2) LIKE DRAGON is the most credible danger. She has finished between 2^nd and 5^th in each of her latest four and from a good gate and with Tanaka staying on, she should be there or thereabouts again. (4) FINAL HIT needs a line drawn through his latest over 1600M but back in trip and in this company, he can be given a place chance. (12) HIGH GOLD BAR and (10) DOCTOR CARRY are others who could compete for the minors among a field where the form falls off quite rapidly.

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

(3) NAMSAN MINYEO has taken very well to two turns, getting her maiden win two starts back over 1700M when making all, before running 3^rd on her first try at this class and distance on October 25^th when handy throughout and beating a couple of today’s rivals. She is lightly weighted, nicely drawn, and can win. (8) HEEMANGBAND is yet to win in fourteen attempts but has placed in each of her last six starts including when 3^rd on her first try at this distance on October 19^th. Moon Se-young stays on and it’s not impossible that today can be her day. (5) CHRYSOL DONGHAE was a winner over 1400 on October 25^th having placed in both his previous races. He is up in class and in trip but can measure up in this company. (2) GRAND PARK and (11) TAENGGEURI are others to consider.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) WIND ROSE enters off a front-running 2^nd place in a filly only race at this class and distance on October 26^th. Her maiden win previously came over this trip and from a great draw she can lead and go all the way. Disputing that lead will be (2) HAEUNDAE POWER. He also comes in after a last start runner-up finish, in his case over 1200M when leading almost the entire way around and only getting taken down in the shadow of the post. He does come up 2kg in weight but is a danger. (9) MUJEOKYI is yet to win in four but is up in class following back-to-back 2^nd places, most recently at this distance on October 26^th when he led for most of the way. He gets a 3.5kg weight drop and he can measure up. Up in class (10) AIR CITY, along with (5) GWANGSOKMA, are the other main chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) STORM TROOPER has finished no worse thn 4^th in five starts so far and got his maiden win in September over 1400M leading all the way. He dropped back to this trip for his first go around 1200M and was on pace again, ultimately finishing 2^nd, beating a couple of today’s rivals. He can lead again and will be a short-price favourite to go one better. (9) GEOSEN DOLGYEOK got his maiden win at the third time of asking over this distance on November 1^st when handy throughout. He is up in class but is down 3kg in weight and can compete. (6) LALA GIRL remains a maiden and can have a line drawn through her latest when a touch slow away in a quick race. She has placed at this class and under a very light weight, should be an each-way chance. (5) RAON SPILETTA and (2) RACE ROSE other place chances.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Fillies (and one mare only) here. (10) WORLD TOP TIER is a winner of three from five so far including last time out in a very similar filly only affair over this class and distance with three of today’s rivals behind her. She comes up a full 5kg this time, but it shouldn’t matter and she can win again. (6) GEUMA PRECEDE beat plenty of these when winning at this class and distance on October 26^th, leading all the way. She too gets a 5kg penalty as a result but will be on pace and can compete for the honours again. (1) TUHON FIGHTER was 3^rd in that October 26^th race, continuing a consistent run of form and she is a place chance again. (5) SANGIM STAR and (9) SEONGSIL SIHWA others to consider on an each-way line.

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

(5) KING OF DRAGON is two starts into a comeback following a lengthy layoff and was an improved 2^nd over this distance on October 19^th having raced handy. He has won at this distance and while he is up in class, he is down 4kg in weight and third-up he can be peaking fitness-wise. (7) CHEONRYONGUI CAL enters having run 2^nd in a fast race at this class and distance on October 19^th when coming from behind the pace. He has seven top four finishes from nine starts and while he is up 3.5kg in weight, he has a big chance here. (6) HANSEN STAR is, like King Of Dragon, third-up after a long layoff. He was an improved 2^nd on his second start back at this class and distance on October 4^th when he led, and he too can be in this a long way. (10) MENI WIN and (4) CHEONHAENGCHAT others in the mix.

