Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 3 January

Saturday January 3, 2026

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

Three-year-old maidens with four of the nine racing for the first time. (5) GOLDEN DIVA is the only one in the race who has appeared twice already, following up a 5^th place on debut in November with a 3^rd place at 1300M on December 12^th, that time racing on pace. She should have a fitness edge over these, and she can win. The danger is (6) SURPRISE. He came from midfield to run 2^nd at 1200M on debut on November 23^rd and while it was a slow race, he showed enough to suggest he has some potential. (7) GEUMSEONG QUEEN and (3) SUN RISE KING are debut-makers who hinted at ability in their respective trials. (8) LAVITA has been back to trial after a poor debut and gets another chance.

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

(4) YONGBIGYO is just about the pick here. At start two. She was an on pace 3^rd over 1200M before running a close 4^th at the same distance on November 29^th. There is some other early speed in this race, but she draws well to get forward, and she can go all the way. (11) PARAIBA and (9) GRACE DAY come in having run 3^rd and 5^th respectively when they raced each other over this distance on December 7^th. For both it was their second career start and while they have to contend with wide draws, they shape as the main dangers to the favourite here. (10) HAKSAN TAEPUNG was well back behind Yongbigyo at start number two but was previously 2^nd on debut and that’s enough to have her in the numbers. (1) B.K. DEVIL another who can improve.

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

(3) RAON SAPPHIRE defied a slightly slow start on debut to run on for a close 2^nd over this distance on November 30^th. She should have come on for that run, she draws well, and she will be a short-price favourite to go one better today. (1) SMART HAESEONG has a 5^th and two 3^rd places from three outings so far, most recently in a filly maiden at this distance in November. Drawing the inside, she can be on pace and can be in this a long way.  (4) WITH DORTIE didn’t do much on debut at 1400M but had previously trialed adequately and may improve for that run. (6) DAJEONGHAN and (11) THUNDER RUN are others who will have some support.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

It’s hard to go far past (1) GEOMEUN SUP. He’s made steady progress across four outings to date, culminating in 2^nd on his firs try at this distance on December 6^th. He has been racing on pace, so expect similar today, and he should be going one better. (10) TRIPLE PALMETTO has been nothing if not consistent of late with four consecutive 4^th place finishes coming into this. She finishes off her races well and should be going closer in this company. (4) CHEONGRYONG GIUN comes into a better gate than he has had of late and can show some improvement. (2) EUNHA KALAS and (3) M J VET are perhaps the best of a limited rest.

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

(1) RAON FINAL was a winner at start two but has only been ordinary at two subsequent tries at this class. Both of those have been from the widest gate and she’s had to use up plenty to find a good position. She should get a much easier run today and can return to winning ways. She will have to overturn the form on (4) BREEDO TROPHY who was 3^rd to Raon Final’s 6^th when they raced each other at this class and distance on November 30^th. He too is better drawn and while he has six 3^rd places to just the one win, he can be in the finish again. (11) YONGBI SHINHWA is up in class after a pair of runner-up finishes. Both or those could easily have been wins and down in weight, he can measure up. (9) CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG and up in class last start winner (8) NAREUSYA NOVA others in the frame.

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

(5) LIVE STAR got his maiden win at the fourth time of asking over 1400M on November 29^th when coming from off the pace. That win had been coming and while up in class and up to two turns, he is down in weight, and he will be favourite to strike again. (6) GEUMBIT POWER beat Live Star when getting his maiden win two outings back over 1400M. He then ran 4^th in his first try at this class and distance and he can be a danger here. (4) THE EXCELLENT comes out of a Listed and a Graded race in juvenile company and while he was well back in both, back in shallower waters, he can be much closer today. (1) CHRYSOL PEACE and (8) JILPUNGA among plenty of others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) BLACK SIDAE didn’t get his maiden win until start fifteen but he has held his form since with two 2^nd places and a 3^rd from his latest three, most recently at this class and distance on December 7^th when on pace throughout. He stays under a light weight and well-drawn, today can be his day. (3) GLORY CITY was 3^rd behind Black Sidae on December 7^th. He has five-lengths to find on that one but was a winner at this class as recently as October and he can be the danger. (9) STUNNING FLATTER has been knocking on the door in recent appearances and should be there or thereabouts again. (11) YEONGWON GIANT and (1) BLAMING WAR others to consider on a place line.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) BAKCHARA is still a maiden after eleven attempts but comes in off his two best to date with consecutive runner-up finishes over 1300M, most recently nehind the hughely impressive Roshe. Luis stays on and from a good draw he looks ready for another crack at a mile. (11) SONE SONJABGO has eleven top four finishes from sixteen starts. She tried the mile for the first time in a filly only affair on November 22^nd and she beat a couple of today’s rivals on her way to 2^nd place so she can be in the mix again.  (9) MISS CONCORD was a somewhat unexpected winner at this class and distance on November 30^th showing on pace the entire way. Despite the same apprentice claim, she comes up 3kg in weight and has a less favourable gate, but she should be ruled out. (4) JEONGSANG HAEDOTI and (5) HANAM ELDORADO others in the frame.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) CHIEF STAR won her first three in fine style, including the Rookie Stakes and the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy, before going down in the gate prior to the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie at Busan at the end of November and having to be scratched. She emerged unscathed and kicks off her three-year-old campaign as the hot favourite to win here. (2) SPARKLING returned from ten months out to run 3^rd behind Roshe and Bakchara on December 7^th. He should strip fitter for the run and can match or better that finish. (3) SEOUL BULCHUNGGAK has been a bit below par in his latest two since returning from a lengthy absence of his own. He hasn’t run badly though and third-up he can be peaking fitness-wise. (11) CHUPUNGNYEONG and (10) TEUKGEUP PARTY others who can be considered on a place line.

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

(4) HANSEN BRACING got back-to-back wins in September and October, both over this distance and the latter at this class. He was the beaten favourite when 4^th in a very quick race at class and distance on November 29^th when getting quite far back before running on. He’s the one to beat here.  (6) DAEHEUNG CLASS looks the clear second pick. He has made progress over three starts back following a five-month absence and most recently ran 2^nd at this class over 1400M. He has placed on four of seven appearances over this trip and can be close. (1) DANCING WHIZ is third-up following a lengthy time out of his own. He has a win and three placings at the distance and can be closer here. (2) RUN WILD and (8) AMAZON KING other chances.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

A very good-looking finale. (6) BEST RACE has a tough time in the Triple Crown with 5^th in the Cup Mile his best, but he has won his latest three in fine style including a valuable Trophy race on international weekend and mist recently a quick race at this class and distance on October 25^th. He is up a full 5kg in weight, but he can maintain his strong run of form here. (10) SSOARA STAR saw a run of three straight wins of his own come to an end and in a big sprint race on Grand Prix day on November 30^th. He looks nicely in at today’s weights though and can be close. He will need to overturn the latest form on (8) SILVER RAIN, who was 2^nd on November 30^th. 1200M has been more his go so far, but he can be in the mix. (4) GANGNAMBULCHUNGGAK and (9) ONEULDO SMILE among plenty of others with at least place chances.