Busan Race 5: Class Open (1800M) Special Weight A / Breeders’ Cup Queen (Listed) / KRW 300 Million

The Queens’ Tour Fall & Winter concludes with the usual suspects present including six of the first seven home in the previous leg of the series. (11) BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN was the beaten favourite in that race, the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup ending in 5^th place, but prior to that, she was a very good winner over 1400M at Seoul. Still only three she has the potential to get better and she can win. That will mean overturning the form on (1) FLYING STAR, who won the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, settling midfield before striking the front at the top of the straight and proving too strong. She can mix here form, but she is a two-time winner over this trip and will almost certainly start as the betting favourite. (6) RAON FOREST is consistent and a firm place contender. (4) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG had a hard time with the pace last time out but with her quality, a return to form can’t be ruled out. (10) FANTASTIC VALUE one of plenty of others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) GLORY YEONGGWANG is yet to win in seven attempts but has been coming close finishing between 2^nd and 4^th in each of his four most recent. The 2^nd place was last time out in a very quick race over 1200M, Moon Se-young stays on, and from a good draw, he can win. (7) SONEULNAEMILEO has won two out of her last three. Most recently at this class and distance on October 19^th. She comes up a full 4kg in weight, but she can be competitive again. (5) GIANT BOSS returns to action for the first time since July. He had three wins from six starts before the layoff and showed on pace in a quick trial a month ago. He can be in the frame first up. (10) EAST BEACH and (8) ANYANG GIPPEUM others to consider on a place line.

Busan Race 6: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight A / Breeders’ Cup Rookie (KOR G2) / KRW 700 Million

The race to decide the champion juvenile. (5) MUJEHAN GEUP is two for two having won on debut in June and then the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy at Seoul in September, both times coming from off the pace. He hasn’t raced since, but he did trial in late October and 1400M should suit. (15) CHIEF STAR is three for three with her latest two coming in the Seoul Rookie Stakes and Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy. All her wins have come from on the speed so she has the challenge of a much wider than ideal gate, but she can be equal to it. (10) WILD PARK is a winner of three from five including the Busan Rookie and Listed Gangseo-gu Mayor’s. He was 2^nd when favourite in the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s but will have plenty of backers to put things right here. (4) SUPER AERO won the Gimhae and gets a great draw to be on pace here with every chance of seeing things out. The wildcard is (7) SUPEX WINNER.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(7) CHOEGANG GOLD led from gate to wire to score over this distance on October 18^th, taking his record to four wins from five starts. He comes up in class here but gets a slight weight drop and he can win again. (8) FLYING DAY is the main danger. She has won two of her last three, most recently at this class and distance on October 25^th, when on pace all the way. She is up 3kg in weight but is a solid chance again. (10) JISAN FORCE similarly has won his latest two, both at this distance and most recently at this level. He gets a 4kg penalty for his troubles as well as the widest gate to contend with, but he is not to be dismissed again. (1) KING HONOR and (5) CHEONGSAN JILJU are the other two who will be backed each way.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Not the strongest race for the level so after two 2^nd places and a 3^rd from her latest three, (3) TIARA SUA can finish on top. She has a light weight and from a good draw Kim Yong-geun can pick his spot, probably just behind the speed, and she can return to winning ways. (7) ENDING FIRE has a 3^rd and a 4^th from his latest two, both at this class and distance and coming from off the pace. He’ll be a danger late on here. So too (9) BONGHWA STAY, who has finished off well for two 2^nd places and a 3^rd from his latest three and he should be there or thereabouts again. (5) PANORAMA KING and (2) GIBINJOEUNMAL others who can be considered for the minors.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Very competitive. We’ll take a chance on (2) NUT PLAY, who races in regular handicap company, instead of Graded Stakes company, for the first time since January which, not coincidentally, was the last time he won. He should find today’s tempo a little more suitable and as a two-time winner at a mile, there is no reason why he can’t score here. (5) CROWN HAMSEONG also comes out of Graded company. A winner of eight from sixteen, she could have gone to Busan for the Breeders’ Cup Queen today but comes in here instead and that could be a tip in itself. Expect her to start as the favourite. Moon Se-young stays on Crown Hamseong and gets of the lightly weighted (although Moon can do 52kg) (6) PEPPER X, who he has won on four times, including last time out on October 26^th. He is up in class but can be competitive. (1) HAENGBOKAN SEUNGJA and (10) SPEED ONE others in the frame in a finale worth sticking around for.